Etsy is a popular online marketplace retailer for selling and purchasing crochet and knit patterns. As a crochet pattern designer, I enjoy using this platform to host my shop and my digital pattern files. The reach is wonderful and the shop features are easy to understand and work with. There is one consistent issue however that many customers who buy digital files are facing and that is accessing their purchases with ease.
I know this frustrating. As a seller, I deeply appreciate that you chose to purchase patterns from my shop and I want to help you access them as quickly and easily as possible.
Learn how to access your Etsy digital purchases below…
Okay, I know you’re eager to download those pattern purchases so you can get knitting or crocheting. Let’s dive in…
The first thing, that is probably the most important to understand is this:
The Etsy app does not currently allow the download option of digital files. This must be done through a web browser on your device. If you have the app installed, when you click links in your email from Etsy, the app will usually open by default. You will need to visit the Etsy homepage through an actual web browser. Logging in that way should allow you to see the download option on your digital purchases. You can tell if you are viewing your account from the app because there will not be an address bar/URL bar (where the website link is typed or displayed) at the top of the page.
If you purchased a pattern logged into your account:
- When you purchase a digital file like a crochet pattern, you will receive an email from Etsy with the confirmation of your purchase and a link to download the file. If you do not see it in your inbox, please check your junk/spam/other folders. Typically the emails get sent right away after the purchase has been confirmed but sometimes, there can be a wait as your payment method is being processed.
- Etsy mentions that if you pay by credit card or PayPal, that there can sometimes be a delay of a few minutes before your confirmation email is sent.
- While you are waiting, you can still access your pattern through your account by following these steps (as long as your payment has been processed):
1. Log in to your Etsy account using a web browser such as Firefox, Chrome, etc. (not the Etsy app)
2. Click “Your Account” (top right, to the left of your shopping basket)
3. Select “Purchases and Reviews”
4. Locate the order and click on “Download Files” to the right.
5. The file should download to the selected folder on your device
You can access this pattern any time you’d like. Even after you’ve downloaded it, the file remains in your purchases.
If you purchased a pattern as a guest (not logged in):
- You will receive an email receipt which will also include a link to download your file. If you do not see an email in your inbox, please check your junk/spam/other folders
- Typically payments and confirmations are processed fairly quickly but please give some time for it to come through
Other helpful notes:
- Please keep in mind that the sellers do not send out the files to you. The files that the shop owners are selling, are uploaded to the Etsy servers when the listing is created. After Etsy processes the payment, Etsy then releases a download link to the buyer to access their purchase. The seller does not control when the pattern is accessible to the buyer in their Etsy account
- If you have not received your pattern link and it is not displaying in your files, please contact Etsy Support
- If you have downloaded the file but cannot find it, please check the folder on your device where downloads are saved to. Sellers cannot assist in locating the file after downloading because only you know how your computer/tablet/phone is set up.
- Etsy sellers are able to see if and when the digital file was downloaded
When to contact the seller VS. when to contact Etsy Support:
- Questions about the digital pattern file such as details about materials, sizes, stitches, yarn, etc: Contact seller
- Needing clarification on your project or running into something in the pattern that you need some help with: Contact seller
- Having difficulty accessing the digital file or not receiving a confirmation email/link: Contact Etsy Support
- Needing a refund or having concerns about the product: Contact seller
It’s not that the sellers don’t want to help. We do! We really want your experience with our patterns to be positive and easy and straightforward right from the beginning with your purchase. We really love and appreciate that you enjoy our designs so much. Unfortunately, there is only so much we can assist with outside of our ability as a seller on a platform such as Etsy. If you reach out to a seller on Etsy and you are frustrated about not being able to access your file, that’s totally understandable and we get it. Just please remember that there is a person on the receiving of your message who is limited in their ability to assist and that Etsy Support is the best way to resolve the issue in those situations.
I hope you found this post helpful and that it offers a little behind the scenes insight as to how Etsy works for sellers of digital items. Thanks for reading and your support! Happy crocheting!