Why do I keep getting a "must be a valid video URL" error when entering video links from YouTube or Vimeo into the video link field of my CMS in Webflow? I've tried suggestions from previous closed tickets but the error persists. Even video links that work fine on the sample pages fail when entered into my CMS. The error appears as soon as I enter any text in the field. Any insights on how to resolve this issue?
TL;DR
- Use the correct YouTube (
https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID) or Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/VIDEO_ID) URL format and avoid playlist or embed links. - Ensure the CMS field is set to Video and not Plain Text; recreate it if needed.
- Manually type the URL instead of pasting to avoid hidden characters.
- Test with a known working video URL to rule out specific link issues.
- Try using an incognito window, check Webflow status, and verify correct CMS editor mode.
- As a workaround, use a Plain Text field and manually embed the video with an
<iframe>.
The "must be a valid video URL" error in Webflow usually happens due to incorrect video formatting or issues with the CMS field setup. Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix it.
1. Check the Video URL Format
- YouTube: Use the standard watch URL format (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID) or the shareable short link (https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID). - Vimeo: Use the standard video URL format (
https://vimeo.com/VIDEO_ID). - Avoid Playlist or Embed Links: YouTube playlist links (
&list=...) or embed URLs (/embed/VIDEO_ID) can cause validation errors.
2. Verify the CMS Field Type
- Go to CMS Collection Settings and confirm that the Video field is set to Video and not Plain Text.
- If the field was set incorrectly, delete it and recreate it with the correct Video type.
3. Enter the URL Manually
- Try manually typing in the URL instead of pasting it. Sometimes, hidden characters or formatting issues from copied text can cause errors.
4. Test with a Known Working Video
- Use a public YouTube or Vimeo URL that works in other Webflow projects (e.g.,
https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ). - If this still triggers the error, the issue is likely point #5 below.
5. Check Browser & CMS Editor Issues
- Try a private/incognito browser window to rule out cache or extension conflicts.
- Ensure you’re in the correct CMS editor mode (e.g., entering links in the Collection rather than a custom field override).
- Check for Webflow outages (visit status.webflow.com).
6. Consider a Temporary Plain Text Workaround
- If the issue persists, create a Plain Text field for video URLs and manually embed videos using an Embed block (
<iframe src="VIDEO_URL">).
Summary
Ensure you use correct video URLs, check the CMS field type, manually type links, and test with other videos. If everything appears correct and the error persists, the issue may be a Webflow system bug—try clearing cookies, using another browser, or reaching out to Webflow support.