For years, Simple Image Gallery by JoomlaWorks has been one of the most popular image gallery plugins in Joomla. Even today, thousands of Joomla websites still rely on it to display image galleries inside articles.
However, based on the current situation, it appears that JoomlaWorks may be winding down Joomla extension development. Simple Image Gallery—and other JoomlaWorks extensions—have not received updates for a long time. This raises valid concerns about Joomla 6 compatibility, security, and long-term maintenance.
Despite this, countless Joomla websites are still actively using Simple Image Gallery. If your site is one of them, the question is no longer whether you should migrate—it’s how difficult the migration will be.
Here’s the good news:
👉 With JO Image Gallery, you can migrate from Simple Image Gallery with zero effort.
No article editing. No search & replace. No database changes.
Why You Should Migrate from Simple Image Gallery
Continuing to use an unmaintained Joomla extension comes with real risks:
❌ Possible incompatibility with Joomla 6
❌ Security concerns due to outdated code
❌ No bug fixes or feature improvements
❌ Risk of galleries breaking after Joomla core updates
The Real Problem With Most Joomla Gallery Migrations
In most cases, migrating from one Joomla gallery plugin to another means:
❌ Editing dozens or hundreds of Joomla articles
❌ Manually replacing gallery shortcodes
❌ Risk of broken layouts or missing images
❌ Spending hours testing after migration
For established Joomla websites, this process can quickly become a nightmare.
Meet JO Image Gallery — Built for Zero-Effort Migration
JO Image Gallery is a modern, lightweight Joomla gallery plugin designed for Joomla 4, Joomla 5, and Joomla 6.
Most importantly, it is built to replace Simple Image Gallery without modifying your existing content.
How Zero-Effort Migration from Simple Image Gallery Works
Let’s look at how Simple Image Gallery is typically used.
Existing Simple Image Gallery shortcode
Gallery folder 'images/galleries/my-gallery-folder' does not exist.
This shortcode already exists across many Joomla articles.
🚀 With JO Image Gallery: Keep Everything Exactly the Same
You do not need to change this shortcode.
JO Image Gallery allows you to define the shortcode name directly in the plugin settings, making it fully compatible with existing {gallery} tags.
Step-by-Step: Migrate in Less Than 1 Minute
Step 1: Install JO Image Gallery
- Install the plugin
- Enable it
That’s all.
Step 2: Change One Plugin Setting
- Go to Extensions → Plugins
- Open Content - JO Image Gallery
- Locate the Shortcode option
- Change it from:
{jogallery}to:
{gallery}Save the plugin.
✅ Migration complete.
What Happens After Migration?
✔ All Gallery folder 'images/galleries/...' does not exist.
✔ Joomla articles remain unchanged
✔ Image folders remain unchanged
✔ Your site now uses a modern Joomla gallery plugin
This makes JO Image Gallery a true drop-in replacement for Simple Image Gallery.
Why This Zero-Effort Migration Matters
Many Joomla websites contain hundreds or even thousands of gallery shortcodes.
With JO Image Gallery:
✔ No search & replace operations
✔ No manual article editing
✔ No risk of human error
✔ No site downtime
Your existing galleries work instantly—with better performance and modern features.
Same Folder Structure, Better Joomla Gallery Experience
JO Image Gallery uses the same folder-based gallery structure you already know:
/images/stories/my-gallery-folderWhile adding modern improvements:
✔ Fully responsive Joomla galleries
✔ Fancybox lightbox integration
✔ Custom thumbnail sizes
✔ Hover effects and icons
✔ Full Joomla 6 compatibility
Final Thoughts
Simple Image Gallery played an important role in the Joomla ecosystem. But relying on an unmaintained Joomla plugin is a risk you no longer need to take.
JO Image Gallery offers something most Joomla gallery alternatives don’t: a true zero-effort migration path from Simple Image Gallery.
Install the plugin, change one setting, and your Joomla site is ready for Joomla 6 and beyond.