How to force file download with PHP

I want to require a file to be downloaded upon the user visiting a web page with PHP. I think it has something to do with file_get_contents, but am not sure how to execute it.

$url = "http://example.com/go.exe";

After downloading a file with header(location) it is not redirecting to another page. It just stops.

Solution 1:

Read the docs about built-in PHP function readfile

$file_url = 'http://www.myremoteserver.com/file.exe';
header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');
header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: Binary"); 
header("Content-disposition: attachment; filename=\"" . basename($file_url) . "\""); 
readfile($file_url); 

Also make sure to add proper content type based on your file application/zip, application/pdf etc. - but only if you do not want to trigger the save-as dialog.

Solution 2:

<?php
$file = "http://example.com/go.exe"; 

header("Content-Description: File Transfer"); 
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream"); 
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=\"". basename($file) ."\""); 

readfile ($file);
exit(); 
?>

Or, when the file is not openable with the browser, you can just use the Location header:

<?php header("Location: http://example.com/go.exe"); ?>

Solution 3:

header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");
header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: Binary");
header("Content-disposition: attachment; filename=\"file.exe\""); 
echo readfile($url);

is correct

or better one for exe type of files

header("Location: $url");