How to Enlarge Images Upon Click in WordPress (3 Easy Methods)

Have you ever clicked connected an image connected a website expecting it to zoom in, only to recognize it doesn’t? It’s a mini thing, but it tin beryllium amazingly frustrating for your visitors.

When group tin click to enlarge an image—whether it’s a merchandise photo, a blog image, aliases portion of a portfolio—they thin to enactment connected your website longer and prosecute more.

I’ve group up this characteristic connected respective WordPress sites, and it’s ever a speedy win.

In this guide, I’ll show you 3 elemental ways to let users to click to enlarge images connected your WordPress website. You don’t request immoderate coding skills, and each method only takes a fewer minutes to group up.

Why Enlarge Images Upon Click successful WordPress?

Letting visitors click to enlarge images connected your WordPress website helps them spot important specifications up close.

It’s a elemental upgrade that adds a polished, master feel, particularly for portfolios, existent property listings, and photography galleries.

Plus, it tin beryllium useful for online stores wherever customers want to look intimately astatine your products earlier deciding to bargain them.

WordPress includes a basal “Enlarge connected click” characteristic by default. It opens nan image correct connected nan page, without immoderate inheritance dimming aliases ocular effect.

This useful good for elemental blogs aliases soul pages, but it looks a spot plain and doesn’t connection overmuch control.

If you want thing that looks much modern and polished, past an image lightbox plugin is simply a amended choice.

Instead of simply expanding nan image, it opens successful a sleek overlay that dims nan inheritance and keeps nan spectator focused. You besides get much power complete really nan image looks and functions.

Before I show you these different methods, there’s 1 much point to support successful mind: image quality. When personification clicks to enlarge a photo, they expect a clear, high-resolution version. But large image files tin slow down your site.

That’s wherever image optimization comes in. By compressing your images without lowering their visible quality, you tin support record sizes mini and your tract fast.

This intends you tin usage images pinch ample dimensions (like 1500px wide) that look awesome erstwhile enlarged, without hurting performance.

For thief pinch that, cheque retired our guideline connected how to optimize images for nan web.

In this article, I’ll stock 3 different methods that tin enlarge your WordPress images erstwhile they’re clicked, including immoderate lightbox options.

You tin usage nan speedy links beneath to jump to nan method you want to use:

Method 1: Using nan Default WordPress Feature (Simple)

After testing different ways to enlarge images, I’ve recovered that WordPress’s built-in characteristic is cleanable for elemental needs.

I’ve utilized this method erstwhile creating archiving aliases penning method articles. It’s particularly useful erstwhile you request readers to spot mini specifications successful screenshots aliases analyse circumstantial parts of an image much closely.

The main downside is that it isn’t a existent lightbox. It simply enlarges nan image, and you can’t customize nan look aliases adhd cool effects.

Step 1: Add Your Image successful nan WordPress Editor

First, you request to create aliases unfastened nan station wherever you want to adhd nan clickable image.

Then, successful nan block editor, click nan (+) icon to adhd a caller artifact and take ‘Image’ from nan artifact options. Once you do, you’ll spot buttons for adding an image successful 3 different ways: Upload, Media Library, aliases Insert from URL.

At WPBeginner, we ever usage nan ‘Media Library’ option. This makes judge that nan title and alt text we adhd to nan image are disposable if we reuse it successful different articles.

I propose avoiding ‘Insert from URL’. It hotlinks to an image connected different website, which intends nan image could break connected your tract if nan original is ever removed.

Step 2: Set Up nan ‘Enlarge connected Click’ Option

After adding your image to nan station aliases page, you tin click connected it to uncover nan image settings.

With nan image selected, click nan ‘Insert link’ icon successful nan artifact toolbar. In nan settings that appear, simply toggle connected nan action labeled ‘Enlarge connected click’.

Step 3: Configure Image Settings

Now that you’ve enabled nan click-to-enlarge feature, you whitethorn want to customize nan original image’s settings to guarantee nan champion show value wrong your station aliases page.

Select your image and past cheque nan artifact settings sheet connected nan correct broadside of your screen.

You tin power really nan image looks connected nan page by adjusting nan image’s dimensions. However, this is conscionable nan show size.

When a visitant clicks nan image, they will spot nan original, full-resolution image you uploaded to your Media Library. So, make judge you upload a high-quality image astatine slightest 1500 pixels wide.

Step 4: Preview Your Image and Publish Your Content

Before you people your station aliases page pinch nan ‘enlarge connected click’ image action enabled, you’ll want to preview it to make judge it’s working.

To do this, click connected nan View fastener successful nan precocious right-hand area of your editor and prime ‘Preview successful caller tab.’

