What could be causing my background video to only appear as a line in my column after uploading it on Webflow?
TL;DR
- Set a defined height on the parent container to prevent it from collapsing.
- Use Webflow’s Background Video component with width and height set to 100%, and apply appropriate display and positioning styles.
- Avoid layout restrictions from Columns by using a styled div block instead, and ensure the video file is a supported .mp4 under 30MB.
Your background video displaying only as a line in a column is usually caused by layout or sizing issues in your Webflow structure.
1. Check the Parent Element’s Size
- Ensure the container (e.g., column, div block) that holds the background video has a defined height.
- If the parent element has no height (e.g., height: auto) and no content other than the video, it will collapse, causing the background video to appear as a thin line.
2. Proper Use of Background Video Element
- Make sure you are using Webflow’s Background Video component and not a standard video embed if you're expecting it to fill an area.
- The Background Video element needs to be properly sized — it doesn’t auto-adjust based on content like images might.
3. Apply Correct Display & Positioning Settings
- Set the display of the background video element or parent container to block or flex, not inline.
- Use position: relative (or absolute) on the container and position: absolute on the video if you're overlapping elements.
- Add styling like width: 100% and height: 100% to the background video if it’s inside a container with defined dimensions.
4. Use of Columns May Be Restrictive
- Webflow’s Columns component applies default padding and sizing rules that may limit the size of child elements.
- Consider placing the background video inside a div block within the column and setting the div block’s height and width manually.
5. Double-Check File and Format Issues
- Although less common, a corrupt video file or unsupported format may not display properly. Webflow supports .mp4 only with a max size of 30MB.
- Re-upload the video to confirm it's processed correctly.
Summary
Your background video appears as a line likely because the parent element lacks a defined height or the video element isn't styled to fill the container. Set fixed or responsive heights on the container, and ensure the background video has width/height set to 100%.