What is the issue with lightbox activation while scrolling on mobile and tablet devices in Webflow? Can you explain the strange behavior that occurs on Mobile Landscape in Webflow?

Published on
September 22, 2023

Issue with Lightbox Activation while Scrolling on Mobile and Tablet Devices in Webflow

When using the Lightbox component in Webflow, there can be a peculiar behavior that occurs on mobile and tablet devices, specifically in landscape mode. This behavior manifests as the Lightbox activation becoming problematic when the user attempts to scroll the page.

Explanation of Strange Behavior on Mobile Landscape in Webflow

The strange behavior that occurs on mobile landscape in Webflow with Lightbox activation while scrolling can be attributed to the way touch events are handled on these devices. To understand this behavior, let's dissect it further:

  1. Standard Lightbox Behavior: On desktop or in mobile portrait mode, the Lightbox component typically works fine. When the user clicks or taps on a thumbnail image, the Lightbox opens without any issues.

  2. Touch Events in Mobile Landscape: In mobile landscape mode, when the user tries to scroll the page with their finger, Webflow interprets this touch event as an attempt to activate the Lightbox, instead of scrolling the page. This unexpected behavior can confuse users and disrupt the smooth scrolling experience on mobile and tablet devices.

  3. Conflicting Interactions: This issue occurs due to a conflict between the touch events required for scrolling and the touch events needed to activate the Lightbox component. Since both actions rely on touch gestures, Webflow sometimes interprets a scroll gesture as a Lightbox activation gesture, resulting in the Lightbox opening when the user intends to scroll.

  4. No Out-of-the-box Solution: As of now, Webflow does not offer a built-in solution to address this specific behavior. However, there are workarounds that can be implemented to mitigate the issue and improve the user experience on mobile and tablet devices.

Possible Solutions to Address the Strange Behavior:

Here are some potential solutions you can try to overcome the issue with Lightbox activation while scrolling on mobile and tablet devices in Webflow:

  1. Disable Lightbox Activation on Mobile Landscape: You can apply custom CSS code to disable the Lightbox activation when the device is in landscape mode. This prevents the Lightbox from interfering with scrolling actions. You can achieve this by targeting the landscape orientation using media queries and setting the Lightbox activation to none.

  2. Use Custom Interactions: Instead of relying on the default Lightbox component, consider designing custom interactions for your Lightbox functionality. By creating custom interactions, you can have greater control over how the Lightbox behaves on mobile and tablet devices and avoid the conflict with scrolling gestures.

  3. Explore Alternative Lightbox Options: If the default Lightbox component does not meet your requirements, consider exploring third-party Lightbox plugins or scripts that are designed to work seamlessly on mobile and tablet devices. These alternative solutions may offer better compatibility and mitigate the strange behavior observed in Webflow's native Lightbox component.

By implementing one or a combination of these solutions, you can improve the mobile and tablet scrolling experience and ensure that the Lightbox activation behaves as intended without disrupting user interactions.

Additional Questions:

  1. How can I disable Lightbox activation on mobile devices in Webflow?
  2. Are there any alternative Lightbox options available for Webflow?
  3. What are the best practices for designing Lightbox interactions in Webflow?