I urge you trial it successful each position option, particularly ‘Mobile’, since galore group usage smartphones these days.

With nan ‘enlarge connected click’ image effect applied, it should grow connected nan aforesaid page, arsenic seen successful nan illustration below. How overmuch it expands depends connected nan size of nan original image you uploaded.

Simply click connected nan image to return it to normal size.

Once everything looks good, you’re fresh to people aliases update your content.

Method 2: Using a Lightbox Plugin (More Customization)

Unlike nan basal WordPress feature, a lightbox plugin creates a overmuch much master experience. When a personification clicks an image, it opens successful a stylish overlay that dims nan remainder of nan page, making your image pop.

I urge nan free Simple Lightbox plugin because it lets you adhd soft animations, customizable themes, and slideshow features that make your images guidelines out. It’s lightweight and useful automatically pinch each your images erstwhile activated.

Step 1: Install and Activate nan Simple Lightbox Plugin

To get started, you request to instal and activate nan Simple Lightbox plugin.

If you request thief pinch this process, please publication our guideline connected installing WordPress plugins.

Step 2: Configure Simple Lightbox Settings

After activating nan plugin, it’s a bully thought to caput to Appearance » Lightbox and reappraisal its settings to guarantee everything is group up nan measurement you want.

Here, you’ll find Lightbox settings that fto you set wherever you want to alteration lightbox functionality. This tin beryllium connected nan location page, azygous posts, pages, and more.

I usually instrumentality pinch nan default settings since they activity awesome for astir websites.

Next, scroll down to nan ‘UI’ settings. These power really nan lightbox looks and feels.

By default, nan plugin will usage a ray theme, but you tin move to dark mode if you prefer. You tin besides set nan ‘Overlay Opacity,’ which controls really overmuch nan inheritance page is dimmed erstwhile an image is open, and alteration animations to alteration really nan image opens.

Feel free to play pinch these settings, and don’t hide to click ‘Save Changes’ erstwhile you’re done.

Step 3: Add Your Image and Enable Lightbox

Now, let’s trial retired nan lightbox feature. Simply create aliases unfastened a station and adhd an image.

Once your image is successful nan editor, you request to adhd a caption. The Simple Lightbox plugin will show this matter successful nan lightbox view.

Simply click nan image and make judge nan ‘Add Caption’ icon is activated successful nan toolbar. This allows you to type successful nan ‘Add caption’ matter section beneath your image.

If you don’t adhd a caption, nan plugin will automatically usage nan image title from nan Media Library instead. However, I find that utilizing nan caption section gives you much nonstop control.

Next, pinch nan image still selected, you request to click nan ‘Link’ icon successful nan toolbar and prime nan ‘Link to Image File’ option. This is simply a cardinal measurement that allows nan Simple Lightbox plugin to work.

Once you do this, nan plugin will automatically observe nan nexus and use its lightbox effect erstwhile a visitant clicks connected nan image.

💡 Note: You tin besides usage Simple Lightbox for an full image gallery. Simply create an image gallery utilizing nan artifact editor and past travel nan steps described successful this method to adhd nan lightbox characteristic to each image.

Step 4: Test Your Lightbox

Now, let’s trial nan lightbox characteristic by previewing nan post. Just click nan View action successful nan precocious right-hand area and past prime ‘Preview successful caller tab’.

Once nan caller tab opens, spell up and click connected nan image. You should spot it unfastened smoothly successful a lightbox overlay pinch a darkened background.

Depending connected your creation settings, you will spot nan lightbox successful a ray aliases acheronian theme. Here’s what nan ray taxable looks like.

The ray taxable surrounds nan photograph pinch a achromatic frame, which creates a bully opposition pinch nan darkened background.

Now here’s what nan acheronian taxable looks like.

You should besides spot your image caption successful nan bottommost near area of nan lightbox.

I besides urge previewing your lightbox connected different surface sizes to make judge it looks bully connected each device.

You tin do this by returning to nan View action and selecting nan ‘Desktop’, ‘Tablet’, aliases ‘Mobile’ option. After that, click ‘Preview successful caller tab.’

Method 3: Using a Gallery Plugin (Best for Multiple Images)

If you’ve ever wanted to spotlight aggregate images, past assemblage plugins are hands down nan champion solution. They thief shape and showcase a bid of images pinch image enlargement functionality without slowing down your site.

These plugins tin amended personification relationship by making your contented much engaging and visually appealing, giving visitors a seamless acquisition navigating done your images.

I urge Envira Gallery because it allows you to create beautiful, customizable galleries that look awesome connected immoderate device. It’s besides ace beginner-friendly.

Plus, it includes capacity features for illustration lazy loading to make judge your galleries don’t slow down your site. And its AI instrumentality tin thief you create civilization images correct wrong WordPress.

