Can background videos in Webflow be enabled on mobile?
TL;DR
- Background videos in Webflow don’t autoplay on mobile due to browser restrictions.
- The most reliable solution is to hide the video on mobile breakpoints and show a static image or background image instead.
Background videos in Webflow do not play on mobile devices by default due to browser limitations. This is a common restriction to preserve mobile data and battery life.
1. Why Background Videos Don’t Work on Mobile
- Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Android Chrome, etc.) typically prevent autoplay for video elements that have audio or aren't user-initiated.
- Webflow uses HTML5 video elements with autoplay, muted, loop, and playsinline attributes, but even muted autoplay videos may still get blocked, especially as background elements.
2. Workaround Options
- Replace the background video with a static image for mobile breakpoints. This is the most reliable and performance-friendly approach.
- Use a GIF as a fallback, but note this can significantly increase load times and does not provide the same flexibility as video.
- Custom code with inline video tags may work, but it’s not guaranteed. Some developers have had limited success with muted
playsinlineautoplay videos embedded through code, but this often breaks on updates or varies across devices. - Let users start the video manually by converting the background video section into an actual video element with play controls.
3. How to Replace Video on Mobile in Webflow
- Select the background video element.
- Go to the mobile breakpoint in the Designer.
- Set Display: None for the video element at mobile sizes.
- Add an Image element or div with background image and set Display: Block on mobile.
- Ensure the fallback image matches the first frame or general feel of your video for consistency.
4. Important Notes
- Even if a background video sometimes appears on mobile during testing, it’s not reliable or consistent due to differing browser behaviors and updates.
- There is no official Webflow setting to force-enable background videos on mobile.
Summary
Background videos in Webflow are not supported on mobile devices by default due to browser restrictions. The most reliable method is to use an image fallback on mobile breakpoints instead of attempting to force autoplay.