How to Allow Users to Download Gallery Images in WordPress

by Waseem Abbas on Jan 25, 2018 Reader Disclosure

Do you want to allow your site users to download image galleries? Adding a download button on your photos will make it easier for the visitors to save images. In this tutorial, we will share how to allow users to download gallery images in WordPress.

By default, you can’t download images from WordPress galleries. We recommend you to use a plugin like Envira Gallery that comes with tons of features including image downloading, social media sharing and more.

To allow users to download gallery images in WordPress, you’ll need to follow these 5 steps:

• Step 1. Install and activate Envira Gallery plugin
• Step 2. Install and activate the Downloads addon
• Step 3. Create an image gallery with your photos
• Step 4. Go to Downloads tab to enable the option
• Step 5. Publish and display your image gallery

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll see a download button on the images that will look like as shown in this image below:

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

Step 1: Install and Activate Envira Gallery Plugin

The first thing you need to do is install and activate Envira Gallery plugin on your WordPress website.

For assistance, you should check out this guide on how to install Envira Gallery in WordPress.

Step 2: Install and Activate the Downloads Addon

After activating the plugin, you need to go to Envira Gallery » Addons from your WordPress admin to install and activate Downloads addon.

To access this addon, you must have Envira Pro or Agency license. Wondering how to get it? Simply upgrade your license from here.

This addon will allow you to easily add the download button on your WordPress gallery images.

Step 3: Create an Image Gallery with Your Photos

Now go to Envira Gallery » Add New to add an image gallery on your WordPress site. Start by adding a title and drop the photos in the Native Envira Gallery section.

To learn more about the gallery settings, you should check out this guide on how to create an image gallery with thumbnails in WordPress.

Step 4: Go to Downloads Tab to Enable the Option

Scroll down to Downloads tab and click on the Display Download Button to enable the download option on the gallery images.

You can change the download button position, enable download all photos button and more from the settings below. There’s also an option to enable download button in the gallery lightbox view.

Step 5: Publish and Display Your Image Gallery

Once you are done with all the settings, go ahead and click on the Publish button. Copy the shortcode from Envira Code widget.

Next you should go to Pages/Posts » Add New or edit an existing page/post. In the visual editor, paste the shortcode of the gallery.

Make sure that you hit the Publish/Update button. Simply visit your site to see the download button on gallery images that will look like as shown in this image below:

You may want to only enable downloads for specific users, or clients who have already paid for their photos.

To do this, you can add password protection to your image galleries, so only customers with the right password can access and download gallery images.

That’s all. We hope this tutorial has helped you to learn how to allow users to download gallery images in WordPress. You may also want to check out our guide on the best image formats and different file formats with their features. In case your image gallery is loading slow, we recommend you to check this ultimate guide to boost speed and performance.

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