Is it intended functionality in Webflow for interactions to be duplicated twice and lose their "replace elements in animation" settings when a page with interactions is duplicated to create an alternate version?

When duplicating a page in Webflow that contains interactions, it's not intended functionality for interactions to be duplicated twice or to lose their “replace elements in animation” settings, but this kind of behavior can occur due to how Webflow currently handles symbols, animations, and element bindings.

1. Webflow's Expected Behavior When Duplicating Pages

• When you duplicate a page, Webflow typically copies over the interactions used on that page.
• Interactions are not supposed to be duplicated twice, unless you're using symbols or components with their own interactions tied to elements that reference unique IDs.
• The “Replace elements in animation” setting should be preserved if the duplicated elements have the same structure and IDs/classes.

2. Known Limitations and Issues

• If an interaction is tied to a very specific element ID (e.g., within a component), duplicating a page can result in Webflow auto-generating new IDs, making the animation lose its target reference.
• Webflow might duplicate interactions internally (e.g., Animation Name Copy, Animation Name Copy 2) if similar animations are triggered on duplicated elements, especially if symbols/components are involved.
• The “Replace elements in animation” feature can malfunction if the duplicated elements can’t be matched to the original animation’s selectors or if the structure is altered.

3. How to Prevent This Issue

• Use clean class-based selectors instead of tightly scoped element-based bindings when defining interaction targets.
• Avoid nesting complex animations in symbols if those symbols are reused or duplicated across pages.
• After duplicating a page, manually review interactions, especially for animations using “replace elements in animation” to confirm the target references are correct.
• Consider rename interactions uniquely if you see "Copy" versions being created—this can help track whether interactions are being reused or unintentionally duplicated.

4. What to Do if It Happens

• Check for duplicate animations in the Interactions panel. Clean up any extra copies not needed.
• Open each affected interaction, and manually reassign the correct target elements using the “replace elements in animation” option.
• If using symbols/components, detach the symbol, fix the animation, then optionally re-symbol it.

Summary

This is not intended behavior in Webflow, but it can result from how the platform handles element bindings and duplication. To avoid issues, use class-based selectors where possible, minimize complex interactions in symbols, and always double-check duplicated page interactions.