Gated vs Ungated Downloads

Two Links for Every Document

Every document in ToolDocs™ automatically gets both a gated and an ungated link. This gives you flexibility to control access on a per-use basis without duplicating files.

Gated Downloads

Gated links require visitors to register or log in before they can download the file. This is the default behavior when you use the [td_file] shortcode. Gated downloads are ideal for lead capture — you trade access to valuable content in exchange for contact information.

[td_file id="5"]
[td_file id="5" gate_link="true"]

Ungated Downloads

Ungated links allow anyone to download the file without registering. Use these for general-purpose documents that don’t need access control. Downloads are still tracked.

[td_file id="5" gate_link="false"]

Mixing Both on the Same Page

You can use both gated and ungated links on the same page — even for the same document. This is useful when you want some sections of a page to be freely accessible while others require registration.

Controlling Access at the Category Level

For categories with the Whitelist Toggle enabled, even gated links require admin approval after registration. See Whitelist Approval Workflow for details.