Why is my website slow to load when I have implemented a .lottie animation on scroll in Webflow?
TL;DR
- Compress the .lottie file under 500 KB, use Canvas rendering for complex animations, and trigger animations only on scroll via Webflow interactions.
- Avoid autoplay, externally hosted files, and multiple unoptimized Lottie animations; use lazy loading and check console for errors.
A slow-loading website with a .lottie animation on scroll is often due to file size, rendering method, or improper loading strategy. Here’s how to troubleshoot and optimize it:
1. Optimize the .lottie File Size
- Check your Lottie file size. Ideally, it should be under 500 KB. Larger files (1MB+) will noticeably slow down page load.
- Use tools like LottieFiles’ Optimizer to compress your animation without a major quality loss.
- Remove unused layers, unnecessary frame data, and reduce frame rate if possible.
2. Use the Correct Rendering Mode
- Webflow uses the Lottie player which defaults to SVG rendering.
- SVG is heavier than the Canvas method. If your animation is complex, use Canvas rendering in your Lottie editor before exporting, and re-upload it to Webflow.
3. Load Lottie on Scroll Only
- Ensure the Lottie animation is not set to autoplay if it’s meant to run on scroll.
- Use Webflow’s Scroll Into View interactions to trigger the animation only when visible.
- Avoid loading multiple Lottie animations at once. Stagger them when possible.
4. Lazy Load All Visual Assets
- For images and video, ensure you're using lazy loading (
loading="lazy"). - Lottie files are not technically lazy loaded by default, but delaying their initialization until scroll can function similarly.
5. Host Lottie File Properly
- Avoid linking to Lottie animations hosted externally (e.g., directly from LottieFiles CDN), which adds network latency.
- Upload the .json file directly into Webflow for best performance.
6. Check Browser Console for Errors
- Open your browser’s Developer Tools > Console.
- Look for errors or 404s related to the Lottie animation which might cause retries or delays.
7. Avoid Using Too Many Lottie Animations
- Using multiple Lottie animations on one page, especially if unoptimized, can heavily impact rendering performance.
- Try limiting to 1–2 per page or combining smaller animations into a single sequence.
Summary
Large file size, SVG rendering mode, or failing to delay animation playback are common causes of slow loading with scroll-triggered Lottie animations. Optimize the file, switch to canvas rendering if needed, and defer its load until visible to improve performance.