---
title: "How to Create a Category Carousel in Elementor?"
url: https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-category-carousel-in-elementor/
date: 2025-01-09
modified: 2026-09-27
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "A long category list takes up a lot of vertical space as a grid - a carousel keeps it compact and adds motion. The Dynamic Categories widget's Carousel layout slides..."
image: https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/How-to-Create-a-Category-Carousel-in-Elementor_-1024x536.jpg
word_count: 236
---

# How to Create a Category Carousel in Elementor?

## 

- The Dynamic Categories widget uses a Carousel layout to slide through terms instead of stacking them in rows, which keeps a long category list compact and adds motion.
- The Plus Addons for Elementor includes the free Dynamic Categories widget, and it works with just The Plus Addons for Elementor installed, with no Pro licence required.
- Elementor users enable Dynamic Categories by going to The Plus Addons > Widgets, searching for Dynamic Categories, and turning its toggle on before choosing Carousel from Layout.

A long category list takes up a lot of vertical space as a grid - a carousel keeps it compact and adds motion.

The **Dynamic Categories** widget's **Carousel** layout slides through terms instead of stacking them in rows.

***Requirement - This widget is a part of The Plus Addons for Elementor, make sure it's installed & activated to enjoy all its powers.***

[LIVE WIDGET LINK](https://theplusaddons.com/elementor-listing/dynamic-category/?utm_source=tpae&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=text)

## Before You Start

- **Prerequisite:** [Elementor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/) (free) installed and active.- **Edition:** Dynamic Categories is a **free** widget - it works with just The Plus Addons for Elementor installed, no Pro licence required.- **Widget to enable:** go to **The Plus Addons > Widgets**, search for **Dynamic Categories** and turn its toggle on.

## Steps

- Add the **Dynamic Categories** widget to the page.- From **Layout**, choose **Carousel**.- Set how many terms per slide using the same **Desktop/Tablet/Mobile Column** controls used by the Grid layout.

![Layout set to Carousel](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dynamic-categories-layout-carousel.webp)

## Settings Overview

| Setting | What it does | Default |
| ------- | ------------ | ------- |
| Layout | Carousel arrangement (this doc's focus). | Grid (change to Carousel) |

## Not verified

So you know exactly what has and has not been checked:

- Display Dots (Extra Option tab) exists in the widget's control model (default: on) but could not be made visible in the live Elementor panel during this pass - it may be gated on a condition not captured by the control-dump tool. Not describing its behaviour until it can actually be shown working.

## Related Docs

- [How to Add Categories Listing in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/add-categories-listing-in-elementor/)- [How to Create a WooCommerce Product Carousel List in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-woocommerce-product-carousel-list-in-elementor/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What do I need before creating a category carousel in Elementor?**
A: Elementor free has to be installed and active, and the Dynamic Categories widget has to be enabled inside The Plus Addons for Elementor. The widget is free, so no Pro licence is required. That matters because the carousel layout is part of the widget itself, not a separate premium feature. If you are setting this up for the first time, the key check is whether The Plus Addons for Elementor, The Plus Addons, Plus Addons for Elementor, POSIMYTH is installed and activated.

**Q: Why use a category carousel instead of a grid for categories?**
A: A carousel keeps a long category list compact instead of stretching it into a tall grid. The page calls out two practical benefits: it saves vertical space and adds motion. That makes it a better fit when you want terms to stay visible without pushing other content far down the page. The Dynamic Categories widget’s Carousel layout slides through terms instead of stacking them in rows.

**Q: How many category terms can I show per slide in the carousel?**
A: The number of terms per slide is controlled with the same Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile Column settings used by the Grid layout. That means the carousel can be tuned per device instead of using one fixed count everywhere. In practice, this helps keep the carousel readable on smaller screens while still showing more terms on larger ones.

**Q: What should I check if the Dynamic Categories widget is not showing in Elementor?**
A: The first thing to verify is that The Plus Addons for Elementor is installed and activated, then confirm that Dynamic Categories is turned on under The Plus Addons > Widgets. The page also says this widget works with just The Plus Addons for Elementor installed, so missing activation is the most likely blocker. If the widget stays hidden after that, the issue is usually in enablement rather than layout settings.

**Q: Can I create a category carousel without a Pro licence?**
A: The Dynamic Categories widget is listed as a free widget, and it works with just The Plus Addons for Elementor installed. That means a Pro licence is not required for this tutorial’s setup. For anyone building a category slider on a basic Elementor install, that lowers the barrier because only Elementor free and the addon need to be active.

**Q: Where can I find related docs for category listings and product carousels?**
A: Two related docs are linked from this page: [How to Add Categories Listing in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/add-categories-listing-in-elementor/) and [How to Create a WooCommerce Product Carousel List in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-woocommerce-product-carousel-list-in-elementor/). Those are useful if you want either the broader categories listing setup or a similar carousel workflow for WooCommerce products. The live widget link is also provided here: [LIVE WIDGET LINK](https://theplusaddons.com/elementor-listing/dynamic-category/?utm_source=tpae&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=text).