Drupal checks user permissions before serving the file link.
By default, browsers often try to display files like PDFs or images directly. To force a "Save As" dialog, you can use specialized modules: drupal file download link
The most common way to create a download link is by adding a to a content type. Drupal checks user permissions before serving the file link
Choosing the right storage method is critical for security and access control. Storage Type General site assets, brochures brochures Under the Manage display tab
Under the Manage display tab, ensure the formatter is set to Generic file . This will automatically generate a link to the file when a user views the content. 2. Forcing a Direct Download