Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

Why You Should Download PDFs Instead of Opening WordPress

WordPress is a popular content management system that powers millions of websites. While it's convenient to use, opening PDFs within WordPress can come with some drawbacks. In this article, we'll explore why downloading PDFs instead of opening them in WordPress is better for both users and site owners.

Faster Page Loads

One of the biggest benefits of downloading PDFs instead of opening them in WordPress is faster page loads. When a user opens a PDF in WordPress, the file has to be loaded into the browser before it can be viewed. This can cause delays, particularly for larger files. By hosting PDFs as downloadable files instead, users can simply download the file to their computer and view it at their leisure.

Better User Experience

Downloading PDFs also provides a better user experience. Users don't have to wait for files to load in the browser, and they are free to view the PDF on their own terms. They can also save the file to their computer and refer back to it later, without having to re-download every time they want to view it.

More Control for Site Owners

From a site owner's perspective, hosting PDFs as downloadable files provides more control over how the files are accessed. Site owners can choose which PDFs are available for download and control who has access to them. This level of control is not possible when PDFs are opened within WordPress.

Improved SEO

Lastly, hosting PDFs as downloadable files can improve SEO. PDFs hosted on WordPress are often indexed by search engines, but the content within them is not easily discoverable. By hosting PDFs as downloadable files, the content within them can be optimized for search engines, leading to better discoverability and more traffic to your site.

In conclusion, downloading PDFs instead of opening them in WordPress provides a faster, more flexible, and more controllable user experience. For site owners, hosting PDFs as downloadable files can also improve SEO, leading to more traffic and a better user experience overall. So the next time you're considering uploading a PDF to your WordPress site, consider hosting it as a downloadable file instead.