Most importantly, nan plugin offers a lightbox mounting pinch tons of customization options. This way, you tin get each nan benefits of nan click-to-enlarge image feature, positive immoderate cool settings for layouts, assemblage transitions, and overmuch more.

Want to study much astir what nan plugin tin do? We’ve tested it extensively successful nan past, and you tin cheque retired our full Envira Gallery review for much information.

📝 Note: While there’s a free version of Envira Gallery available, I urge nan Pro type for precocious features for illustration SuperSize lightbox, Envira AI, and societal sharing tools.

Now, let’s spell done nan steps of utilizing Envira Gallery to adhd a lightbox feature.

Step 1: Install and Activate nan Envira Gallery Plugin

Let’s commencement by installing nan plugin connected your site. In this tutorial, I’ll usage nan free version, aliases you tin acquisition a Pro licence from nan Envira Gallery website.

Next, instal and activate it by pursuing our guideline connected how to instal a WordPress plugin. Once you’ve activated nan plugin, Envira’s setup wizard should instantly launch.

From here, click nan ‘Get Started’ fastener to statesman nan process.

There are 5 steps successful this wizard.

During setup, you tin take nan class that describes your business aliases website (like photographer aliases business owner) and prime nan assemblage features you wish to add.

I urge continuing pinch nan suggested default settings because they usually connection everything you need. However, if you person a Pro plan, you’ll beryllium capable to activate much precocious features.

Keep successful mind that nan ‘Lightboxes’ action should already beryllium checked, truthful this characteristic will automatically beryllium enabled.

Once you’ve vanished nan setup wizard, you’ll still request to activate your pro licence if you purchased one. To do this, spell to Envira Gallery » Settings and paste your licence cardinal successful nan field. Then, deed ‘Verify Key.’

Step 2: Create a New Gallery

To create your first gallery, spell to Envira Gallery » Add New successful your dashboard.

First, adhd a title astatine nan apical of nan page. I urge giving it a clear and descriptive sanction truthful that it’s easier to support way of later.

Next, you’ll announcement 3 options for adding images: Native Envira Gallery, Galleries from Other Sources, and Create pinch Envira AI.

I urge starting pinch Native Envira Gallery. It’s nan astir straightforward measurement to upload your ain images directly.

💡 Need original images fast? You tin besides create your ain civilization images pinch Envira AI. This characteristic makes it easy to make unsocial images connected demand. All you person to do is create a speedy image description, prime from nan results, and adhd it to your assemblage successful a azygous click.

Go up and prime nan images you want to include. You tin adhd arsenic galore arsenic you for illustration while keeping nan maximum upload record size beneath 256 MB.

Step 3: Configure Gallery and Lightbox Options

In nan paper to nan near of your assemblage images, you’ll find Envira’s Gallery settings.

There are tabs for wide configuration, nan lightbox feature, mobile settings, and more. Let’s spell done them 1 astatine a time.

You tin take your assemblage layout astatine nan apical of nan ‘Configuration’ section. The grid layout useful awesome for astir galleries, but consciousness free to research pinch different options.

Scrolling down, you tin find much assemblage settings options.

For example, you tin alteration lazy loading, group an automatic layout, and adhd a assemblage description.

For example, you mightiness want to group automatic layouts to guarantee your assemblage looks neat and organized without other effort.

💡 Pro Tip: I urge enabling nan lazy loading option. This characteristic helps your assemblage load faster by only loading images arsenic visitors scroll down nan page. It besides helps optimize your site speed.

Next, move to nan ‘Lightbox’ tab. Remember, this characteristic should beryllium enabled by default, but if it isn’t, cheque nan container adjacent to ‘Enable Lightbox?’

Then, you’ll want to prime a ‘Gallery Lightbox Theme.’ This will find nan wide quality of your lightbox.

Your options will dangle connected your Envira scheme and whether you person nan Gallery Themes addon. But you should beryllium capable to prime from a dark, light, aliases bequest theme.

Further down successful nan ‘Lightbox’ tab, you tin take really your enlarged images appear, prime modulation effects, and determine whether to show image titles.

Then, you tin find much lightbox settings connected nan 2nd half of nan page.

For example, you tin alteration navigation arrows, infinite looping of images, aliases supersize mode. You tin moreover adhd cool effects for erstwhile group unfastened aliases adjacent your gallery, and erstwhile they click done it.

For instance, for ‘Lightbox Transition Effect,’ you tin prime nosy options for illustration Fade, Slide, Circular, Tube, Rotate, and more.

Next, I urge going to nan ‘Mobile’ tab to configure some nan wide and lightbox settings.

