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WooCommerce product video gallery: the two ways WoodMart does it
A short clip shows what photos can’t: how a fabric moves, how big something really is, how a product works in the hand. Core WooCommerce has no way to put video in the product gallery, so you either add a plugin or use a theme that does it natively. WoodMart does it natively, and it gives you two different methods. This guide covers what each one is for, the settings that matter, and the few cases where a plugin still makes sense.
Method 1: video popup
The popup adds a video button above the product images. Click it and the video opens in an overlay, leaving the image gallery itself untouched. It takes a YouTube or Vimeo URL, set per product on the product edit page.
Use it when you have one promo or explainer video, want to keep the image gallery clean, and you’re fine hosting on YouTube or Vimeo. Setup is one field: open the product, paste the YouTube or Vimeo URL into the video option, save.
Method 2: video in the gallery
This puts the video inline in the product gallery, as one of the slides next to the images. It’s the more flexible of the two: you can add several videos per product, mix them with photos in the same gallery, and it supports YouTube, Vimeo, and self-hosted MP4, so you aren’t tied to an external platform.
The controls are where this earns its place:
- Size. Fit/cover with cropping, or the video’s natural size.
- Show video first. Hide the static image and lead the gallery with the video.
- Autoplay. Plays automatically when loaded (desktop only).
- Audio. Start muted or unmuted.
- Overlay. Hide product labels and gallery navigation during playback.
To add one: open the product, go to the gallery section, click + Video on a gallery image, pick the source (YouTube, Vimeo, or an MP4 upload), then set the size, autoplay, audio, and overlay options and save.
Which method to use
Pick the popup when video is a secondary extra and the photos carry the page. Pick video in the gallery when the video is part of the sell, when you want more than one, or when you need to self-host an MP4 instead of embedding from YouTube or Vimeo. Nothing stops you using the popup on some products and the gallery on others.
When you still need a plugin
WoodMart’s two methods cover what most stores want: video in the gallery or in a popup, from YouTube, Vimeo, or your own MP4 files. A dedicated plugin is worth it only when you need something outside that scope, for example embedding audio tracks (SoundCloud, Spotify) alongside the media, or showing video on shop and category thumbnails rather than the product page. Plugins like WooThumbs for WooCommerce cover those extras. For video on the product page itself, the native feature is enough.
FAQ
Can I add video to a WooCommerce product gallery without a plugin?
Yes, with WoodMart. It offers two native methods: a video popup button above the images, and video placed inline in the product gallery. No plugin required.
What video sources does WoodMart support?
The popup takes YouTube and Vimeo. Video in the gallery supports YouTube, Vimeo, and self-hosted MP4 files.
Can I show more than one video per product?
Yes, with the in-gallery method. You can add multiple videos and mix them with images in the same gallery. The popup is a single video.
Will the video autoplay?
The in-gallery video can autoplay when loaded, on desktop only, and you choose whether it starts muted or with sound.
Should I use the popup or the in-gallery video?
Use the popup for a single secondary video when the photos lead the page. Use the in-gallery video when video is central, you want several, or you need to self-host an MP4.
Ready to set it up?
Video in the product gallery is one of the merchandising features WoodMart handles natively, alongside the cart, checkout, and the rest of the product page. No plugin, no separate subscription.
