---
title: Download ZIP Link Not Showing on the Plugins or Themes Screen
description: Download ZIP link missing on the WordPress Plugins or Themes screen? Check the plugin is active, user capabilities and more.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-zip-button-not-showing/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: Troubleshooting
tags:
  - Download Plugins and Themes from Dashboard
---

# Download ZIP Link Not Showing on the Plugins or Themes Screen

If the Download ZIP link from Download Plugins and Themes in ZIP from Dashboard is missing on Plugins > Installed Plugins or Appearance > Themes, confirm the plugin is active and that your account has the activate_plugins (plugins) or switch_themes (themes) capability. Admin UI or security plugins can also strip the link. The link is free.

### Where the link should appear

- Next to each plugin on **Plugins > Installed Plugins**, as a **Download ZIP** action link.
- Next to each theme on **Appearance > Themes**.

The **Download all** tools and the settings page are separate: they live at **WPFactory > Download plugins and Themes**. Seeing the settings page but no per-item link is exactly the symptom this article fixes.

### 1. Confirm the plugin is active

Go to **Plugins > Installed Plugins** and check that Download Plugins and Themes is activated. The action link is added through the standard `plugin_action_links` filter, so it only shows while the plugin is active.

### 2. Check your user capabilities

The links are capability gated. If your account lacks the capability, the link is hidden:

- The plugin **Download ZIP** link needs the `activate_plugins` capability.
- The theme **Download ZIP** link needs the `switch_themes` capability.

Both are part of the Administrator role. Custom or reduced roles may not have them, so test with a full administrator account or have the capability added to your role.

### 3. Rule out an admin UI or security plugin

Admin theme, admin columns and security plugins can strip action links from the Plugins and Themes list tables. Temporarily deactivate those plugins, or test on a default admin UI, then reload the screen. Re-enable them one at a time to find the one that removes the link.

### 4. On multisite, look on the individual site

The link is added to each site's own **Plugins** and **Appearance > Themes** screens, not to **Network Admin**. On a multisite network, open a single site's admin (not Network Admin > Plugins) to see the per-item links. See [the multisite troubleshooting guide](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-plugins-and-themes/) for more.

### 5. Clear caches

A caching plugin or your browser can serve an older copy of the admin list. Clear both, then reload the Plugins or Themes screen.

### Still not showing?

Collect your WordPress version, plugin version, active plugins, theme and user role, then contact the [Download Plugins and Themes support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/download-plugins-and-themes-from-dashboard-wordpress-plugin/). To learn how the link works once it appears, see the [how to download a single plugin or theme](https://wpfactory.com/docs/download-plugins-and-themes/) guide.

Related articles

- [How to Customize the Download ZIP Link on the Plugins Page](https://wpfactory.com/docs/customize-download-zip-link/)
- [Using Download Plugins and Themes on a WordPress Multisite Network](https://wpfactory.com/docs/plugin-not-working-on-wordpress-multisite-network/)
- [Bulk Download Plugins and Adding the Version to the ZIP Name](https://wpfactory.com/docs/bulk-download-plugins-themes/)
- [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 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/)