---
title: How to Schedule Automatic Plugin and Theme Downloads (Pro)
description: Download your WordPress plugins and themes automatically on a schedule and save them to a server folder. A Pro feature.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/automate-backups-pro/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: Pro Features
tags:
  - Download Plugins and Themes from Dashboard
---

# How to Schedule Automatic Plugin and Theme Downloads (Pro)

To schedule automatic downloads with Download Plugins and Themes in ZIP from Dashboard Pro, go to WPFactory > Download plugins and Themes and scroll to Periodical Downloads. Set Periodical plugins downloads or Periodical themes downloads to an interval, from once a minute to every 4 weeks, optionally set the downloads path, and click Save settings.

### Before you start

- [Download Plugins and Themes](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard/) Pro (periodical downloads are Pro only).
- A writable destination folder on the server (a default under `wp-content/uploads` is provided).
- WordPress cron running on your site (periodical downloads use WP-Cron events).

### Set up a schedule

1. Go to **WPFactory > Download plugins and Themes** and scroll to **Periodical Downloads**.
2. Set **Periodical plugins downloads** and/or **Periodical themes downloads** to an interval: once a minute, hourly, twice daily, daily, weekly, or every 4 weeks. Leave on **Do not download** to disable.
3. Optionally set the **Plugins downloads path** and **Themes downloads path**, the format options below, then click **Save settings**.
4. Use the **Run now** button next to a schedule to trigger a download immediately without waiting for the next run.

![Periodical Downloads settings in Download Plugins and Themes Pro](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Periodical-Downloads.webp)

**Note:** periodical plugin downloads do **not** include **Must-Use**, **Drop-in** or **single-file** plugins. You can still download those manually from the **Plugins** screen.

### Filename and packaging options

- **Append plugin/theme date & time:** adds the download date and time to each ZIP filename, so versions stay separated (for example `my-plugin-2026-07-21-13-30-00.zip`).
- **Plugins/Themes output file(s):** choose *Each plugin's zip* (one ZIP per item), *All plugins in single zip* (one combined ZIP), or *Each plugin's zip + All plugins in single zip* (both).
- **Plugins/Themes single ZIP file name:** the name used for the combined ZIP when you pick an "all" option (defaults: `plugins` and `themes`).

### Options reference

| Label | Option key | Default | Free/Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Periodical plugins downloads | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_plugins_bulk_period` | Do not download | Pro |
| Periodical themes downloads | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_themes_bulk_period` | Do not download | Pro |
| Plugins downloads path | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_plugins_bulk_dir` | `uploads/plugins-archive` | Pro |
| Themes downloads path | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_themes_bulk_dir` | `uploads/themes-archive` | Pro |
| Append plugin date & time | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_plugins_append_date_time` | No | Pro |
| Append theme date & time | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_themes_append_date_time` | No | Pro |
| Plugins output file(s) | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_plugins_output_files` | Each plugin's zip | Pro |
| Themes output file(s) | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_themes_output_files` | Each theme's zip | Pro |
| Plugins single ZIP file name | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_plugins_single_zip_file_name` | `plugins` | Pro |
| Themes single ZIP file name | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_themes_single_zip_file_name` | `themes` | Pro |

### Housekeeping

Frequent schedules and combined archives can build up disk usage. Clean out the download folders from time to time, and pick an interval that matches how often your plugins actually change.

### Ready to set this up?

Periodical downloads are a Pro feature of [Download Plugins and Themes](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard/). If you are still on the free version, upgrading unlocks scheduled downloads along with the rest of the Pro toolkit. [Get the Pro version](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard/).

Related articles

- [Download Plugins and Themes: Free vs Pro Versions Compared](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pro-vs-free-comparisons/)
- [How to Download a Single Plugin or Theme as a ZIP](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-single-plugin-or-theme/)
- [Settings Reference: Every Option in Download Plugins and Themes](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-plugins-themes-settings-reference/)
- [Download Plugins and Themes: Developer Hooks and Filters Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-plugins-from-dashboard-developer-hooks-filters/)
- [Using Download Plugins and Themes on a WordPress Multisite Network](https://wpfactory.com/docs/plugin-not-working-on-wordpress-multisite-network/)

 

[![Download Plugins and Themes from WordPress Dashboard](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Download-Plugins-and-Themes-from-Dashboard.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard-wordpress-plugin/)