Description
Video Lightbox for YouTube/Vimeo lets you display responsive YouTube and Vimeo video thumbnails on WordPress posts, pages, and widgets. When a visitor clicks a thumbnail, the video opens in a responsive Colorbox popup.
Features
- Block editor support: Add a Video Lightbox block, paste a YouTube or Vimeo URL, and choose a custom placeholder image.
- YouTube & Vimeo support: Embed public YouTube videos, Shorts, and Vimeo videos with a block or shortcode.
- Responsive lightbox: Opens video playback in a responsive Colorbox overlay.
- Block styles: Choose Default, Dark, or Cinema presentation styles in the block editor.
- Display controls: Set thumbnail width, height, and autoplay for each block.
- Shortcode generator: Generate a validated YouTube or Vimeo shortcode from Media > Video Lightbox. The provider is detected automatically.
- AMP support: Renders
amp-lightbox,amp-youtube, andamp-vimeocomponents on AMP requests.
Block Editor
- Add the Video Lightbox for YouTube/Vimeo block.
- Select Edit video URL and enter a public YouTube or Vimeo URL.
- Optionally choose a custom placeholder image and adjust display settings in the block sidebar.
Source Code
The source code is available on GitHub.
Screenshots





Blocks
This plugin provides 1 block.
- Video Lightbox for YouTube/Vimeo Add a YouTube or Vimeo video that opens in a lightbox when the thumbnail is clicked.
Installation
- Upload the
youtubefancyboxfolder to your/wp-content/plugins/directory (or search for Video Lightbox for YouTube/Vimeo via Plugins > Add New). - Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen in WordPress.
- Add the Video Lightbox block, or generate a YouTube or Vimeo shortcode from Media > Video Lightbox and insert it into any post, page, or widget.
FAQ
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How do I use the plugin after activating it?
-
Add the Video Lightbox block, or generate a YouTube or Vimeo shortcode from Media > Video Lightbox and insert it into any post, page, or widget.
-
Can I override the default dimensions on a specific shortcode?
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Yes. You can override default dimensions using the
heightandwidthattributes in the shortcode, or use the block editor to set custom dimensions. -
Does this plugin support official AMP?
-
Yes. When viewing content on an AMP-enabled request, the plugin automatically outputs native
<amp-lightbox>,<amp-youtube>, and<amp-vimeo>markup without loading jQuery. -
How do I generate shortcodes quickly?
-
Navigate to Media > Video Lightbox, enter a YouTube or Vimeo video URL or ID and dimensions, then click Generate shortcode. The plugin validates the input and detects the provider automatically.
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Can I use the block editor?
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Yes. Add the Video Lightbox for YouTube/Vimeo block, then enter a public YouTube or Vimeo URL. You can choose a custom placeholder image, set dimensions, enable autoplay, and select a block style.
Reviews
Contributors & Developers
“Video Lightbox for YouTube/Vimeo” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
ContributorsTranslate “Video Lightbox for YouTube/Vimeo” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
3.0.2
- Updated readme.txt to remove shortcode references and highlight block editor usage.
3.0.1
- Bump version to 3.0.1 for WordPress.org plugin repository.
3.0.0
- Added the Video Lightbox block for YouTube and Vimeo.
- Added custom placeholder images, responsive dimensions, autoplay, and Default, Dark, and Cinema block styles.
- Added a combined shortcode generator under Media with automatic provider detection and URL or ID validation.
- Updated plugin metadata, dependencies, and code structure.
2.7.1
- Modernized admin settings and shortcode generator interfaces.
- Optimized JavaScript and modularized admin stylesheet loading.
- Updated compatibility for modern WordPress and PHP standards.
2.7.0
- Fixed Vimeo data retrieval issue.
- Updated compatibility tested tag.
2.6.2
- Fixed shortcode generator URL parsing.
2.6.1
- Renamed plugin and updated assets for WordPress.org compliance.
2.6.0
- Added official AMP plugin support with native AMP lightbox components.
2.0.0
- Added support for Vimeo videos and shortcode generation.
- Updated Colorbox script.
1.0.0
- Initial release.
