How can I fix the issue of my dropdown menu not displaying data the first time my Webflow site is opened or refreshed, even though the data is correctly populated from my CMS collection?

Published on
September 22, 2023

To fix the issue of your dropdown menu not displaying data the first time your Webflow site is opened or refreshed, even though the data is correctly populated from your CMS collection, you can follow these steps:

  1. Check your CMS collection connection: Ensure that your CMS collection is properly connected to your dropdown menu. Go to the Elements Panel in the Webflow Designer, select your dropdown menu, and navigate to the Settings tab. Make sure that you have connected the dropdown menu to the correct CMS collection.

  2. Publish Changes: After making any changes to your CMS collection or the dropdown menu, ensure that you publish your site. Click on the Publish button in the top-right corner of the Webflow Designer. This will make your changes live and update the dropdown menu on your live site.

  3. Clear Cache and Reload: Sometimes, issues can arise because of cached data on your browser. Clearing the cache and reloading your site can help resolve this. To clear the cache, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Cmd + Shift + Delete on Mac, select the appropriate options to clear cache, and then reload your site.

  4. Check for Typographical Errors or Mismatched Reference Names: Ensure that you have correctly named and referenced your CMS collection items in the dropdown menu. Double-check for any typographical errors in the reference names. If the reference names are incorrect or do not match the ones in your CMS collection, the dropdown menu will not display the data correctly.

  5. Test in Incognito Mode: Open your site in an incognito or private browsing window to see if the issue persists. If the dropdown menu displays the data correctly in incognito mode, the problem might be related to a browser extension or a cache issue on your regular browser. Try disabling any browser extensions that could potentially interfere with the rendering of the dropdown menu.

  6. Contact Webflow Support: If none of the above solutions resolve the issue, it's always a good idea to reach out to Webflow Support. They have extensive knowledge of the system and can provide specific guidance based on your site and setup.

Remember to test your site thoroughly after implementing any changes to ensure that the dropdown menu displays the data correctly every time the site is opened or refreshed.

Additional Questions:

  1. How can I troubleshoot CSS related issues with my Webflow dropdown menu?
  2. What are some best practices for setting up dropdown menus in Webflow CMS?
  3. How do I integrate third-party services into my Webflow dropdown menu, such as email marketing platforms or analytics tools?