Product gallery settings

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1. Company XYZ documentation on product galleries settings
2. Shopify documentation on theme editor
3. Shopify documentation on sections and blocks

Helpful videos

Shopify Academy video: Customizing your store

Shopify Academy video: Customizing your store

Use these settings to control how product media is presented across desktop and mobile. They help you balance image visibility, product information, variant-specific media behavior, and video playback so the gallery fits both your catalog and your product page layout. For a broader overview of how these controls fit into the theme editor, see Shopify documentation on theme editor

Gallery settings

This settings group covers the main display choices for product images and videos. For the full inventory of available controls, see the product gallery settings reference and Shopify documentation on sections and blocks

Image proportions

You can choose separate image aspect ratios for desktop and mobile. This is most useful when your catalog includes a mix of portrait shots, square images, and wider lifestyle photography.

For the cleanest result, match the display ratio to the shape of your source imagery. If your product photos vary a lot from one product to another, a consistent display ratio can make the overall experience feel more polished, but it will not fully hide inconsistent crops.

If product images are framed very differently across your catalog, changing the display ratio can improve consistency but may still leave some products looking tighter or looser than others.

Desktop layout

Desktop-only layout controls let you choose the gallery position and the relative width of the media and product information columns. Use these settings to decide whether images or purchase details should carry more visual weight.

A larger media column usually works best when customers rely heavily on visuals, such as for apparel, artwork, or detailed handmade products. More balanced columns are often easier to scan when specifications, options, or descriptive content matter just as much as the images.

Because mobile always stacks into a single column, treat gallery position as a desktop presentation choice rather than a cross-device layout rule. If you use slider-style media, review the desktop and mobile layouts separately because navigation, pagination, and preview behavior can differ from a static grid or stacked presentation.

Gallery style

Gallery style controls how customers move through product media on each device. Multi-image layouts can make it easier to compare angles and details, while a slideshow keeps the page more compact and focused.

Desktop and mobile styles are set separately, which gives you room to use a richer layout on large screens and a simpler one on smaller screens. This is often the best approach when you want product media to feel spacious on desktop without making mobile browsing feel crowded.

If you choose to hide the gallery, make sure the rest of the product page still gives customers enough visual context to understand what they are buying.

Tip

A denser gallery on desktop paired with a simpler mobile layout is often a good fit for products with multiple angles, materials, or close-up detail shots.

Variant image behavior

Variant image behavior controls what happens to the gallery when a customer selects a different variant. You can keep the gallery unchanged, update the lead image to match the selection, or limit the gallery to the selected variant image.

Updating the lead image is usually the most flexible choice because it reflects the customer’s selection without removing the rest of the gallery. Showing only the selected variant can work well when each option has its own dedicated photography and you want to avoid showing unrelated media.

Note

This behavior depends on a variant selector being available where customers make their choice. Without it, variant-based gallery updates will not happen.

Zoom behavior

Zoom settings control whether product images follow the broader theme zoom preference, open in a lightbox, or avoid zoom entirely. This helps you decide how much close inspection customers can do from the gallery.

Lightbox zoom is most useful when fine visual detail matters, such as texture, finish, pattern, or craftsmanship. If your images are more atmospheric or already shown from a distance, zoom may add less value and can be left simpler.

Video playback

Video controls let you decide whether gallery videos autoplay, loop, start muted, and show player controls. These settings affect how prominent motion feels within the product media experience.

Autoplay can make short product demos feel more engaging, especially when movement helps explain the product. Muted playback is often the safest choice because it reduces surprise, and visible controls are helpful when customers may want to pause, replay, or scrub through a longer clip.

Looping is best suited to short showcase videos. For longer demonstrations, looping can start to feel repetitive or distracting.

Caution

Autoplay video can pull attention away from product details and purchase actions. Use it when motion clearly adds value, not just because video is available.

Usage notes

1. Keep image framing consistent. Choose aspect ratios that fit your actual product photography so the gallery feels intentional across the catalog.
2. Let the layout match the selling style. Give the gallery more space when visuals drive the decision, and use more balanced columns when product details need equal emphasis.
3. Review both viewports. Slider-style galleries can behave differently on desktop and mobile, so check navigation, previews, and spacing on both screen sizes.
4. Use media overrides carefully. When you set different media for desktop and mobile, expect changes in cropping, loading, and readability, especially on smaller screens.
5. Use variant-only behavior selectively. Restrict the gallery to the selected variant only when each option has strong, complete media coverage.
6. Be careful with autoplay. Muted video with visible controls is usually the most customer-friendly setup when you want motion without making the page feel intrusive.