How can I fix the error messages that are appearing when I try to gate a piece of content on my Webflow page preview?
TL;DR
- Webflow Preview Mode doesn't support full script execution, so publish your site to a Webflow.io staging domain to test gated content functionality.
- Ensure membership scripts are correctly placed, check the browser console for errors, and confirm gating logic is based on live user data.
You're seeing error messages when attempting to gate content on your Webflow page preview; this commonly occurs when third-party scripts or cookies (like for memberships or gated content) aren’t working properly in Preview Mode.
1. Understand Limitations of Webflow Preview
- Webflow Preview Mode (accessed through the Designer) doesn’t execute all scripts, especially those that depend on domain, cookies, or server interactions.
- If you’re using tools like Memberstack, Outseta, or Webflow Logic, these may not function correctly or at all in Preview Mode.
2. Publish Your Site to Test Gated Content
- Publish your site to a Webflow staging domain (e.g., your-site.webflow.io) to test the gating functionality properly.
- Go to Publish → Select Webflow.io domain → Click Publish.
- Test the gating logic on the published site instead of relying on Preview Mode.
3. Check Script and Integration Placement
- Ensure any membership scripts or custom gating logic are placed in the right section:
- Site-wide scripts go in Project Settings → Custom Code → Footer.
- Page-specific scripts go in Page Settings → Footer Code.
- Most gated content tools require access to the live DOM structure and cannot properly load in preview.
4. Review Error Messages in Console
- Open the browser developer console (Right-click → Inspect → Console) to identify specific errors.
- Watch for:
- CORS errors (cross-domain issues)
- Unloaded external libraries
- Authentication failures
5. Confirm Content Gating Logic
- If you’re using conditional visibility (like Webflow Logic or custom JavaScript), confirm it’s set based on live user data or session data, and not hard-coded scenarios.
- Ensure you’re storing and fetching user data from a valid source (cookies, local storage, or third-party auth systems).
6. Test Across Devices and Browsers
- Gated experiences sometimes vary based on browser settings (e.g., cookie blocking).
- Test in incognito mode or different browsers to check for consistency.
Summary
Webflow Preview Mode has limited script execution, so publish your site to test gated content properly. Also verify that all necessary scripts, authentication, and custom logic are loaded and functioning only on the live site (Webflow.io or custom domain). Check the browser console to identify and resolve any JavaScript errors during gating attempts.