How to Bulk Edit WooCommerce Download Limits (Increase or Decrease)

Let’s learn how to bulk edit WooCommerce download limits in an intuitive spreadsheet that allows you to save a lot of time.

Selling digital downloads like eBooks, music, software, or printables is a popular e-commerce model. When you initially set up your WooCommerce store, you might configure the file download limit to a generous number (like 100) or leave it unlimited so customers can access their files easily.

However, as your store grows, you often need to adjust these settings. You might notice customers sharing their download links on public forums, which means you need to decrease the limit to protect your digital files. Or, you might release an updated version of a PDF guide and need to increase the limit so past buyers can download the new version without contacting support.

Updating file restrictions manually is time-consuming because default WooCommerce requires you to open and edit each product individually. If you sell variable products with multiple digital variations, the process takes even longer.

In this tutorial, we will show you a more efficient way to manage your digital inventory. We will use the WP Sheet Editor plugin to filter your catalog and successfully bulk edit WooCommerce download limits for hundreds of products at once.

1. View Your WooCommerce Products in the Spreadsheet

To follow along, you will need the WP Sheet Editor plugin. It provides a spreadsheet interface inside WordPress, allowing you to view and edit your product data in a single grid.

Once you install and activate the plugin, go to WP Sheet Editor > Edit Products.

Here, you will see your WooCommerce products displayed in the spreadsheet. This view allows you to bulk increase or decrease download limits across your store. However, because the spreadsheet displays all product types (simple, variable, physical, and digital), the next step after opening the spreadsheet is to filter the products so you are only editing your downloadable products.

2. Open the advanced “Search” tool

To isolate your digital or downloadable products, click on the Search tool located on the toolbar.

This tool allows you to filter WooCommerce products by various parameters, including product type, keyword, category, attribute, price, current download limit, etc.

3. Run a combined search for downloadable products

You can use the Search tool to run combined queries to find exactly what you need. For example, let’s say you want to adjust the limits for a specific group of affordable digital guides.

We will run a combined search to find products by keyword, category, ensure they are downloadable, and have a regular price of $15 or less.

Configure the search panel with these values:

• Contains keyword: Enter your keyword (e.g., “PDF”).
• Enter Brands…: Select the product category (e.g., “Downloads”).
• Tick the Enable advanced filters checkbox and add these two conditions:
  • Condition 1:
    • Field: Downloadable
    • Operator: =
    • Value: Tick the checkbox (Yes)
  • Click Add new for the second condition:
  • Condition 2:
    • Field: Regular price
    • Operator: <=
    • Value: 15

Click the Run search button to apply the filters.

4. Review your filtered products

The spreadsheet will reload to display only the products that match your specific search filters.

You will notice that the active search filters are displayed directly above the spreadsheet. This helps you confirm you are targeting the correct digital products before applying any bulk updates.

5. Open the Bulk Edit tool

Now it is time to update your file restrictions. Click on the Bulk Edit tool on the toolbar.

This feature will allow you to bulk edit WooCommerce download limits for all the downloadable products you just filtered, rather than updating them one by one.

6. How to bulk decrease download limits

If you need to prevent unauthorized file sharing or restrict access to a promotional file, you can decrease the limit.

In the Bulk Edit tool, select the following values to bulk decrease the download limit:

• Select the rows that you want to update: Edit all the rows from my current search (including non-visible rows).
• What field do you want to edit: Download limit
• Select type of edit:
  • Set value: To set a new specific download limit number.
  • Decrease by number: To decrease the number in relation to the current download limit.
• Decrease by: Enter the number you want to subtract from the current limit (e.g., 50).
  • Note. If you selected Set value, you need to enter the new number.
• Click on Execute Now.

7. How to bulk increase download limits

If you want to grant customers additional attempts to download an updated file version, you can just as easily add to the current limit.

In the Bulk Edit tool, select the following values to bulk increase the download limit:

• Select the rows that you want to update: Edit all the rows from my current search (including non-visible rows).
• What field do you want to edit: Download limit
• Select type of edit:
  • Set value: To set a new specific download limit number.
  • Increase by number: To increase the number in relation to the current download limit.
• Increase by: Enter the number of additional downloads you want to grant (e.g., 10).
  • Note. If you selected Set value, you need to enter the new number.
• Click on Execute Now.

Manage your digital products more efficiently

Choosing to bulk edit WooCommerce download limits with WP Sheet Editor is much more practical than modifying products manually. It allows you to filter your catalog precisely and update simple and variable products alike, helping you manage your digital inventory in a fraction of the time.