How to Use the ACF Repeater with Elementor

Table of Contents

When working with Elementor, many users wish to leverage the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin to create dynamic and flexible layouts. However, using ACF’s Repeater fields directly in Elementor is not natively supported. This limitation can be frustrating for those looking to display dynamic, repeatable content such as lists, galleries, or team member profiles within Elementor widgets.

Thankfully, the plugin Easy ACF Repeater for Elementor bridges this gap seamlessly, allowing users to harness the power of ACF Repeaters in their Elementor designs. In this post, we’ll dive into how to use this plugin, explore its features, and walk through a step-by-step guide to get you started.

Why You Can’t Use ACF Repeaters Natively in Elementor

While Elementor provides dynamic content integration with ACF, its support is limited to simple fields like text, image, and URL. The Repeater field, which is a core feature of ACF Pro for creating complex and repeatable data structures, is not directly supported. This means you cannot natively loop through repeater rows and display them dynamically in Elementor.

To overcome this limitation, you need a third-party solution called Easy ACF Repeater for Elementor.

Introducing Easy ACF Repeater for Elementor

Easy ACF Repeater for Elementor is a plugin designed specifically to enable ACF Repeater support in Elementor. It’s:

  • Free: Available in the WordPress plugin repository for immediate use.
  • Premium: A paid version unlocks additional features, such as support for more widgets, more dynamic tags & advanced layouts. Buy here

With this plugin, you can:

  • Display repeater fields as lists, grids, or carousels.
  • Use repeater data within widgets like tabs, accordions, icon lists, social icons & testimonial carousel .
  • Create dynamic layouts with minimal setup.

Use Cases for ACF Repeater in Elementor

Here are some practical applications of ACF Repeater fields in Elementor:

  1. Team Member Profiles:
    • Display team members with their names, roles, and photos in a dynamic grid.
  2. FAQs:
    • Use repeater fields to manage questions and answers, displaying them in a toggle or accordion widget.
  3. Testimonials:
    • Showcase client testimonials with their names, photos, and reviews.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using ACF Repeater with Elementor

Step 1: Create an ACF Repeater Field

  1. Install ACF PRO:
    • ACF PRO is required to use the Repeater field and is not available from the WordPress plugin repository.
    • Purchase and download ACF PRO from the official website.
    • Install the plugin by uploading it to your WordPress site and activating it.
  2. Add a New Field Group:
    • Navigate to Custom Fields > Add New.
    • Create a new field group and give it a name (e.g., “Team Members”).
  3. Add a Repeater Field:
    • Click Add Field and select “Repeater” as the field type.
    • Add subfields to the repeater, such as:
      • Name (Text field)
      • Role (Text field)
      • Photo (Image field)
  4. Assign the Field Group:
    • Choose where this field group should appear (e.g., on specific post types or pages).
  5. Publish the field group.

Step 2: Add Repeater Data to Your Post or Page

  1. Edit the Post/Page:
    • Open a post or page where the repeater field group is assigned. Make sure to open the page in the regular editor, not in Elementor, to add repeater data.
  2. Fill in Repeater Data:
    • Add rows to the repeater field with relevant content (e.g., names, roles, and photos).
  3. Save the post/page.

Step 3: Install Easy ACF Repeater for Elementor

  1. Install the Plugin:
    • Go to Plugins > Add New in WordPress.
    • Search for “Easy ACF Repeater for Elementor” and install it.
  2. Activate the plugin.

Step 4: Use the Repeater in Elementor

  1. Open Elementor:
    • Edit the desired page with Elementor.
  2. Add a Widget:
    • Drag the Easy Repeater widget into your layout.
  3. Choose a Template:
    • Use the widget’s settings to select or design a custom template for your repeater items, ensuring the layout matches your preferences.
  4. Map Repeater Fields:
    • Assign the repeater subfields to the template elements (e.g., name to the title, photo to the image).
  5. Customize the design using Elementor’s style settings.
  6. Preview and Publish the page.

Additional Features in the Premium Version

The premium version of Easy ACF Repeater for Elementor offers:

  • Support for More Widgets: Unlock advanced widgets like sliders, accordions, and galleries.
  • Advanced Layout Options: Customize layouts with more control over spacing, alignment, and animations.
  • Priority Support: Access faster and more detailed support for troubleshooting.

Conclusion

Using ACF Repeater fields in Elementor opens up a world of possibilities for creating dynamic and flexible layouts. With the Easy ACF Repeater for Elementor plugin, you can achieve this integration effortlessly, whether you’re working on a portfolio, team section, or testimonials.

Start with the free version to explore its capabilities, and consider upgrading to the premium version for even more features and flexibility. Happy designing!

ACF repeater for Elementor documentation