How to Add and Customize Image Galleries in Wix (Beginner’s Guide)

Luka C.
Jul 11
3 min read

If you're building a portfolio, a product showcase, or just want to display beautiful photos on your website — image galleries in Wix are a must. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to add a gallery in Wix, the different types of galleries available, and how to customize layout, effects, and performance to match your site's design.

Whether you’re using the Wix Editor or Wix Studio, this tutorial is beginner-friendly and perfect for creatives, small businesses, and online shops.

Types of Image Galleries in Wix

Wix offers a range of built-in galleries, including:

1. Wix Pro Gallery

This is the most advanced option with:

Clean, high-resolution display
Custom hover effects
Social sharing buttons
Download protection & right-click disable
Fully responsive and mobile-optimized

2. Basic Galleries

Ideal for simple displays:

Grid Gallery
Slider Gallery
Masonry
Collage
CarouselThese are more limited in settings but quick and easy to use.

3. Slideshow & Strip Slides

Perfect for storytelling or featuring full-width images. These galleries include:

Manual or auto-slide options
Arrows, dots, or swipe navigation
Can include text, buttons, and videos

How to Add a Gallery in Wix

Here’s how to add a gallery in Wix Editor:

Go to the Wix Editor
- Open your site in the Wix Editor (not Wix Studio for this guide).
Click the Add (+) Button on the left
- Choose “Gallery” from the menu.
Select the Type of Gallery
- Click on any style (e.g. Pro Gallery, Grid, Slider) to add it to your page.
Add Your Images
- Click the gallery, then click “Manage Media”.
- Upload images or choose from your site files, Wix Media, or Unsplash.
Customize Layout
- Under “Layout,” change columns, spacing, crop style, aspect ratio, and more.

Customizing Hover Effects

Want your images to come alive on hover? Here’s how:

Select your gallery
Click “Settings” → “Hover”
Enable and choose effects like:
- Zoom In/Out
- Fade
- Slide
- Scale
- Text overlay on hover

In Wix Pro Gallery, you can even customize hover background, animation speed, and apply unique effects per image.

Slider and Scrolling Galleries

To create a horizontal scrolling gallery or slideshow:

Go to Add → Gallery → Sliders
Choose between Classic Slideshow, Full-Width Slider, or Scroll Gallery
Customize navigation (dots/arrows), auto-play, and image transitions

Pro tip: Use Strip Slides (Add → Strip → Strip Slides) for more design flexibility, including text, buttons, and background images in each slide.

Wix Pro Gallery vs. Basic Gallery: Which One to Use?

Feature	Basic Gallery	Wix Pro Gallery
High-res support	❌ Often compressed	✅ Fully optimized
Mobile responsiveness	✅	✅
Hover effects	Limited	Advanced
Download/Right-click control	❌	✅
Layout flexibility	Moderate	Very High
Social sharing	❌	✅

Verdict:If you want professional results, especially for a portfolio, photography site, or ecommerce product display — go with Wix Pro Gallery. It gives you more control, better image quality, and a more polished experience.

Final Tips

Keep galleries under ~20 images per section for faster load times.
Use hover effects sparingly — too much animation can distract from your content.
Test how your gallery looks on mobile and tablet view.
Group galleries in different sections if you have lots of categories (e.g. Weddings, Events, Products).