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Why am I seeing "something unexpected happened" instead of a site preview on my Webflow dashboard? The site seems to be working fine, but I'm concerned about this error message.

TL;DR
  • The preview error in Webflow is a temporary dashboard glitch that doesn’t affect your live site.
  • Refresh the dashboard, clear browser cache, check homepage load, or disable extensions, and contact support if it persists over 24 hours.

You're seeing the "something unexpected happened" message in your Webflow dashboard due to a temporary error rendering the project site preview, but it does not impact your live site's functionality.

1. Understand the Error Context

  • This message typically appears in the project preview panel (thumbnail) within the Webflow Dashboard.
  • It does not affect your live site, Designer, or Editor.
  • The error usually results from a failed preview image generation, not from a problem with your actual design or hosting.

2. Common Causes

  • Preview Timeout or Server Error: Webflow's server may fail to retrieve or render the preview due to a spike in load or a backend hiccup.
  • Large or Complex Home Page: If your homepage is large, contains custom code, or relies on dynamic CMS content, it may prevent the preview generator from completing properly.
  • Browser Cache or Extension Conflicts: Occasionally, an outdated browser cache or aggressive browser extension (like an ad blocker) can interfere with the preview.

3. How to Fix or Troubleshoot

  • Refresh the Dashboard: Wait a moment, then press Cmd+R or Ctrl+R to refresh your browser and reload the preview.
  • Clear Browser Cache: Clear cached files or load the Dashboard in Incognito/Private Mode to rule out cache issues.
  • Switch or Update Browser: Try Webflow in a supported browser like the latest version of Chrome or Safari.
  • Temporarily Disable Extensions: Turn off any browser extensions that block scripts or modify content.
  • Check Your Homepage: In the Designer, verify the homepage loads correctly, doesn’t crash, and doesn’t rely on blocking scripts during load.

4. When to Contact Support

  • If the error persists for more than 24 hours even after taking the above steps.
  • If it occurs on multiple projects or across multiple user accounts.
  • Contact Webflow Support with the project name and team ID for further investigation.

Summary

The "something unexpected happened" preview error is usually a temporary glitch in the Webflow Dashboard's preview rendering and does not affect your live site. Refresh the dashboard, check for browser or homepage issues, and contact support if it doesn’t resolve on its own.

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