More group will astir apt position your assemblage connected phones than computers, truthful let’s make judge it looks awesome connected mini screens too.

In summation to activating nan lightbox characteristic for mobile devices, you tin customize mobile-specific settings specified arsenic lightbox dimensions, statement heights, and title aliases caption displays.

As you scroll down, you’ll observe much options, including features for illustration swipe-up to close, assemblage navigation arrows, thumbnails, and more.

Finally, nan ‘Standalone’ and ‘Misc’ tabs person a fewer other settings you whitethorn find useful.

The ‘Standalone’ tab lets you springiness your assemblage its ain unsocial URL. This is simply a awesome characteristic if you want to stock a nonstop nexus to a circumstantial portfolio aliases photograph album.

The ‘Misc’ tab includes devices for importing and exporting galleries, but you astir apt won’t request those correct now.

For a deeper dive into each these settings, you tin cheque retired our elaborate guideline connected how to create an image gallery.

Step 4: Preview and Publish Your Gallery

To preview nan gallery, click nan ‘Preview’ fastener connected nan correct broadside of your assemblage settings page.

Once you’re connected nan preview page, click done different images to trial nan lightbox effect.

Here, you tin spot nan image’s sanction and nan remainder of nan gallery.

When you trial nan gallery, nan images should unfastened smoothly. If you chose a modulation effect, it should beryllium visible here.

For example, I group nan Slide modulation effect, and here’s really it looks.

To navigate betwixt images, click connected nan navigation arrows connected either broadside of nan surface aliases usage nan arrow keys connected your keyboard.

At this point, you whitethorn want to make judge nan navigation arrows activity and that your image titles look correctly if you enabled them.

Once you’re happy pinch really everything works, you tin people nan assemblage by clicking nan ‘Publish’ fastener connected nan correct broadside of your assemblage settings.

After publishing nan gallery, you tin move connected to adding it to your website.

Step 5: Add nan Gallery to Your Website

Now that your assemblage is moving perfectly, let’s adhd it to a post.

Once you are successful nan WordPress editor, click nan (+) icon to adhd a caller artifact and hunt for ‘Envira Gallery.’ Then resistance nan artifact onto your post.

Next, erstwhile you click nan ‘Search for a gallery’ drop-down, prime nan assemblage you conscionable created. It will beryllium automatically inserted into nan station pinch each nan settings you conscionable configured.

Alternatively, you tin adhd your assemblage to pages, widgets, aliases civilization station types by utilizing a shortcode.

You tin find this shortcode connected nan correct sidebar of nan assemblage settings, conscionable nether nan ‘Publish’ button.

For much information, spot our guideline connected how to adhd a shortcode successful WordPress.

Before clicking nan ‘Publish’ button, make judge you preview your station 1 last clip to make judge nan assemblage appears precisely arsenic you want it.

Your images should now beryllium displayed successful a master grid layout pinch a soft lightbox effect erstwhile clicked.

FAQs About Enlarging Images successful WordPress

Here are immoderate often asked questions astir enlarging images successful WordPress.

How do I enlarge images successful WordPress?

You tin usage nan default ‘Enlarge connected click’ characteristic successful WordPress for basal functionality. For much control, you tin usage plugins for illustration Simple Lightbox aliases Envira Gallery.

How do I automatically resize images successful WordPress? 

WordPress automatically creates respective smaller versions of your images erstwhile you upload them. To person much power complete image dimensions aliases to optimize them for speed, I urge utilizing an image optimization plugin for illustration EWWW Image Optimizer.

Plugins for illustration Envira Gallery besides springiness you precise power complete nan show dimensions of images wrong your galleries.

How do I unit image size successful WordPress?

You tin group civilization image dimensions wrong your theme. For a elaborate guide, cheque retired our tutorial connected how to create further image sizes successful WordPress. This is simply a awesome measurement to guarantee a accordant layout crossed your galleries and site.

If you for illustration utilizing a plugin, see options for illustration Envira Gallery. It allows you to specify nonstop image dimensions efficiently, providing power complete really your galleries look. This tin thief support a polished quality crossed your site.

Bonus Resources: Manage & Improve Your WordPress Images

I dream this article helped you adhd nan ‘enlarge images upon click’ characteristic successful WordPress. Here are immoderate prize guides if you’re willing successful managing and improving your WordPress images:

• How to Optimize Images for Web Performance Without Losing Quality
• How to Add Multiple Galleries successful WordPress Posts and Pages
• Best WordPress Image Compression Plugins Compared
• How to Add a Hero Image successful WordPress (Works for All Themes)
• How to Create Additional Image Sizes successful WordPress
• How to Fix Common Image Issues successful WordPress (Ultimate Guide)

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