Webflow sync, pageviews & more.
NEW

What could be causing my Webflow dropdown menu to not work in both the published site and preview mode?

TL;DR
  • Ensure the dropdown uses Webflow's native structure with correct elements and names.
  • Check for disabled settings, conflicting interactions, custom code, or CSS issues like z-index and overflow.
  • Test the dropdown in a clean environment to isolate and identify the conflict.

If your Webflow dropdown menu is not working in both preview mode and the published site, the issue is likely due to missing structure, conflicting styles, or broken interactions.

1. Check Dropdown Structure

  • Make sure your dropdown uses the native Webflow Dropdown component.
  • It should include:
  • Dropdown (main wrapper)
  • Dropdown Toggle (the clickable element)
  • Dropdown List (the hidden menu that appears)
  • If any of these parts are missing or renamed incorrectly, Webflow’s built-in behavior won’t function.

2. Confirm Dropdown Is Enabled

  • Select the Dropdown element.
  • In the Element Settings panel (D key), ensure the component is not disabled.
  • Check that it’s not inside a Symbol or custom component that’s interfering with interaction.

3. Inspect Custom Interactions

  • Go to the Interactions panel and inspect if any Page Load or Click interactions affect visibility or positioning of dropdown components.
  • If you're using a custom interaction to open or toggle the dropdown, make sure it doesn’t conflict with Webflow’s default behavior.

4. Review Custom Code

  • If you’ve added custom JavaScript (in the Page Settings, Project Settings, or Embed blocks), it could override or break Webflow’s JavaScript.
  • Temporarily disable all custom code and test again.
  • Look in the browser console for errors (Right-click > Inspect > Console tab).

5. Z-Index or Overflow Issues

  • The dropdown may be opening but visually hidden due to CSS issues.
  • Ensure:
  • Parent containers don’t have overflow: hidden.
  • Z-index on the dropdown list is high enough to appear above other elements.

6. Symbol or Nested Positioning Errors

  • If the dropdown is inside a Symbol, dynamic list, or nested container, isolation or rendering context could be affecting behavior.
  • Try pulling the dropdown into a standalone section to test it.

7. Test in Clean Environment

  • Create a new blank page.
  • Add only a native dropdown and test.
  • If this works, your issue is likely specific to conflicting styles or scripts on your original page.

Summary

A Webflow dropdown not functioning in preview and publish is usually caused by incorrect component structure, custom interactions or code, or CSS positioning issues. Test it in isolation, double-check structure, and remove conflict sources to resolve it.

Webflow Resources
Webflow templates
Webflow inspiration
Rate this answer

Other Webflow Questions

Explore Logic tutorials
Is it possible to add a form element for handling customer images in Webflow? Can you also guide me on integrating a payment method like Stripe or similar into the form? I'm not very experienced with coding, so any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
How can I link each of my CMS collections, "stays_austria" and "paris", to the items on the travel selection section on my Webflow homepage?
How can I align all of the slides in my testimonial slider horizontally centered in Webflow?
Is it normal for a website published on Webflow not to be indexed by Google after 6 weeks? How long does it typically take for Google to index a website? I followed all the necessary steps recommended by Webflow, including signing up for Google Search Console, verifying my site with them, submitting a sitemap, and requesting indexing. I'm unsure if I missed a step or if there's a problem. Can anyone provide assistance? Thank you.
What is causing my animation in a Webflow CMS collection to not work properly?
How can I whitelist the IP or user agent of a third-party vendor to crawl my Webflow site for legal compliance archiving purposes?
What are some suggestions for creating a website with two main categories, multiple subcategories with 20-150 software programs each, and individual pages for each program using Webflow's CMS functionality?
Are you experiencing broken links reported by SemRush and a link checker website after exporting your Webflow site? Although all the links work, you're still finding it strange. Have you encountered this issue before and found a solution? Thank you.
How can I fix the issue of the text positions changing in Webflow when switching between tablet/mobile and desktop view?
How can I blur only the background image of a div block in Webflow without blurring the content inside it?
What are the steps to troubleshoot issues with the Finsweet script not working in Webflow, causing the cookie banner not to appear and console errors to occur?
Can I add hosting to someone else's Webflow Pro account and then transfer the hosted websites to my own account in the future? I am new to web building and Webflow.
How can I automatically enable hyphenation for long words or links in Webflow to ensure they are fully displayed on mobile devices without the need for multiple text blocks or hard-coded hyphens?
How can I integrate ConvertKit with Webflow without using Zapier? Attempting to use the "post" method on my form and adding the URL and field names is resulting in an error page. Any suggestions?
Can Webflow support additive overlay?
Can Webflow be used to call a CSS or JS file stored on a different server, instead of hosting them on GitHub?
How can I use the Finsweet script to manage two different sliders on my Webflow page, each feeding content from different collections?
How can I prevent a full-screen slider in Webflow from pausing on hover? Additionally, I would like to link two sliders to one control or navigation. Can anyone with JavaScript knowledge help me achieve this?
How can I change the language of publication dates in Webflow CMS collection from English to Portuguese?
How can I dynamically redirect to a CMS created after form submission in Webflow?
How can I hide the "no items found" empty field in Webflow for a second multi-image gallery on certain pages?
How can I implement swipe functionality between tab panes on mobile using custom code in Webflow?
How can I disable right-clicking on images to prevent downloading on my Webflow portfolio website?
In Webflow, how can I hide specific elements in the footer (such as "Ramin Khaze The Difference" and "Schedule showing") when the URL contains a certain parameter, such as "?mls"? I am a beginner in coding and would appreciate any help. Thank you!
How can I prevent the "w-current" class in Webflow from overriding the height of my custom class on a link block element?
Can anyone help me add a digital clock and date to my Webflow site? I've been able to add custom code, but I need assistance with styling the text. Thank you in advance for your help!
Can I capture a screenshot of a Webflow page on click and convert it to a downloadable PDF?
How can I pull the stored email from the first form submitted on our website and input it into a field on a later form during the sign-up process in Webflow? I have tried using the provided script but it only displays "undefined" in the field. I don't have much knowledge of JavaScript and found this script online.
How do I mirror user input from a form field to a non-form text field on the same Webflow page in real-time using JavaScript?
When will Webflow update the "Select Field" component to allow for a placeholder with different colors before and after selection, without the need for a label above the field?