What could be causing my Webflow dropdown menu to not work in both the published site and preview mode?
TL;DR
- Ensure the dropdown has its native toggle element visible and not hidden or deleted.
- Check for z-index issues, overflow settings, JS conflicts, unintended interactions, or custom styles that may break functionality.
- Use DevTools to identify console errors and test without extensions or in Incognito mode.
If your Webflow dropdown menu is not working in both Preview Mode and the Published Site, it’s likely due to one of several common design, interaction, or script conflicts.
1. Check for Missing or Disabled Dropdown Trigger
- Make sure the Dropdown Toggle element is present inside the Dropdown component.
- Verify that it’s not set to Display: none or hidden behind another element.
- Do not delete or convert the native toggle into another element, as dropdowns rely on this to function.
2. Inspect Z-Index and Overflow Settings
- Set a high z-index value (e.g., 100 or higher) for the dropdown container if it's hidden behind other elements.
- Ensure no parent element has Overflow: hidden applied, which can clip the dropdown's visibility.
3. Review Custom Code or JavaScript Conflicts
- Check for any custom JavaScript running on the site that may override or break Webflow’s native dropdown behavior.
- Temporarily remove custom code using the Page Settings → Custom Code section or within the Embed blocks, and test again.
4. Validate Webflow Interactions and Triggers
- Open the Interactions panel and ensure no animations are affecting the dropdown or its children in unintended ways.
- Be cautious with any Page Load or Click interactions that might hide or reposition the menu.
5. Test with Reduced Styles
- Temporarily remove or disable custom styles on the dropdown menu and toggle to isolate style-based conflicts.
- Try giving the dropdown and its toggle a default Webflow class to revert it to expected behavior.
6. Check for Duplicate Elements in Preview
- Ensure there are no duplicate dropdowns or copied symbols that might be conflicting.
- Sometimes components copied between pages or projects may not retain correct structure or behavior.
7. Browser Extensions or Console Errors
- Open DevTools (Cmd+Opt+I or F12) and check the Console tab for JavaScript errors.
- Browser extensions like ad blockers or script blockers can interfere—try testing in Incognito mode.
Summary
The dropdown issue is likely caused by a missing toggle element, z-index or overflow problem, custom JavaScript conflict, or a faulty interaction. Systematically check each area in Webflow to identify what's breaking the dropdown’s native functionality.