How was a video background successfully loaded on mobile using Webflow?
TL;DR
- Use a custom HTML Embed with a
- Ensure video is MP4, under 1MB, and includes autoplay, muted, loop, playsinline attributes.
- Host over HTTPS and style with absolute positioning for responsive mobile display.
Webflow normally disables video backgrounds on mobile to save bandwidth, but you can work around this with specific setup steps. Here's how a background video was successfully loaded and displayed on mobile in Webflow:
1. Use a Custom HTML Embed for the Video
- Avoid the built-in Webflow Background Video component, which automatically disables itself on mobile.
- Instead, add an Embed element using custom HTML for a standard video tag.
- Example: use a video tag with attributes like playsinline, autoplay, muted, and loop to ensure mobile playback:
- e.g.,
<video autoplay muted loop playsinline ...></video>
2. Optimize Video Format and Size
- Use MP4 format, ideally H.264 encoded, for broad compatibility.
- Compress the video to reduce file size — aim for under 1MB for mobile.
- Set video dimensions to match mobile screen sizes (e.g., 720px width or smaller).
3. Ensure Proper Attribute Setup
- Set the following attributes on the
<video>element: - autoplay – starts the video automatically.
- muted – required for autoplay on mobile.
- playsinline – prevents going full-screen on mobile.
- loop – restarts the video automatically.
- Without muted and playsinline, most mobile browsers will block video autoplay.
4. Host the Video Correctly
- Upload the video to Webflow’s asset manager or use a reliable external URL.
- Ensure HTTPS delivery, which is required for autoplay in most browsers.
5. Position and Style the Embed Element
- Set the video embed’s position to absolute or fixed, and use z-index and size settings to match your background section.
- Add necessary div wrappers for responsive sizing and coverage.
Summary
To load a background video on mobile in Webflow, avoid the native Background Video element and use a custom video embed with the right attributes (autoplay, muted, loop, playsinline), ensure it's compressed for mobile, and styled to fit as a background.