Background Download Queue

When a customer downloads a full gallery or an order with many images, your server has to zip all those files together on the fly. If there are too many images, the server can run out of time or memory before the zip file finishes — and the download fails with an error.

Background download processing solves this. Instead of trying to build the entire zip file in one shot, Sunshine processes the download behind the scenes in smaller batches. When the zip is ready, your customer gets an email with a download link.

How to Set It Up

1. Go to Sunshine > Settings > Downloads
2. Find the Background download threshold field
3. Enter the number of files that should trigger background processing

The number you enter is the minimum file count. Any download with that many files or more will be processed in the background instead of immediately. For example, if you set it to 10, a customer downloading a gallery with 15 images will get a background download, while a customer downloading 5 images will get an immediate download.

Single-file downloads are always immediate, no matter what you set here.

Leave this field empty to disable background processing entirely. All downloads will be processed immediately, which works fine for smaller galleries but may cause errors with larger ones.

A good starting point is 10–20. If you're seeing download errors with large galleries, try lowering the number.

How It Works

For logged-in customers

1. The customer clicks the download button
2. A message appears letting them know the download is being prepared and they'll receive an email when it's ready
3. The download processes in the background
4. Once ready, the customer receives an email with a link to download their file

For customers who aren't logged in

1. The customer clicks the download button
2. A form appears asking for their email address
3. After entering their email, they see a confirmation that the download has been queued
4. Once ready, they receive an email at that address with a download link

Download link expiration

Download links expire after 48 hours. The generated zip file is also automatically removed from your server at that point, so it won't take up space long-term. If a customer's link has expired, they can go back to the gallery and request the download again.