diff --git a/services/context/repo.go b/services/context/repo.go
index 9bb4240ec2..67e0c70811 100644
--- a/services/context/repo.go
+++ b/services/context/repo.go
@@ -447,7 +447,16 @@ func repoAssignmentLegacy(ctx *Context, data *repoAssignmentPrepareDataStruct) {
 			// Check if a license key is provided in query params (for Joomla/WP clients).
 			hasKey := ctx.FormString("dlid") != "" || ctx.FormString("key") != "" || ctx.FormString("download_key") != ""
 
-			if ctx.IsSigned || hasKey {
+			// Check if downloads are set to public (download_gating=none means no key needed).
+			downloadsPublic := false
+			if orgCfg != nil && (orgCfg.DownloadGating == "" || orgCfg.DownloadGating == "none") {
+				downloadsPublic = true
+			}
+			if repoCfg != nil && (repoCfg.DownloadGating == "" || repoCfg.DownloadGating == "none") {
+				downloadsPublic = true
+			}
+
+			if ctx.IsSigned || hasKey || downloadsPublic {
 				// Grant read-only access — downloads gated by CheckDownloadGating handler.
 				ctx.Data["LicensingEnabled"] = licensingEnabled
 				ctx.Data["HideReleaseDownloads"] = !hasKey && !ctx.IsSigned