Is there a workaround to implement a >4MB gif on a Webflow project for autoplay on mobile?
TL;DR
- Convert the GIF to a compressed MP4 using H.264, targeting under 5MB for mobile compatibility.
- Upload the MP4 to Webflow, then embed it using a
Webflow has a 4MB upload limit for image files like GIFs, and mobile browsers often restrict autoplay for large or inefficient formats. To autoplay a >4MB animation on mobile, you'll need a workaround that uses optimized video instead of a GIF.
1. Convert the GIF to a Video Format
- Use a tool like EZGIF, Adobe Media Encoder, or Handbrake to convert your GIF to an .mp4 format.
- Set the export to H.264 codec, which keeps quality and reduces file size.
- Target a maximum size of under 5MB for reliable mobile performance.
2. Upload the Video to Webflow's Asset Library
- Webflow accepts MP4 videos up to 30MB.
- Go to the Asset panel in your Webflow project and upload the video there (note: not for background video components).
3. Embed Using the HTML Embed Element
- Use an Embed component in Webflow where you want the gif-like animation to appear.
- Paste a video
<video>element with these attributes: - autoplay
- loop
- muted
- playsinline
- Example format (no HTML tag shown per guidelines, but it would look like this inline):
<video autoplay loop muted playsinline src="your_uploaded_video.mp4" loading="lazy"></video> - This forces autoplay on mobile while sidestepping browser restrictions (muted + playsinline are critical).
4. Adjust Styling for Responsiveness
- Set width to 100% or use Flexbox or Grid to maintain the aspect ratio.
- You can apply CSS in Webflow Designer to control size and positioning like a regular image.
5. Optional: Host the Video Externally
- If file size is still too large, consider uploading the video to Amazon S3, Bunny.net, or Cloudinary and link your
<video>tag to the external URL. - Ensure CORS settings allow public access for playback.
Summary
Convert your GIF to a compressed MP4, upload it to Webflow, and embed it using a <video> tag set to autoplay, muted, loop, and playsinline. This method enables seamless animation playback on mobile while bypassing Webflow's GIF limits and autoplay restrictions.