Why is my Webflow site scrolling horizontally on mobile and how can I fix it?
TL;DR
- Identify overflowing elements using Webflow Preview, Chrome Inspect, and temporary
overflow: hiddenstyling. - Check for fixed-width elements and replace them with
width: 100%ormax-width: 100%. - Adjust negative margins and transforms that push content outside the viewport.
- Set
overflow: hiddenselectively on the body or wrapper elements to prevent unwanted scrolling. - Test and republish the site across different breakpoints and real mobile devices to confirm the fix.
Your Webflow site is scrolling horizontally on mobile due to an element extending beyond the viewport width. This can be caused by oversized images, negative margins, or elements with fixed widths. Follow these steps to identify and fix the issue.
1. Identify Overflowing Elements
- Use Webflow’s Preview Mode: Switch to mobile view and check for any content exceeding the screen width.
- Enable Chrome’s Inspect Tool: Right-click your site, select Inspect, then hover over elements to see their dimensions.
- Add Temporary Overflow Styling: Apply
overflow: hiddento the<body>or<html>to check if the issue disappears. If it does, an inner element is causing the problem.
2. Check for Fixed-Width Elements
- Avoid Fixed Widths on Flex/Grid Items: Set
width: 100%instead of fixed pixel values where necessary. - Look for Large Images or Sections: Set images and sections to
max-width: 100%.
3. Adjust Negative Margins or Transforms
- Check for Large Negative Margins: Under Spacing, ensure no element has extreme negative margins pushing content outside the viewport.
- Inspect Transforms: Look under Transforms settings in the Styles Panel to see if elements are offset incorrectly.
4. Set Overflow to Hidden
- Apply
overflow: hiddento the Body or Main Wrapper: In Style Panel, under Layout, setoverflow: hidden. - Be Selective with Overflow Setting: Avoid using
overflow: hiddenon elements that require scrolling (e.g., carousels).
5. Test and Republish
- Recheck Responsiveness in Webflow: Test in all breakpoints, especially mobile landscape.
- Publish and Test on Real Devices: Sometimes, desktop simulators don’t fully replicate mobile behavior.
Summary
Your Webflow site is scrolling horizontally on mobile due to elements exceeding the viewport width. Identify problematic elements using Webflow’s Preview, adjust widths and margins, and set overflow to hidden where needed. Re-test across devices to confirm the issue is resolved.