Why are my imported items duplicating on the live site in Webflow, but not in the designer or Collections folder?
TL;DR
- Check for multiple Collection Lists or reused Symbols referencing the same Collection on the page.
- Review filters, sort order, and item limits in each Collection List; enable pagination if needed.
- Republish the site to clear cache, and inspect any custom code for unintended duplication logic.
You're seeing duplicated Collection items on the live site even though they appear normal in Webflow Designer or the CMS. This is typically caused by how the Collection List is rendered or filtered, not a true duplication in the Collection itself.
1. Check for Multiple Collection Lists on the Page
- Go to the live page in Designer and check if you have more than one Collection List referencing the same Collection.
- Often, duplicates occur if the same Collection is added twice accidentally in different locations or inside Symbols used multiple times on the live page.
2. Inspect Collection List Filters and Sort Order
- Select the Collection List in Designer.
- Under Element Settings, review Filters and Sort Order.
- If filters are missing or improperly used, it may cause the same items to appear multiple times, especially if the list isn't paginated or limited correctly.
3. Set an Item Limit or Enable Pagination
- Too many items in a single Collection List (especially if filters aren’t restrictive) can appear as duplicates visually.
- In the Collection List settings, set a feasible item limit (e.g., 12 or 24 items), or enable pagination to avoid overload on the live page.
4. Check Symbol Usage
- If you've placed a Collection List inside a Symbol and reused that Symbol multiple times across the page, Webflow renders those Collection Lists multiple times—causing apparent duplication.
- Make sure Collection Lists inside Symbols are not used unintentionally across the layout.
5. Clear Publish Cache
- Occasionally, stale cache on the live site could display outdated or duplicated content.
- Fully republish the site using Publish → Select both staging and custom domain to ensure all pages are refreshed.
6. Inspect Dynamic Embeds and Custom Code
- If you are using any custom code (e.g., JavaScript-generated content or API fetches), check that the logic isn’t looping over CMS items incorrectly.
- These aren’t visible in Designer but will affect the live site.
Summary
The duplicate items on your live Webflow site are likely due to multiple Collection Lists, reuse of Symbols, or improper filter/pagination settings—not actual duplication in the CMS. Carefully reviewing your page’s Collection structure and publishing fresh changes should resolve the issue.