Add files uploaded to Google Drive or Dropbox

If you have files uploaded to Google Drive, Dropbox, or other platforms, you can make them available to download when customers purchase digital products on your store. External files allow you to keep your content hosted elsewhere while still managing access through Filemonk, with all download limits and tracking features applying just like internal files.

Method 1: Add External Files via Content Library

This method involves adding external file links to your content library first, then linking them to products when needed. This approach is ideal when you want to organize your external files before deciding which products they'll be associated with.

Step 1: Navigate to Content Library

1. From your Filemonk dashboard, click Content library in the left navigation menu
2. This will take you to your content library page where you can manage all your files
3. Make sure you're on the "Files uploaded" tab to see your file management options

Step 2: Create File from Link

1. In the top right corner of the Content library page, click Create file from link
2. This opens the external file creation modal where you can add links to files hosted on other platforms
3. The modal will display fields for entering your file name and external URL

Step 3: Enter File Details

1. In the Name field, enter a descriptive name for your external file

• This name will be displayed to customers on the download page
• Choose a clear, descriptive name that helps customers identify the content
• The name is required and cannot be left blank

2. In the Link field, paste the URL to your external file

• This must be a complete URL starting with https://
• Ensure the link is publicly accessible and doesn't require special permissions
• The URL is required and must be a valid web address

Step 4: Create the External File

1. After entering both the name and URL, click Create to add the external file to your library
2. The modal will close and your external file will appear in your files list
3. External files are marked with an "External" type label to distinguish them from uploaded files
4. You can edit the name and URL later by clicking on the external file in your library

Step 5: Link to Products

After creating your external file, you need to link it to a product to make it available for purchase:

1. Navigate to Digital products from the left menu
2. Select the product you want to configure or create a new digital product
3. Use the Select from library button to choose your external file
4. When customers purchase the digital product, they'll be redirected to your external file URL

Method 2: Add External Files Directly to Products

This method allows you to add external file links directly when configuring a specific product, streamlining the process when you know exactly which product the external file belongs to.

Step 1: Navigate to Digital Products

1. From your Filemonk dashboard, click Digital products in the left navigation menu
2. This takes you to your digital products overview where you can see all configured products
3. Either select an existing product to configure or click Add product to create a new digital product

Step 2: Configure Your Product

1. If creating a new product, select your Shopify product from the product picker
2. Choose whether to link files to the entire product or specific variants
3. Select your delivery method - downloadable files work best for external file links

Step 3: Add External File Directly

1. In the product configuration area, look for the file management section
2. Click the dropdown arrow next to the Upload files button to see additional options
3. Select Add external file from the dropdown menu
4. This opens the same external file creation modal as in the Content Library method

Step 4: Complete External File Setup

1. Enter the file name and external URL as described in Method 1
2. Click Create to add the external file directly to this product
3. The external file will appear in the product's file list immediately
4. You can organize external files alongside uploaded files using folders

How External Files Work for Customers

When customers download external files, the experience is slightly different from internal files but maintains the same access controls:

Download Process

1. Customers access their download page after purchasing your digital product
2. External files appear in the download list with the name you specified
3. When customers click the download button, they're redirected to the original external URL
4. The redirect opens in the current browser tab for better compatibility with email and messaging clients

Download Limits and Tracking

1. Download limits apply - External files count toward the customer's download limit just like internal files
2. Access tracking - Each click on an external file is tracked and counted as a download attempt
3. Time-based limits - If you've set expiration dates, external files respect these limits
4. Access revocation - You can disable access to external files just like internal files

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions when working with external files:

FAQs

Q: Can I use any external URL for my files?

A: Yes, as long as the URL is publicly accessible and doesn't require special authentication. Popular platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, and direct file URLs work well.

Q: Do external files count toward my storage limit?

A: No, external files don't use your Filemonk storage since they're hosted elsewhere. However, they do count toward your file count limits depending on your plan.

Q: Can I edit external file URLs after creating them?

A: Yes, you can edit both the name and URL of external files by clicking on them in your Content Library or product file list.

Q: Do download limits work the same way for external files?

A: Yes, external files respect all the same download limits, expiration dates, and access controls as internal files.

Q: What happens if an external URL stops working?

A: Customers will see an error when trying to access the file. You should monitor your external links and update them if the hosting platform changes the URL.

Q: Can I use external files for watermarked content?

A: No, watermarking features only work with files uploaded directly to Filemonk. External files are delivered as-is from their original hosting platform.

Updated on: 24/07/2025