How to Add Galleries and Sliders

This article explains how to add photo galleries and image sliders to your WordPress website.

Adding a Basic Gallery Using WordPress Blocks

WordPress has a built-in gallery feature that works well for most businesses.

1. Go to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Edit the page where you want to add the gallery
3. Click the + button to add a new block
4. Search for "Gallery" and select the Gallery block
5. Click "Upload" to choose images from your computer, or "Media Library" to use existing images
6. Select multiple images by holding Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) while clicking
7. Click "Create a new gallery"
8. Drag images to reorder them if needed
9. Click "Update" to save your changes

The gallery will display as a grid of thumbnail images. Visitors can click on any image to see it larger.

Adding an Image Slider

Sliders show one image at a time with navigation arrows. WordPress doesn't include a slider by default, so you'll need a plugin.

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New
2. Search for "Slider Revolution" or "MetaSlider" (both are popular options)
3. Click "Install Now" then "Activate"
4. Look for the new slider menu item in your left sidebar
5. Click "Create New Slider"
6. Upload your images and adjust settings like slide timing
7. Copy the shortcode provided (looks like [slider id="123"])
8. Edit your page and paste this shortcode where you want the slider
9. Update the page

For help with plugins, see How to Set Up WordPress Plugins.

Gallery Settings and Options

Both galleries and sliders have settings you can adjust:

Gallery Block Options:

• Number of columns (how many images per row)
• Image size (thumbnail, medium, large)
• Crop images to same size or keep original proportions
• Add captions to individual images

Slider Plugin Options:

• Slide transition effects (fade, slide, etc.)
• Autoplay timing
• Navigation arrows and dots
• Mobile responsiveness settings

Best Practices for Galleries and Sliders

Keep file sizes reasonable. Large images slow down your website. Before uploading, resize images to no more than 1920px wide. For guidance on preparing images, see Adding Images and Media.

Don't overuse sliders. They can slow down your site and some visitors find them annoying. A simple gallery often works better.

Add alt text to your images for accessibility and SEO. When editing your gallery, click on individual images to add descriptions.

Test your galleries on mobile phones. Many visitors will view your site on small screens.

If you're still stuck, contact Web60 support through your account portal and we'll help you set up galleries and sliders.

FAQ

Q: How many images should I put in a gallery?

A: There's no strict limit, but 10-20 images work well for most business websites. Too many images can overwhelm visitors and slow down your page.

Q: What's the difference between a gallery and a slider?

A: A gallery shows multiple images at once in a grid layout. A slider shows one image at a time with arrows to move between them.

Q: Can I add videos to galleries?

A: The WordPress gallery block only supports images. For videos, you'll need to add them separately or use a specialized plugin that handles mixed media.

Q: Why isn't my slider showing up?

A: Check that you've pasted the correct shortcode and that the slider plugin is active. If images aren't loading, see our guide on Images Not Loading Properly.

Q: Can I link gallery images to other pages?

A: Yes, when editing a gallery block, click on individual images to add custom links. This is useful for linking product photos to their detail pages.

Q: Do sliders work on mobile phones?

A: Most modern slider plugins are mobile-responsive, but always test your slider on a phone after setting it up to make sure it looks good.

Q: Can I add captions to gallery images?

A: Yes, click on any image in your gallery block to add a caption. Captions appear below or over the image depending on your theme.