What is the purpose of being able to upload .webm files in Webflow if only .mp4 files are served as background videos?

TL;DR
  • Webflow's Background Video component only supports .mp4 files, ignoring .webm uploads.  
  • For broader browser compatibility and performance, use .webm in custom video embeds via HTML or CMS file hosting.

Webflow allows uploading .webm files for broader video support, even though background videos use only .mp4 formats. Here's a breakdown of why this matters:

​

1. Background Video Component Uses .mp4 Files Only  

  • Webflow's native Background Video element currently supports only .mp4 files for playback.
  • Uploading a .webm file in this context has no effect—Webflow will ignore it for background video rendering.

​

2. Custom Video Embeds Can Use .webm  

  • If you're using Custom Code embeds, you can include both .mp4 and .webm formats in a <video> tag to improve compatibility across browsers.
  • This setup ensures better performance and compatibility (e.g., .webm often offers smaller file sizes and is optimized for modern browsers like Chrome).

​

3. Webflow CMS Hosting for .webm  

  • You can upload .webm files to the Webflow Asset Manager or CMS File fields to reference them in custom embed or HTML elements.
  • This enables greater control over video delivery, such as preload behavior, poster images, or multiple source handling.

​

4. