Title: Closing when tapping the background
Last modified: November 25, 2025

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# Closing when tapping the background

 *  Resolved [vadimm5](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vadimm5/)
 * (@vadimm5)
 * [10 months, 2 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/closing-when-tapping-the-background/)
 * Hello. I tested version 5.4.0. Could you tell me why the lightbox doesn’t close
   when tapping the background on a smartphone? Experts say the following: Modal
   windows should close when tapping the background on a smartphone, as this is 
   the standard and intuitive behavior for many apps and websites. This simplifies
   the user experience, allowing them to quickly close the window when it’s no longer
   needed or was opened accidentally, and return to the main content.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Jordy Meow](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tigroumeow/)
 * (@tigroumeow)
 * [10 months, 2 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/closing-when-tapping-the-background/#post-18732689)
 * Hi [@vadimm5](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vadimm5/),
 * Who are the experts? 😋 Do you have any links related to this?
 * From everything I’ve seen, mobile behavior is different from desktop. Tapping
   the photo on mobile usually shows or hides the controls (this is how many iOS
   and Android gallery apps work), or magnifies the image. Meow Lightbox follows
   that logic, depending on whether _Magnification_ is enabled. I rarely see mobile
   lightboxes close on tap, except on desktop where all controls are already visible.
 * I’m always happy to hear feedback. Your thread title is clear, so others may 
   join and share their experience as well (feel free, guys! let us now). In the
   meantime, feel free to link to any lightboxes (WordPress or not) that behave 
   the way you prefer, so I can test them and see how it feels.
 *  Thread Starter [vadimm5](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vadimm5/)
 * (@vadimm5)
 * [10 months, 2 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/closing-when-tapping-the-background/#post-18732965)
 * Thanks for the answer. I asked Google AI. It looks like you’re right. To the 
   question: Should I close an image on a website on smartphones when I click on
   the background? It says no. But to other questions. For example: Should I close
   a modal window on smartphones when I click on the background? It says yes. Or
   the question: Should I close a pop-up contact form on smartphones when I click
   on the background? It says yes. So, is there some difference between an image
   lightbox and a contact form lightbox? Why is it not recommended to close an image
   lightbox, but it is recommended to close a contact form lightbox? They’re essentially
   the same thing. Or should I also not close a contact form lightbox on a smartphone
   when I click on the background, and Google AI is giving the wrong answer. Please
   clarify!
 *  Thread Starter [vadimm5](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vadimm5/)
 * (@vadimm5)
 * [10 months, 2 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/closing-when-tapping-the-background/#post-18732978)
 * I think I figured out it’s because of the controls. The pop-up contact form doesn’t
   have them, so it should close on a smartphone when you tap the background. That’s
   what it looks like. Could you please help?

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

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 * 5 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [vadimm5](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vadimm5/)
 * Last activity: [10 months, 2 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/closing-when-tapping-the-background/#post-18732978)
 * Status: resolved