How To Easily Create Custom File Upload WordPress Form?

Do you need to allow your site users to upload resumes or submit applications? Do you need the ability for your site visitors to upload spreadsheets or other documents? Do you want to allow the option to upload photos, videos, music files, and other media content via the contact form? Creating a custom file upload WordPress form makes it easier to gather the information that you need.

File uploads are one of the best ways to obtain additional information from your site users. Simplifying your online forms reduces cart abandonment rates and helps improve conversion rates and revenue over time.

Adding a file upload field to your WordPress forms lets you gather different data, media, and other files from your site visitors as they fill out your online forms.

Here are some of the most popular uses when you need to allow users to upload a file using forms:

• Customer support forms that would enable customers to attach files for additional information
• Client service forms that let clients add project specification spreadsheets or other documents
• Job application forms that applicants can attach resumes
• User-submitted content forms so that people can attach blog articles, photos or other files
• User-submitted videos that can be used for anniversaries, fundraisers, weddings, and other special events.

Unfortunately, WordPress doesn’t provide a solution that will allow your site visitors to upload files via form out-of-the-box. Thankfully, there is a simple solution. The WPForms plugin (see WPForms vs Gravity Forms comparison) makes creating and submitting this and kinds of content simple. File formats that are supported include:

• Audio (.mp3, .mp4 and .wav files)
• Video (.mov, .mpg and .wmv files)
• Images (.gif, .jpg and .png files)
• Documents (.doc, .pdf, .ppt and .xls files)

For WordPress security reasons, the default file types that can be uploaded are limited. Here’s how to allow additional file upload types to your forms.

 

How to Create a Custom File Upload Form in WordPress?

The first thing you’ll need to do is install and activate the WPForms plugin. It also has a free version, but you will need at least a Basic paid plan for this purpose.

While WPForms Lite allows you to create any type of form, you can speed up the process by unlocking pre-built form templates, among other features, so you never have to start from scratch again.

WPForms lets you add file uploads to anywhere on your site, not just form pages. Go to your WordPress dashboard and click on the “WPForms > Add New” option in the left-hand panel. Create your form and give it a name.

Scroll down to the Additional Templates section and choose the “File Upload Form.” To access this feature, you need to have activated the Form Templates Add-on pack. WPForms will populate a File Upload Form and display drag and drop builder.

 

 

Add fields to your contact form by dragging them from the left-hand panel into the right-hand panel. The File Upload Form should already have the Name, Email, Phone, File Upload, and Additional Comments fields. Just click on a form field to make any changes to it that you want.

 

 

You can also click on a particular form field and drag it to another area of the form if you’d like. The File Upload field can be added to any of your WordPress forms. All you need to do is drag the File Upload form field that’s found under the Fancy Fields section.

 

 

Clicking on the Form Upload field will allow you to change the following options:

• Allowed File Extensions: You can list the types of files that you want to allow on your site. Each file type needs to be separated by commas.
• Description: Here, you can add descriptions that give your site users additional information. For instance, if you only want your site visitors to upload images, you can add those instructions here.
• Label: You can name your form, so your site users will know what it’s for.
• Max Size File: You can select the maximum file upload size in megabytes. If you leave this section blank, WPForms will automatically allow a maximum file size of 128 MB.
• Required: You can click on this checkbox if you want your site visitors to upload a file before the form can be submitted.
• Style: Here, you can toggle between the default Modern style (which is recommended) or the Classic style.

 

 

Now that you’ve created your form, it’s time to add it to your WordPress site. WPForms allows you to add your form in multiple places, including blog posts, pages, and sidebar widgets.

WPForms stores each form submission as an entry. To see all the files you’ve uploaded, go to the WPForms menu and select the “Entries” option. Here you can find all the uploaded files and open them by clicking “View” next to the entry that interests you.

You can click on the file to view it in your web browser or right-click to download a copy of the file. You can also use WPForms Zapier add-on to automatically save your file uploads to Dropbox, Google Drive, and many other popular cloud storage services.

User uploads are stored by default in the WPForms folder that’s in the Uploads directory of your website. You can simplify things by storing these files in your WordPress Media Library by selecting the Store field in WordPress Media Library checkbox under Advanced Options.

 

Creating File Upload Forms Final Words

File upload options are essential for effective online forms. They allow your site users to upload vital data. Some of this information simply can’t be displayed in numeric or text form. For instance, you may be working with a client that has been experiencing a glitch in their system caused by a bug.

Having the WordPress upload file option lets your client send you a screenshot of the problem. This can help you save time and resolve the issue more expediently and efficiently.

Letting your site visitors add file attachments to your site’s WordPress forms can give you just the information you need when you need it most.