How can I add a transparent background video like the one below to my website using Webflow? I'm currently experiencing issues with the uploaded WebM file having a black background.
- Export a WebM video with alpha transparency using VP9 codec (e.g., via Adobe After Effects with WebM plugin).
- Host the .webm file externally (e.g., Dropbox, AWS) and embed it using Webflow’s Embed element with a customized
<video>tag and appropriate positioning styles.
To add a transparent background video to your Webflow site, you need to ensure the video is properly encoded and embedded using the correct method—Webflow’s native video element does not support alpha transparency.
1. Use a WebM File with Alpha Channel
- Your video must be in WebM format encoded with the VP9 codec (not VP8), which supports transparency.
- The video should have a transparent background with alpha preserved during export.
- You can export such videos from tools like Adobe After Effects using the WebM plugin by Fnord to retain transparency.
2. Upload the Video to a File Host
- Webflow’s video upload through the native Video element does not support transparency and converts videos to MP4, which removes alpha channels.
- Instead, upload your .webm file to a third-party platform like:
- Dropbox (and use direct file links)
- Your own server or hosting
- AWS S3 or Google Cloud
- Make sure the URL is publicly accessible and ends in
.webm.
3. Embed Using the Embed Element
Use the Embed component (found under Add → Components → Embed).
Paste a custom embed using the
<video>tag.Apply the following attributes:
playsinline,autoplay,loop,muted(required for autoplay on most browsers)style="pointer-events:none"if the video should not capture mouse eventsloading="lazy"for performanceExample embed code:
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4. Use Absolute Positioning and z-index
- Wrap your video in a div block.
- Set the div’s position to absolute or fixed if you want it to overlay content.
- Place it behind or in front of other elements using z-index.
- Ensure the surrounding elements have a transparent background as well.
5. Browser Compatibility Considerations
- Transparency in videos via WebM with VP9 is only supported in modern browsers like Chrome and Edge.
- Safari does not currently support WebM with alpha channels.
- Provide fallback content or animations if supporting all browsers is essential.
Summary
To display a transparent background video in Webflow, use a VP9-encoded .webm with alpha, host it externally, and embed it using a custom HTML Embed element. Webflow’s native video tools do not support transparency. Proper hosting and embedding ensure your transparent video renders correctly across supported browsers.