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How can I create a dropdown menu from a tab component in Webflow that improves user experience and reduces scrolling on mobile views?

TL;DR
  • Hide original Tab buttons on mobile and replace with a Dropdown element placed above the Tab Panes.
  • Use click interactions on each Dropdown item to trigger the corresponding tab via “Change Tab” action, ensuring mobile-friendly navigation.

To convert a Tab component into a dropdown-style menu in Webflow (especially for mobile), you’ll need to restructure the default interaction to feel like a true dropdown, improving UX and minimizing vertical scrolling.

1. Understand the Tab Component Structure

  • The Tab component contains:
  • Tabs Menu (typically a horizontal row of tab buttons)
  • Tab Panes (the corresponding content panels)
  • By default, it displays all tab buttons inline or stacked, and all tab panes expand vertically on mobile.

2. Customize the Tab Menu for Mobile Dropdown

  • Select the Tabs Menu element.
  • Add custom styles for smaller breakpoints (Tablet and below):
  • Set Display: None for the tab buttons individually.
  • Add a new Dropdown element (from Add panel) and place it above the tab panes.

3. Use Interactions to Switch Tabs via Dropdown

  • In the newly added Dropdown Menu:

  • Add a Dropdown Toggle (the clickable menu item).

  • Add multiple Dropdown Links, corresponding to each tab.

  • Apply a “Click” interaction to each Dropdown Link:

  • Use the “Tabs” → “Change Tab” action in Interactions.

  • Target the corresponding Tab Pane.

  • Add one interaction per dropdown item for full control.

4. Hide Original Tabs Buttons on Mobile

  • In smaller breakpoints:
  • Select the Tabs Menu and set it to Display: None so users only see the new dropdown.

5. Ensure Tab Content Is Usable on Mobile

  • Test and tweak Tab Pane layouts to ensure they display compactly.
  • Add padding/margins strategically to enhance usability without adding unnecessary scroll.

6. Optional: Sync Dropdown Label with Selected Tab

  • Use custom interactions and/or Webflow’s CMS (if CMS-driven) to dynamically update the label of the dropdown after a tab is selected.
  • This is advanced, but improves clarity for the user.

Summary

To turn a Tab component into a mobile-friendly dropdown, hide the default tab buttons, insert a dropdown element above the tab panes, and use interactions to link each dropdown item to its corresponding tab pane. This limits scroll and improves navigation.

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