If you need to display multiple images in a post or page, adding them one by one creates a poor user experience. Long pages full of individual images make people scroll endlessly, and most visitors won’t stick around for that.
Image galleries solve this problem by organizing multiple images into a compact, grid-based layout. Visitors can see thumbnail previews and click to view full-size images without leaving your page.
Here’s how to create image galleries using WordPress’s built-in features and when you might want to consider plugin alternatives.
Creating galleries with WordPress built-in features
Click the + button to add a new block and search for “Gallery.” Select the gallery block from the results.
You’ll get options to upload images from your computer or choose from your existing media library. Select your images and they’ll appear in the gallery block.
The gallery block includes settings in the sidebar where you can:
- Adjust the number of columns
- Choose whether to crop images to fit
- Add captions to individual images
- Link images to media files or attachment pages
You can also drag images within the block to reorder them.
WordPress’s default gallery functionality works fine for basic needs, but it has some limitations:
- Limited customization – You can’t do much beyond choosing column numbers and basic linking options.
- No lightbox – When people click images, they either go to a new page or download the file, rather than viewing it in an overlay.
- Basic styling – The gallery inherits your theme’s styling with minimal customization options.
- No gallery management – Each gallery exists only within the specific post or page where you create it. You can’t reuse galleries across multiple posts.
When to use plugin alternatives
For basic image galleries, WordPress’s built-in functionality works fine. But if you need more control over appearance, want lightbox functionality, or plan to create many galleries, a plugin might be worth considering.
- Modula – Offers both free and premium versions with customizable grid layouts and lightbox functionality.
- NextGEN Gallery – A comprehensive gallery plugin with album management and e-commerce features.
- FooGallery – Responsive galleries with multiple layout options and lightbox integration.
- Envira Gallery – Drag-and-drop gallery builder with social sharing and lightbox features.
How to Create a Password-Protected WordPress Gallery
There are two methods to protect your WordPress gallery with passwords, and each method has different purposes and actions to do. Check out our tutorial video and find the most suitable way for you:
Method 1: Password Protect Image Gallery Embedded in a Post or Page
This method provides you with the solution to show all content on a page or post except your media gallery, meaning people have to enter the correct password to see your protected gallery.
Before getting started, you need to install and activate the PPWP plugin. Then take the following steps to password protect your gallery:
- In the WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Password Protect WordPress → Partial Protection.
2. Click on the Section Protection tab.
3. Click Add New to generate a new gallery.
4. Select Add Media → Create Gallery, then add images to your gallery.
5. Select Create a new gallery → Insert gallery.
In the Passwords screen, set your passwords. You can set up user roles and manage passwords in one place for the gallery.
6. Hit the Save Changes button to save your inputted passwords.
7. Click Publish and copy the shortcode of the section protection on the right of the page.
8. Then, embed the section protection into a new or existing page/post by inserting the shortcode you have copied.
9. Once you’ve done, click Publish. Your content will look like this.
This plugin also allows you to customize your password form.
Method 2: Password Protect the Entire Post or Page
This is the easiest way to protect your gallery. Follow the guide below:
- Create your media gallery.
Simply click the Password Protect button under the posts or pages screen.
2. Press Password to protect this page under the popup to protect your private gallery. The plugin will auto-generate a new password after protection.
You can add as many new passwords as possible. To create your own password instead of the auto-generated passwords, simply go to the New Password tab.
Here you’ll be able to manage your passwords, customize user roles, view the password usage, and set its expiration time and usage limits. What’s more, you can manually delete or deactivate each password.
Now, your WordPress gallery is completely password-protected. You can choose either one method or both to password protect your WordPress gallery.
Conclusion
The truth is that most websites can get by with WordPress’s built-in gallery functionality. It’s simple, reliable, and doesn’t add any extra complexity to your site. Plugin-based solutions make sense when you have specific requirements that the default features can’t handle, but they’re not necessary for everyone.
Start with the built-in gallery features and see if they meet your needs. You can always add a plugin later if you find yourself wanting more advanced functionality.
