A lightbox is a design effect that opens an image in a centered overlay and dims the rest of the page when an image is clicked. Clicking the x in the top corner closes it and returns to the page. Lightboxes are a great way to highlight and enlarge images for visitors who want to get a closer look.

Before you begin

• Some features aren't compatible with lightboxes or work differently when lightboxes are enabled. For example, lightboxes disable clickthrough URLs in most cases.
• Pinch-to-zoom isn't supported for lightbox images on mobile devices.
• If your site is on Squarespace version 7.0, Gallery Page options vary depending on your template.

Change the lightbox background color

For gallery sections on version 7.1, you can style your lightbox to any color in the Section Themes editor.

In most other cases, you can choose a Dark or Light overlay for the lightbox in the block settings or Site Styles. For more specifics, see the sections on Image Blocks, Gallery Blocks, and Gallery Pages.

Gallery sections (version 7.1)

Gallery sections in grid layouts on version 7.1 have a lightbox option in section styles. To enable the lightbox:

1. Click Edit on the page, then hover over the gallery section and click the pencil icon.
2. Ensure the Gallery Type is set to Grid: Simple, Grid: Strips, or Grid: Masonry. Slideshow layouts don't support lightbox features.
3. Switch the Lightbox toggle on.
4. Hover over Done and click Save.

To style the lightbox color:

1. In the Home Menu, click Design, then click Colors.
2. Click Section Themes.
3. Hover over the theme that matches your gallery section and click the pencil icon.
4. Under the Galleries section, use the Lightbox Background tweak to pick a lightbox color.
5. To change the color of lightbox navigation controls, use the Lightbox Icon tweak.
6. Click Save.

Keep in mind, caption text doesn't display in the gallery section lightbox.

Image Blocks

Image Blocks using the Inline layout support a lightbox. To enable it:

1. Add an Image Block, or double-click an existing Image Block to open the image editor.
2. Click the Design tab.
3. Ensure your layout is set to Inline. Other layouts don't support a lightbox.
4. Check Enable Lightbox.
5. Choose between Dark Overlay and Light Overlay for your lightbox style with the Lightbox Theme drop-down.
6. Click Apply to save your changes.

Captions always display when you hover over lightbox images, regardless of which caption display option you choose. On mobile, they display when you tap the dot icon.

Grid Gallery Blocks

After adding your images to a Grid Gallery Block, click the Design tab and check Lightbox. Set your lightbox slideshow style by choosing Dark Overlay or Light Overlay from the drop-down.

Captions always display when you hover over lightbox images. On mobile, they display when you tap the dot icon. Slideshow, Carousel, and Stack Gallery Blocks don't support a lightbox.

Summary Blocks

When a Wall or Grid Summary Block is connected to a Gallery Page, the images automatically open in a lightbox slideshow. The Summary Block lightbox color is always Dark. Captions display on hover.

The lightbox slideshow affects clickthrough URLs:

• While viewing the page, images with clickthrough URLs open the clickthrough link when clicked, rather than opening the lightbox slideshow.
• When the lightbox slideshow is open, clickthrough URLs are disabled.

Tip: If you're on version 7.0 and linking a Summary Block to a Gallery Page, check Use Thumbnail on the Gallery Page's videos. Otherwise, they'll play in the Summary Block without opening in a lightbox.

Gallery Pages (version 7.0)

Some templates' Gallery Pages on version 7.0 support a lightbox feature. For standard Gallery Pages, you can set the lightbox color to Light or Dark in Site Styles. Video descriptions don't display in the lightbox.

To learn how lightbox options work in these template families, see the table below.

Template family	Lightbox options
Adirondack	Gallery Page set to Grid Image captions display on hover
Avenue	No lightbox
Aviator	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover
Bedford	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover
Brine	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover Supported on gallery Index Page sections for videos only. Tip: Clicking a link in the video's caption opens the lightbox, not the link.
Farro	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover
Five	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover
Flatiron	No lightbox
Forte	Click + icon in top-right corner of image to open lightbox Disabled for Index Page Captions don't display
Galapagos	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover
Ishimoto	No lightbox
Momentum	No lightbox
Montauk	No lightbox
Native	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover
Pacific	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover Supported on grid gallery Index Page sections
Skye	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Disabled for Index Page Image captions display on hover
Supply	No lightbox
Tremont	No lightbox
Wells	No lightbox
Wexley	Click any image to open a lightbox slideshow Lightbox is disabled on mobile Captions don't display
York	Gallery Page set to Grid Clickthrough URLs disable lightbox Image captions display on hover