How can I prevent a dropdown menu in Webflow from closing when clicked outside of the menu, without using custom code?

Webflow’s built-in dropdown component is designed to close automatically when the user clicks outside the menu. Unfortunately, Webflow does not offer a native setting to disable this behavior, and it cannot be prevented without using custom code.

1. Webflow's Dropdown Behavior is Auto-Controlled

• Webflow dropdowns use built-in interactions that auto-hide the open menu when clicking outside.
• These interactions can't be customized or overridden through native Webflow settings or the Designer panel.

2. No Built-In Option to Disable Auto-Close

• There's no toggle or attribute available in Webflow’s UI to prevent this auto-close functionality.
• Attempting workarounds like interactions or visibility toggles on click will still be overridden by Webflow’s default dropdown behavior.

3. Closest Workaround Without Custom Code

• Instead of using the Webflow dropdown component, recreate a custom dropdown using div blocks and interactions:
• Create a button to open/close a menu (e.g., click toggles visibility of a div).
• Avoid using the Webflow Dropdown element to prevent the auto-close behavior.
• Use "Click" triggers in Interactions to show/hide the menu on your terms.
• Add a full-page transparent div as a background when the menu is open, and use that to control closing if needed.

4. Consider Custom Code if Exact Control Is Needed

• If recreating dropdown logic via Interactions doesn’t provide enough control, JavaScript is the only method to disable the Webflow dropdown from auto-closing when clicking outside.

Summary

Webflow’s native dropdown auto-closes when clicking outside, and you cannot prevent this behavior without custom code. To maintain open state control natively, you’ll need to build a custom dropdown using divs and Interactions instead of the standard dropdown component.