How can I resolve the validation failure error message in Webflow while trying to publish a new blog post via CMS?
TL;DR
- Ensure all required fields in the CMS item are filled with valid data, including title, slug, and references.
- Verify the slug is unique, properly formatted, and avoid special characters.
- Check all referenced or option fields are selected and point to published items.
- Remove unsupported content from Rich Text fields and use the error message details to identify specific issues.
A “validation failure” error in Webflow CMS publishing usually means required fields are missing or contain invalid data in your blog collection item. Here's how to identify and fix it.
1. Check Required Fields
- Go to the CMS Collection where your blog post is stored.
- Click on the blog post item you’re trying to publish.
- Ensure all fields marked as required (i.e., ones with an asterisk in the Collection Schema) are filled in correctly.
- Common required fields to double-check:
- Title
- Slug
- Main image (if set as required)
- Rich text body
- Category/reference field (if set as required)
2. Verify Slug Format
- Scroll to the Slug field in your blog post item.
- Make sure it:
- Is not blank.
- Doesn’t contain special characters (only use letters, numbers, and hyphens).
- Is unique within the collection (Webflow does not allow duplicate slugs).
3. Confirm Reference/Option Fields Are Valid
- If your blog includes Reference or Multi-reference fields, ensure the referenced item exists and is published.
- For Option fields, make sure you’ve selected a valid option from the dropdown. If the field is set as required and left blank, it will trigger a validation error.
4. Check Rich Text Fields for Invalid Content
- If using a Rich Text field, remove any embedded content or custom code that may not be supported.
- Images or links inside the Rich Text Block should be valid and not broken.
5. Publish Referenced Items
- All referenced content (such as categories or authors) must be published.
- If you're referencing a draft or unpublished item, Webflow won’t allow the main blog post to be published.
6. Use the Error Message Details
- If the error message gives specific hints (e.g., “validation failed on field 'author'”), go directly to that field and check:
- It’s not empty (if required).
- The value meets the expected data type (e.g., a valid reference).
7. Try Saving as a Draft First
- Click Save as Draft, then reopen the item and try to publish again.
- Sometimes Webflow may internally revalidate the item after saving, especially if syncing issue was temporary.
Summary
To resolve a CMS validation failure when publishing a Webflow blog post, ensure all required fields are filled, slugs are unique and formatted correctly, and all referenced content is published and valid. Carefully check the error message for clues and correct any invalid data.