How to Use a File Hosting WordPress Plugin

Many WordPress users prefer to keep their site content local and put off using a content delivery network (CDN) until their site becomes too large or busy. However, not having static content can significantly slow down your site’s load time and diminish the user experience. A CDN is a content delivery network that utilizes a group of servers located all over the world to serve content. Files are broken down into chunks and delivered to the user’s web browser based on their IP address. They are then reassembled at the other end for a streamlined and seamless browsing experience.

While the benefits of a CDN are many, it’s always better to use a WordPress plugin to manage your site’s content delivery. This article will walk you through the steps to get started with a file hosting WordPress plugin. We will cover topics like:

What is a File Hosting WordPress Plugin?

A file hosting WordPress plugin is a WordPress plugin that lets you store and manage your files in the cloud. This is a type of content delivery network where you can store all your site’s content, including images, CSS, and JS files, in a remote location that is accessible from everywhere. This content can be accessed directly through a web browser (over HTTPs) or downloaded and run directly on a user’s system (through FTP or SFTP).

The main advantage of using a file hosting WordPress plugin is the near-zero configuration required. You simply need to install the plugin and enable it on your site. The plugin will scan your site to build a directory of files that it can use to deliver your content swiftly and securely. You can then edit and add to this directory at any time with the click of a button. The only requirement is that you must have a strong password to prevent unauthorized access to your files.

Why Do I Need A File Hosting WordPress Plugin?

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems used on the web, boasting over 24 million downloads and a 5-star rating on the WordPress.org dashboard. Its popularity stems from the fact that it is extremely easy to use and setup, as well as being flexible and scalable. These are just some of the reasons why you may want to consider using a file hosting WordPress plugin.

When it comes to website speed and performance, the fewer resources (i.e., assets) needed to serve the page, the better. Having a bunch of images and media on a page takes time to load, and a lot of that time is spent waiting for the items to load. A CDN helps to eliminate this issue by caching your site’s content, so instead of waiting for everything to load, the user can start browsing your content before the majority of the assets have loaded. A file hosting WordPress plugin helps to take the load off your site’s servers by letting you upload all your content, including images, into the cloud, where it can be accessed by anyone with an Internet connection. This is often a better option for smaller sites or blogs where the occasional photo might be uploaded.

Another advantage of using a file-hosting WordPress plugin is security. Caching your content in the cloud makes it more difficult for anyone to download and use your files without your knowledge. This is important for sensitive documents, such as financial records or intellectual property, as well as for eliminating web-based hacking attempts.

How Do I Install A File Hosting WordPress Plugin?

Installing a file hosting WordPress plugin is rather simple. You can either do this through WordPress’ built-in automated installer or download and install the plugin manually. In both cases, your site’s administrative dashboard will be the starting point for all operations.

To install the plugin using the automated installer, navigate to your site’s administrative dashboard and click on the Plugins tab. From here, you will see a list of all the plugins available for download. Find the File Hosting plugin in the list and click on the Install button to begin the setup process. You will see a window like this:

Once the installation has completed, you will be able to access your files directly through a web browser (over HTTPs) or downloaded and run on your system (through FTP or SFTP).

To install the plugin manually, you can either use the WordPress CLI or visit your site’s administrative dashboard and click the plugins button. From here, you will see a list of all the plugins available for download. Find the File Hosting plugin and click on the Install button to begin the setup process. Follow the on-screen instructions and you will be able to access your files in a matter of minutes.

Either way, you will see a window like this:

This is a very important step and something that you must take care of before you can use the plugin. You need to create a strong password for the administrator account and ensure that no one else is using this account. This will prevent unauthorized access to your files in case they are accidentally left exposed online.

How Do I Use A File Hosting WordPress Plugin?

Once you have installed the plugin and created a strong password for the administrator account, you can start using it. To bring up the plugin’s administrative dashboard, navigate to your site’s administrative dashboard and click on the Plugins tab. From here, you will see a list of all the plugins available for download. Find the File Hosting plugin and click on the Turn On button to begin using it. You will then be asked to enter a strong password for the administrator account. After you have entered the password, you will see a site icon similar to this:

This indicates that the plugin is activated and ready to use. You can then browse the directory that the plugin has created for you, which will be accessible from anywhere through a web browser (over HTTPs). You can add new directories as needed and edit the existing ones with the click of a button. When content is updated, it will be available for access immediately without the need to refresh the page.

You cannot use the Plugin to edit live sites as it requires you to manually upload new files whenever there is an update. This is why it is often a better option for smaller sites or blogs.

Can I Use Multiple File Hosting WordPress Plugins?

Yes, you can use multiple file hosting WordPress plugins, but you must follow a few simple guidelines to avoid any problems.

Firstly, make sure that the plugins’ directories are in a different location so that the plugins do not conflict with each other. For example, if you have installed the CACHE and Cloudflare plugins, make sure that the directory created by the first one is in a different location than the one created by the second one.

Secondly, if you are planning to use a CDN to cache your website’s content, make sure that the content being cached by two or more plugins does not overlap. If it does, then the content being cached by one will be overwritten by the content being cached by another.

Thirdly, if you have two or more plugins that edit the same types of media (i.e., images or videos), then it is better to use a unique directory for each type of media so that they do not get overwritten by the other plugin.

Forthly, make sure to keep a copy of the original files anywhere because whenever you make an edit to one of the media files, it will be overwritten if you try to access it directly through a web browser (over HTTPs). You can, however, download the edited file and re-upload it whenever you need to make a change.

In the end, using multiple file hosting WordPress plugins may be advantageous, but only if you follow the guidelines discussed here. These steps will help to ensure that your websites work efficiently and that your users have a pleasurable experience when browsing your content.