How to Switch From NextGEN to Envira Gallery in WordPress?

NextGEN Gallery and Envira Gallery are popular WordPress plugins for managing images and creating galleries. If you’ve been using NextGEN Gallery but want to switch to Envira Gallery, you’ll need to migrate your galleries and ensure a seamless transition. This guide will walk you through the steps to switch from NextGEN to Envira Gallery in WordPress, including migrating content, updating pages, and ensuring your new gallery setup works smoothly.

1. Install and Activate Envira Gallery

Before migrating your content, you need to install Envira Gallery on your WordPress site. Here’s how:

• Go to Plugins ⟶ Add New  in your WordPress admin dashboard. Search for Envira Gallery.
• Click Install Now ⟶ Activate.

If you have a premium version of Envira Gallery, activate your license to unlock additional features.

• Go to Envira Gallery ⟶ Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
• Enter your license key and click “Activate.”

With Envira Gallery installed and activated, you’re ready to migrate content from NextGEN Gallery.

2. Create Galleries in Envira Gallery

To migrate from NextGEN Gallery to Envira Gallery, you’ll need to create new galleries in Envira and add images to them. Here’s how to create a gallery in Envira:

• Go to Envira Gallery ⟶ Add New in your WordPress admin dashboard. Enter a title for your gallery.
• Click “Select Files from Your Computer” to upload new images, or select existing images from your WordPress media library.
• Add images to your new gallery and arrange them as needed.

After adding images to your gallery, configure the gallery settings. Envira Gallery offers various customization options, such as:

• Gallery layout (e.g., grid, masonry, carousel).
• Lightbox settings.
• Thumbnails and captions.

Customize the gallery to match your desired design and user experience. Once you’ve configured your gallery, click “Publish” to save it.

Envira Gallery provides a shortcode that you can use to embed the gallery on WordPress pages or posts. With a new gallery created in Envira, you can proceed with migrating content from NextGEN Gallery.

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3. Migrate Content from NextGEN Gallery to Envira Gallery

While Envira Gallery doesn’t have a built-in tool to import galleries from NextGEN, you can manually migrate content by following these steps:

• Review your NextGEN galleries and decide which ones to migrate to Envira.
• Make a list of the galleries and their corresponding images.

Export Images from NextGEN

NextGEN Gallery stores images in a folder on your WordPress site. Locate the folder where your NextGEN images are stored.

• Use FTP or a file manager plugin to download images from the NextGEN folder to your local computer.
• You can find the location of NextGEN images in the plugin’s settings, typically under Gallery ⟶ Other Options ⟶ Path to Gallery.

Import Images into Envira Gallery

Go to the gallery you created in Envira and click “Add Images.”

• Upload the images you exported from NextGEN to the new Envira gallery.
• Arrange and configure the gallery as needed.
• Click “Update” to save the changes.

Repeat this process for each gallery you want to migrate from NextGEN to Envira.

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4. Update WordPress Pages and Posts with Envira Galleries

Once you’ve created new galleries in Envira, you need to update your WordPress pages and posts to replace NextGEN galleries with Envira galleries. Here’s how to do it:

• Use WordPress search or other tools to identify pages and posts where you’ve embedded NextGEN galleries.
• Note the shortcodes or other identifiers used to embed NextGEN galleries.

Go to the page or post that contains a NextGEN gallery. Replace the NextGEN shortcode with the Envira Gallery shortcode for the corresponding gallery. Save or update the page or post.

After updating the shortcodes, test the pages and posts to ensure the Envira galleries are displayed correctly. Verify that the layout, lightbox functionality, and other features work as expected.

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5. Remove NextGEN Gallery and Clean Up Your WordPress Site

After migrating to Envira Gallery, you can remove NextGEN Gallery and clean up any remaining references to the old plugin. Here’s how to do it:

• Go to “Plugins” in your WordPress dashboard.
• Find “NextGEN Gallery” and click “Deactivate.”
• Click “Delete” to remove the plugin from your WordPress site.

Lastly, check your WordPress database for any leftover data from NextGEN Gallery. Use a plugin like “WP-Optimize” to clean up unnecessary data. Delete any leftover NextGEN files or folders from your WordPress installation.

In Conclusion

Switching from NextGEN Gallery to Envira Gallery in WordPress requires careful planning and execution. By following the steps outlined above, you can migrate your galleries, update your WordPress pages and posts, and ensure a smooth transition to Envira Gallery. Remember to test thoroughly and address any issues that arise during the migration process.

With Envira Gallery, you’ll have access to a powerful and flexible gallery plugin that can enhance your WordPress site’s user experience and visual appeal. Whether you’re looking for advanced customization, improved performance, or a different user interface, Envira Gallery offers a great solution for managing galleries in WordPress.