---
title: "Download Plugins and Themes: Developer Hooks and Filters Reference"
description: "Developer reference for Download Plugins and Themes in ZIP from Dashboard: action, filters, cron events and capabilities."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-plugins-from-dashboard-developer-hooks-filters/"
updated: "2026-09-26"
category: Developers
---

# Download Plugins and Themes: Developer Hooks and Filters Reference

## Developer hooks and filters reference

[Download Plugins and Themes in ZIP from Dashboard](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard/) exposes a small but real developer surface: one action, four public filters, two WP-Cron events and a set of custom cron intervals. Every hook listed here is called from shipping code, so a callback you register runs exactly where the plugin runs it. This page is a reference for developers extending Download Plugins and Themes; the settings themselves are covered in the [plugin documentation](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-plugins-and-themes/).

All option keys referenced below are stored with the prefix `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_`. For example, the "Add plugin directory" toggle is stored as `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_plugins_add_main_dir`.

### Action

| Action | Arguments | Fires when |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `alg_download_plugins_after_download` | `$zip_file_path` | Right after a ZIP has been streamed to the browser, inside `send_file()`. This covers per-item downloads, the "Download all" tools and the Pro bulk "Download ZIP" action. It does not fire for periodical (scheduled) downloads, which write to disk instead of streaming. |

The Pro version uses this action to power the **Auto Delete ZIP files** option: it deletes the served file from the temporary directory once the download finishes. You can hook it to copy the archive elsewhere, log the event, or push it to remote storage.

```
add_action( 'alg_download_plugins_after_download', function ( $zip_file_path ) {
    // Copy every served archive to an off-site backup folder.
    copy( $zip_file_path, '/mnt/backups/' . basename( $zip_file_path ) );
} );
```

### Filters

| Filter | Filtered value | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `alg_download_plugins_download_plugin_btn_text` | `'Download ZIP'` | The text of the per-plugin download link on the Plugins screen. In Pro this filter returns the value of the **Text** setting (`download_plugin_btn_text`). |
| `alg_download_plugins_version_separator_char` | `'.'` | The single character placed between a plugin or theme name and its version in the ZIP filename. The plugin itself returns the **Version separator character** setting; only the first character is used. |
| `alg_download_plugins_plugins_bulk_period` | `''` | The cron interval used to schedule periodical plugin downloads. An empty string means "do not schedule". In Pro this returns the **Periodical plugins downloads** setting. |
| `alg_download_plugins_themes_bulk_period` | `''` | The cron interval used to schedule periodical theme downloads. Same contract as the plugins variant. |
| `alg_download_plugins_settings` | varies | Used throughout the settings screen to unlock the Pro-only fields and strip the upsell copy. In the free build it returns `disabled`, which disables every Pro field; the Pro build removes that behavior. |

#### Change the download link text without Pro

```
add_filter( 'alg_download_plugins_download_plugin_btn_text', function ( $text ) {
    return 'Export ZIP';
} );
```

#### Use a different version separator

By default a plugin named `my-plugin` at version 2.0.0 is packaged as `my-plugin.2.0.0.zip`. Return a different character to change that. Only the first character of the returned string is applied.

```
add_filter( 'alg_download_plugins_version_separator_char', function ( $char ) {
    return '-'; // my-plugin-2.0.0.zip
} );
```

**Note:** the plugin's own core registers a callback on `alg_download_plugins_version_separator_char` that returns the saved setting. If you add your own callback, run it at a later priority so it takes precedence, or clear the option first.

### Cron events and custom intervals

Periodical downloads run on two WP-Cron events. They are (un)scheduled on plugin activation and deactivation, and again whenever you change a period setting.

| Cron event | Runs |
| --- | --- |
| `alg_download_plugins_cron` | The periodical plugins download (equivalent to clicking Run now for plugins). |
| `alg_download_themes_cron` | The periodical themes download. |

The plugin registers three custom cron intervals (in addition to WordPress's built-in `hourly`, `twicedaily` and `daily`) via the `cron_schedules` filter:

| Interval key | Seconds | Display |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `minutely` | 60 | Once a Minute |
| `weekly` | 604800 | Once Weekly |
| `four_weeks` | 2419200 | Every 4 Weeks |

#### Run a schedule not offered in the settings

The period filters accept any valid cron interval key. To download plugins on a schedule not listed in the dropdown, return the interval key of a schedule you have registered (or a built-in one):

```
add_filter( 'alg_download_plugins_plugins_bulk_period', function ( $interval ) {
    return 'daily';
} );
```

Because a changed period only reschedules the cron event when it is saved on the settings screen, clear and re-arm the event after adding a filter like this:

```
wp_clear_scheduled_hook( 'alg_download_plugins_cron' );
if ( ! wp_next_scheduled( 'alg_download_plugins_cron' ) ) {
    wp_schedule_event( time(), 'daily', 'alg_download_plugins_cron' );
}
```

### Capabilities

The download endpoints are capability-gated. If you build tooling on top of them, respect the same checks:

- Plugin downloads (per item, Download all, bulk, periodical) require `activate_plugins`.
- Theme downloads (per item, Download all, periodical) require `switch_themes`.

### Need a hand?

Questions about extending [Download Plugins and Themes](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard/)? Our developers answer every ticket on the [support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard-wordpress-plugin/).

Related articles

- [Settings Reference: Every Option in Download Plugins and Themes](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-plugins-themes-settings-reference/)
- [Using Download Plugins and Themes on a WordPress Multisite Network](https://wpfactory.com/docs/plugin-not-working-on-wordpress-multisite-network/)
- [Download ZIP Link Not Showing on the Plugins or Themes Screen](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-zip-button-not-showing/)
- [Getting Started: Download WordPress Plugins and Themes From Your Dashboard](https://wpfactory.com/docs/start/)
- [Download Plugins and Themes: Free vs Pro Versions Compared](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pro-vs-free-comparisons/)