How to Switch From NextGEN to Envira Gallery in WordPress (An Expert‘s Step-by-Step Guide)

With over 15 years of experience as a webmaster, I‘ve used my fair share of WordPress gallery plugins. I started out using NextGEN Gallery many years ago as it was the most popular option at the time. But as my sites and galleries grew, I found NextGEN started to show its limitations.

Recently I switched all my sites over to Envira Gallery and have been very impressed with its performance and features. If you‘re looking to make the switch from NextGEN to Envira, this step-by-step guide will show you how I did it successfully.

Why You Should Switch from NextGEN to Envira Gallery

Here are the key reasons I recommend switching from NextGEN to Envira Gallery:

• Speed – Envira is much faster and lightweight. It uses progressive image loading so pages load faster. NextGEN can slow down sites.

• Design Options – Envira has more gallery styles like grid, mosaic, slider, and more. You have full design flexibility.

• Responsiveness – Envira offers superior mobile optimization and retina image support. NextGEN‘s responsiveness is limited.

• Lightboxes – Envira integrates with lightbox plugins like PhotoSwipe. The lightbox experience is so much better.

• Features – Envira has tons of premium features like proofing, ecommerce, EXIF data, custom metadata, and more. NextGEN‘s features remain basic.

After using both plugins extensively, I find Envira provides a smoother, more refined gallery experience while still being easy to use.

Step 1: Install and Activate Envira Gallery

First, you‘ll need to install and activate the Envira Gallery plugin on your WordPress site. You can use either the free version or paid pro version. Both support easy NextGEN migration.

Upon activating Envira Gallery, go to Envira > Settings > Addons. Here you‘ll see a list of available addons for the plugin:

Step 2: Install the NextGEN Importer Addon

Look for the NextGEN Importer addon and click to install it. Once installed, make sure to click to activate it as well. This addon provides the migration functionality to import NextGEN galleries into Envira.

You may need to scroll down to find it:

With this addon activated, you‘re ready to migrate your galleries.

Step 3: Run the NextGEN Gallery Import

A new NextGEN Import menu item will now appear in your WordPress dashboard under Envira Gallery. Click this to open the migration tool.

On the import screen, you‘ll see all your existing NextGEN galleries and albums listed out:

Check the boxes next to any NextGEN galleries or albums you want to migrate over to Envira. Then click Import Galleries.

Envira will now import those galleries along with all images, metadata, and settings. This may take a little while depending on how many images are being imported.

Step 4: View Your Imported Galleries

Once migrated, you can view your new Envira galleries under Envira > Envira Gallery:

The great news is that not only are your galleries migrated, but all the images, metadata, and settings are intact too.

According to Envira, the galleries should migrate seamlessly and be ready to use. But occasionally you may need to manually refresh permalinks or check that images migrated properly.

Step 5: Delete NextGEN Gallery (Optional)

Now that your galleries are safely migrated to Envira, you can optionally delete the NextGEN Gallery plugin if desired.

I recommend first testing that the Envira galleries migrated properly. Then if all looks good, deactivate and delete NextGEN to free up resources.

However, you can also choose to keep NextGEN installed alongside Envira if you still need access to old NextGEN galleries. Both plugins will function independently without conflicts.

Additional Tips for Getting the Most Out of Envira Gallery

Here are some additional tips from my experience using Envira Gallery over the years:

• Take advantage of Envira‘s awesome gallery styles like Grid, Masonry, Filmstrip, and more. The possibilities are endless.

• Make sure to configure your desired gallery settings under Envira > Settings. There are tons of options to customize galleries to your needs.

• Check out premium addons like Proofing, Ecommerce, Social Addons, and more. They add powerful functionality.

• Use compatible lightbox plugins like PhotoSwipe for the best lightbox experience.

• For best performance, make sure your images are properly optimized for web. Envira gives you tools to automate image optimization.

• The Envira documentation is fantastic. Use it as an ongoing reference for all aspects of the plugin.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about switching from NextGEN to Envira! I‘m happy to help fellow webmasters make the transition.