Can Webflow allow a GIF to play only once instead of looping indefinitely?
TL;DR
- Edit the GIF in a tool like Photoshop or Ezgif to set looping to once, then upload it to Webflow.
- Alternatively, convert the GIF to a video or create a Lottie animation for more playback control and better performance.
Webflow doesn't natively control GIF playback, so GIFs will always loop if they're created that way. However, there are effective workarounds to make a GIF play only once.
1. Edit the GIF to Disable Looping
- Use a GIF editor like Photoshop, Ezgif (ezgif.com), or GIMP to set the GIF’s loop count to 1.
- In Photoshop, use File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy) and set Looping Options to “Once.”
- Upload this updated non-looping GIF to Webflow as a static image.
2. Consider Using Video Instead
- If you need more control, convert your GIF to a short video (e.g., MP4).
- Use a tool like Ezgif or HandBrake to convert the GIF to a video.
- Then in Webflow:
- Embed the video with playback controls.
- Set it to autoplay, no loop, and optionally muted.
- You can do this via a custom HTML embed using the
<video>tag, or use the Background Video component (though it loops automatically).
3. Use Lottie Animations as an Alternative
- If the animation was created in After Effects, consider exporting it as a Lottie animation using a plugin like Bodymovin.
- Upload the .json animation file to Webflow via the Lottie Element.
- In Lottie settings, set Loop: Off and Autoplay: On.
- This provides full control over playback and performance.
Summary
Webflow cannot directly limit a GIF to play only once, but you can edit the GIF to disable looping, or use a video or Lottie animation for more playback control. These approaches offer both flexibility and better performance.