Why does Webflow publish two instances of the same article despite there being only one in the website code?
TL;DR
- Check if both a Collection Page and a static page are displaying the same CMS item.
- Ensure reference or multi-reference fields aren't causing unintended article duplication.
- Review filters, sorting, and pagination settings in Collection Lists for misconfiguration.
- Confirm there is only one CMS item published and no duplicates or overlapping drafts.
- Inspect custom code for issues that might be duplicating or re-rendering CMS content.
Duplicate articles appearing on Webflow despite only one existing in the Designer typically result from collection structure, reference field settings, or pagination issues.
1. Check for Multiple Template Pages
- Webflow CMS uses Collection Pages to generate individual pages for each CMS item.
- If you're manually adding a CMS article on a static page and also using a Collection Page template, it could seem like two identical articles are published.
2. Inspect Reference and Multi-Reference Fields
- A Collection List pulling from multi-reference or reference fields may unintentionally duplicate content.
- For example, if an Article references itself via categories or tags, and you're displaying all related content, you might see that item duplicated when it's related to itself.
3. Review Collection List Filters
- Misconfigured filters in your Collection List can incorrectly duplicate entries.
- Also, ensure that dynamic sorting or limiting (e.g., “Limit items starting at 1”) isn’t unintentionally showing the same item more than once.
4. Verify Pagination or Load More Settings
- If you're using pagination or Load More functionality with Collection Lists, Webflow sometimes displays repeated items if:
- Items per page is set too low
- Filters/sorting are inconsistently applied across pages
5. Check CMS for Duplicates
- Even if it's not visible in your Designer, go to your CMS Collections and confirm that only one item exists for the article.
- Webflow may also include Drafts in previews but not on the live site. Confirm the item’s published status is correct.
6. Inspect Custom Code or Scripts
- If you’ve embedded any custom JavaScript for sorting, filtering, or rendering CMS content, improperly written code can clone DOM nodes or re-render CMS items.
Summary
Duplicate articles on Webflow are usually caused by misconfigured Collection Lists, incorrect use of references, or improper pagination. Review your CMS structure, Collection List settings, and custom code to find and correct the source.