Get started with Filemonk
Filemonk makes selling digital products on Shopify effortless and automated. Whether you're selling music, videos, ebooks, software, or any other digital content, this comprehensive setup guide will have you delivering digital downloads to customers in just five simple steps.
Why Choose Filemonk for Your Digital Products
Filemonk transforms your Shopify store into a powerful digital product delivery platform with features designed to save you time and delight your customers.
Key Benefits That Make Filemonk Awesome
- Instant Automated Delivery: Send download links instantly and automatically after checkout, eliminating manual work and ensuring customers get their purchases immediately
- Advanced File Protection: Protect your digital assets with watermarking, download limits, expiration dates, and secure delivery methods that prevent unauthorized sharing
- Complete Brand Customization: Customize download pages, email templates, and customer experience to match your brand perfectly, maintaining consistency across all touchpoints
- 24/7 Expert Support: Get dedicated email and chat support to help you succeed, with a team that understands both Shopify and digital product delivery challenges
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Follow these five essential steps to get started with Filemonk and begin selling digital products on your Shopify store.
Step 1: Create Shopify Product Listings
Before you can sell digital content, if you don't already then you need to create product listings in your Shopify admin that customers can purchase from your store.
Follow this guide to create a Shopify product listing. If you have multiple digital products, create a product listing for each of them.
Step 2: Prepare Your Digital Files
Get your digital content organized and ready for upload to ensure smooth delivery to customers.
File Organization Best Practices
- Create a dedicated folder: Set up a separate folder on your computer specifically for the files you'll upload to Filemonk
- Use clear file names: Name your files descriptively so customers understand what they're downloading (e.g., "Complete-Photography-Course-Module-1.pdf" instead of "file1.pdf")
- Check file formats: Filemonk supports almost all file types including PDF, MP3, MP4, ZIP, DOCX, and many more
- Verify file integrity: Test that all files open correctly and aren't corrupted before uploading
- Consider file sizes: While Filemonk handles large files well, consider your customers' download experience and internet speeds
Step 3: Install Filemonk from Shopify App Store
Add Filemonk to your Shopify store to enable digital product delivery functionality.
- Visit the Shopify App Store: Go to https://apps.shopify.com/filemonk or search for "Filemonk" in your Shopify admin under Apps
- Click Add app: Review the app permissions and click Add app to install Filemonk
- Grant permissions: Approve the necessary permissions that allow Filemonk to access your products, orders, and customer data
- Complete installation: Wait for the installation process to complete - this usually takes just a few seconds
- Access Filemonk: Once installed, you'll find Filemonk in your Shopify admin under Apps > Filemonk
Step 4: Upload Files and Create Digital Products
Upload Your Files
- Open Filemonk: From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Filemonk
- Navigate to Content library: Click on Content library in the main navigation menu
- Click Upload files: Use the upload button to select files from your computer
- Select your prepared files: Choose the digital files you organized in Step 2
- Wait for upload completion: Larger files may take a few minutes to upload completely
- Verify uploads: Ensure all files appear in your Content library with correct names and file sizes
Create Digital Products and link files
- Go to Digital products: Click Digital products in the main navigation menu
- Click Add product: Start creating your first digital product
- Choose existing product: Select Link to existing Shopify product and choose from your product listings
- Select product or variant: Choose whether to deliver files for the entire product or specific variants
- Attach files: Select the files from your Content library that customers should receive when they purchase this product
- Configure delivery settings: Set any specific delivery options like download limits or expiration dates
- Save digital product: Click Save to create the connection between your Shopify product and digital files
Step 5: Set Up Download Button on Thank You Page
Additional Delivery Options
While the thank you page button provides immediate access, you can also enable these complementary delivery methods:
- Email delivery: Automatically send download links via email as a backup delivery method
- Customer account integration: Allow customers to access their digital products from their account dashboard
- Order status page: Provide download access from the order status page for returning customers
Pro Tip: Using the thank you page download button ensures customers get immediate access to their digital products, reducing support requests and improving customer satisfaction.
Test Your Setup
Before going live, it's crucial to test your entire digital product delivery system to ensure everything works perfectly.
Create a Test Order
- Visit your store: Go to your Shopify storefront and navigate to one of your digital products
- Add to cart and checkout: Complete the purchase process using Shopify's Bogus Gateway (for testing) or create a 100% discount code
- Check the thank you page: Verify that the download button appears and functions correctly
- Test file downloads: Click the download button and ensure files download properly
- Verify email delivery: If enabled, check that download emails are sent and contain working links
- Review customer experience: Make sure the entire process feels smooth and professional
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your test order doesn't work as expected, check these common issues:
- Product not linked: Ensure your Shopify product is properly connected to files in Filemonk
- Files not uploaded: Verify all files are successfully uploaded to your Content library
- Settings not saved: Double-check that all configuration changes have been saved
- Payment not processed: Some delivery options only trigger after payment confirmation
Advanced Tips
Once your basic setup is complete, consider these advanced features to enhance your digital product delivery:
- Watermarking: Add customer information to PDF files automatically to discourage sharing
- License key delivery: Generate and deliver unique license keys for software products
- Download analytics: Track which files are downloaded most frequently to optimize your product offerings
- Bulk operations: Use CSV imports to quickly set up multiple products and file associations
- API integration: Connect Filemonk with other tools using webhook notifications
Troubleshooting
Common issues and their solutions to help you resolve problems quickly:
Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Download button not appearing | Product not linked to files in Filemonk | Go to Digital products and verify the product is properly connected |
Files not downloading | Browser blocking downloads or file corruption | Check browser settings and re-upload the file |
Customers not receiving emails | Email delivery not enabled or email in spam | Enable email delivery in Settings and ask customers to check spam folders |
Wrong files being delivered | Incorrect file associations | Review and update file links in Digital products section |
FAQs
Common questions from merchants getting started with Filemonk:
Q: How quickly do customers receive their digital products?
A: With the thank you page download button, customers get immediate access right after checkout. Email delivery typically takes 1-2 minutes.
Q: Can I sell the same digital file with multiple products?
A: Yes, you can attach the same file to multiple Shopify products, making it easy to create bundles or offer files at different price points.
Q: What happens if a customer loses their download link?
A: Customers can access their purchases through their Shopify customer account, and you can resend download links from the Filemonk Orders section.
Q: Can I limit how many times customers can download files?
A: Yes, you can set download limits and expiration dates for each digital product to control access and prevent abuse.
Q: Do I need to worry about file storage costs?
A: Filemonk includes generous file storage in all plans, and files are delivered through a global CDN for fast downloads worldwide.
Q: Can customers download files on mobile devices?
A: Yes, the download system works on all devices, though customers should ensure they have sufficient storage space for larger files.
Updated on: 08/09/2025
Thank you!