---
title: How to Download a Single Plugin or Theme as a ZIP
description: "Download a single WordPress plugin or theme as a ZIP from your dashboard, including Must-Use and Drop-in plugins."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-single-plugin-or-theme/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
---

# How to Download a Single Plugin or Theme as a ZIP

To download a single plugin or theme as a ZIP straight from your dashboard, install [Download Plugins and Themes in ZIP from Dashboard](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard/). It adds a **Download ZIP** link next to every installed plugin and theme, so you can grab a copy without FTP, cPanel or a file manager. This is a free feature.

### Download one plugin

1. Go to **Plugins > Installed Plugins**.
2. Find the plugin you want and click its **Download ZIP** link, shown alongside the usual action links such as Activate or Deactivate.
3. Your browser downloads a ZIP of that plugin's folder.

![Download ZIP link next to a plugin on the Plugins screen](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Download-plugin-link.png)

### Download one theme

1. Go to **Appearance > Themes**.
2. Click a theme to open its details, then use the **Download ZIP** link.
3. Your browser downloads a ZIP of that theme (including a child theme, if that is what you selected).

### Download Must-Use and Drop-in plugins

The per-item link also works for special plugin types. On the **Plugins** screen, switch to the **Must-Use** or **Drop-in** filter at the top of the list first, then use the **Download ZIP** link on the item. This is the only way to download those plugins with this tool: the "Download all" and periodical download features deliberately skip Must-Use and Drop-in plugins because they live outside the regular plugins folder.

### What ends up in the ZIP

Two free settings under **WPFactory > Download plugins and Themes** shape the archive:

| Label | Option key | Default | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Add plugin directory / Add theme directory | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_plugins_add_main_dir` `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_themes_add_main_dir` | Yes | Keeps the main folder (for example `my-plugin/`) inside the ZIP. Set to No to package the inner files at the top level. |
| Append plugin version / Append theme version | `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_plugins_append_version` `alg_download_plugins_dashboard_themes_append_version` | No | Adds the version number to the ZIP filename, for example `my-plugin.2.0.0.zip`. The separator character is set by **Version separator character** (default `.`). |

All of these settings are free. See the full [Settings Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-plugins-and-themes/) for every option.

### Requirements

- Downloading a plugin needs the `activate_plugins` capability; downloading a theme needs `switch_themes`. Both are part of the Administrator role.
- Your server needs the `RecursiveIteratorIterator` class and the `zlib` extension. The plugin checks these when you click a download and shows a notice if either is missing.

### Get more from Download Plugins and Themes

Per-item downloads are free. [Download Plugins and Themes in ZIP from Dashboard](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard/) Pro adds scheduled (periodical) downloads, a bulk "Download ZIP" action for selected plugins, and control over the download link's appearance. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard/).

Related articles

- [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/)
- [How to Customize What Goes Into Your Download ZIP](https://wpfactory.com/docs/customize-dashboard-downloads/)
- [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/)