Why are the images on my website stretched on mobile devices after replacing the source image in Webflow?
TL;DR
- Use width: 100% and height: auto on images to preserve aspect ratio and avoid stretching.
- Check parent containers and breakpoints for fixed dimensions or flex/stretch settings causing distortion.
Your images appear stretched on mobile after replacing them because their styling or container behavior isn’t adapting correctly to the new image's dimensions or aspect ratio.
1. Check Image Dimensions and Aspect Ratios
- If your new image has a different aspect ratio from the original, and the image element or container has fixed dimensions (e.g., height or width), it may cause stretching.
- Webflow doesn’t automatically maintain aspect ratios unless configured with responsive styles.
2. Inspect Width and Height Settings
- Select the image in the Designer.
- In the Style panel, check if Width or Height are set using pixels or fixed values. These can cause distortion.
- Instead, use Width: 100% and leave Height: Auto to preserve aspect ratio and responsiveness.
3. Review Parent Container Styles
- A parent element with fixed height or flex/stretch properties may force the image to stretch unnaturally.
- Inspect any Flexbox settings that are set to Stretch, and change image alignment to Start or Center if needed.
- Check if object-fit: cover or object-fit: contain is used where necessary to control how the image fills the space.
4. Remove Manual Image Resizing
- If you cropped or resized the image manually outside Webflow and replaced only the src, your layout might not have adapted.
- Re-upload the image using Webflow’s Asset Manager and replace the entire image element, not just the source.
5. Check for Style Overrides on Smaller Breakpoints
- Go to the Tablet and Mobile breakpoints.
- Ensure no unwanted styles like custom widths, padding, or transforms have been applied only at those sizes.
- Use the blue highlight indicator in the Style panel to identify breakpoint-specific changes.
6. Use Image Settings Appropriately
- For Background Images, apply styles like cover, contain, or set specific positioning to avoid stretching.
- For Image elements, avoid using background-related styles—control through dimensions and alignment instead.
Summary
Stretched images on mobile are typically caused by inconsistent aspect ratios, fixed dimensions, or container styles forcing distortion. Set width to 100% and height to auto, and verify styles at all breakpoints to ensure responsive behavior.
