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The video on my homepage won't play or display on mobile.

Guaranteeing an immersive and high-performing experience at your hotel site

Key points:

  • Understanding why background videos won't play on mobile.
  • Adjust the format and settings for compatible rendering.
  • Optimize the user experience without compromising performance.

A welcome video is a great way to capture attention and convey the atmosphere of your hotel. However, it's common for it to fail to play or disappear completely on mobile devices. This behavior is normal: it's due to technical and energy limitations inherent to mobile devices. Here's how to resolve the issue and ensure a consistent experience.

1. Why isn't the video displaying on mobile?

Most mobile browsers (Safari, Chrome Android, etc.) automatically block autoplay videos because:

  • Save battery and bandwidth.
  • Prevent unwanted audio playback. 💡 Result: On mobile, Webflow background videos are replaced by a static image (poster). This is not a bug, but a browser rule.

2. Use a replacement image poster

Webflow allows you to add a fallback image (poster image) when a video cannot be played.

  • Select your background video in the designer.
  • In the Settings panel, import a clear and immersive image representing the video.
  • This image will automatically appear on mobile and tablet devices in place of the video. 💡 Choose a small image (less than 300 KB) that is suitable for vertical format for optimal display.

3. If you are using an embedded video (YouTube, Vimeo, MP4)

For videos embedded manually:

  • Open the Embed block in Webflow.
  • Add the `muted` attribute to the code to enable autoplay (e.g., `<video autoplay muted loop playsinline>`).
  • Verify that the source is in MP4, WebM, or Ogg format, which are compatible with all browsers. 💡 Tip: Videos hosted on YouTube cannot be automatically played on mobile devices — opt for direct hosting via Webflow or a video CDN.

4. Optimize the size and weight of the video

Mobile phones have limited bandwidth:

  • Compress the video with HandBrake or Clipchamp before importing.
  • Limit the duration to a maximum of 5–10 seconds.
  • Aim for a file size of less than 3 MB. 💡 Background videos should be short, silent, and lightweight to load instantly without blocking the rest of the site.

5. Create an alternative mobile experience

If your video is essential to your storytelling:

  • Hide the video section on mobile (Hide on Mobile Portrait).
  • Create a simplified version of the section with a static image and a "Watch the video" button.
  • Link to the full video hosted on a dedicated page or on YouTube. This ensures a seamless experience while preserving the visual impact of your content.

Best practices for hotel websites

  • Always enable mute mode on background videos.
  • Use high-quality images to replace videos on mobile devices.
  • Test your homepage on multiple devices before publishing (iPhone, Android, tablet).

Conclusion

A video not displaying on mobile is not a Webflow error but a limitation imposed by browsers. By using an image poster, compressing your files, and adapting the design, you guarantee a smooth, aesthetically pleasing, and consistent experience on all screens—essential for attracting your visitors and reinforcing your hotel's upscale image.