How to Create an Image Slider in WordPress

Do you want to add an image slider to your website? A slider lets you show off photos or featured content in one compact, animated space — and in WordPress you can build one in minutes, no code required. In this article, we’ll share how to create an image slider in WordPress, step by step.

To create and configure an image slider in WordPress, you’ll need to follow these 10 steps:

• Step 1. Install the Soliloquy slider plugin
• Step 2. Add a new slider
• Step 3. Add images to your slider
• Step 4. Configure slider settings
• Step 5. Configure mobile settings
• Step 6. Configure miscellaneous settings
• Step 7. Publish and copy your shortcode
• Step 8. Add the slider to a post or page
• Step 9. Add features to your slider
• Step 10. Understand your Soliloquy license

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a fully customized image slider that looks something like this (depending on your chosen settings):

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

Step 1: Install the Soliloquy Slider Plugin

The first thing you’ll need to do is get Soliloquy, our WordPress slider plugin. It’s built to stay fast and lightweight, which matters more for sliders than for almost any other feature you can add to a page.

After purchasing, install and activate the plugin on your WordPress site. If you need help, check out this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once the plugin is active, you’re ready to add a new image slider in WordPress.

Step 2: Add a New Slider

To add a new slider, go to Soliloquy » Add New from your WordPress dashboard.

This opens a new screen where you’ll add images and details for your slider. Go ahead and write a title for your image slider.

Step 3: Add Images to Your Slider

Next, add images to the Native Slider section. (We’ll cover the External Slider tab later in this tutorial.)

To add an image, click the Select Files from Your Computer button, or simply drag and drop your photos onto the window.

Step 4: Configure Slider Settings

Just below the Slider tab you’ll see the Config tab. Click it to view your image slider settings.

Here you can select the slider theme, image size, slider dimensions, and more. Getting the image size right is what keeps every slide uniform — see our guide on fixing the image size for your slider if your slides look inconsistent.

Step 5: Configure Mobile Settings

The next tab down is the Mobile tab. Here you can enable or disable mobile slider images, set the mobile dimensions, and turn captions on or off for smaller screens.

It’s worth taking a minute here — most of your visitors will likely see the mobile version of your slider, so check how it looks on a phone before you call it done.

Step 6: Configure Miscellaneous Settings

The final tab is the Misc tab. This is where you can set the internal slider title, slug, and custom CSS classes.

If you’d like to go further with styling, our guide on adding custom CSS to your image slider picks up where this tab leaves off.

Step 7: Publish and Copy Your Shortcode

Once you’re happy with your settings, hit the Publish button. Then look for the Soliloquy Slider Code widget.

Copy the shortcode from this widget — you’ll need it to add the image slider to your posts or pages.

Or, if you want to place the slider in your theme’s template files, copy the template tag instead.

Step 8: Add the Slider to a Post or Page

Add or edit the post where you want your image slider, then paste the shortcode into the editor and update the post. If you use shortcodes often, our guide on adding a WordPress slider with a shortcode covers every place they work.

Your image slider will now display on your website! Check out this demo slider to see how it looks:

Step 9: Add Features to Your Slider

To add more features, go to Soliloquy » Addons and browse what’s available. Addons let you build on your slider in minutes — carousels, thumbnails, video slides, captions with HTML, and more.

To see how addons work once enabled, check out our guide on how to configure Soliloquy Addons.

Step 10: Understand Your Soliloquy License

There are 4 types of Soliloquy licenses to choose from.

Each license gives you access to a certain set of addons, so you can upgrade whenever you need more features. For details, check out our doc on how to upgrade your Soliloquy license.

FAQs About Creating an Image Slider in WordPress

That’s it! We hope this article helped you learn how to create an image slider in WordPress. If you’d like to do more with your new slider, check out these beginner-friendly guides:

• How to Add a Homepage Slider in WordPress
• How to Add an Image Slider with Captions in WordPress
• How to Create a Responsive Video Slider in WordPress
• How to Create a WordPress Slider with a Contact Form
• Is Your WordPress Slider Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It!

Waseem Abbas

Waseem Abbas is a content writer for SoliloquyWP and Envira Gallery.

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Published by Waseem Abbas

Waseem Abbas is a content writer for SoliloquyWP and Envira Gallery.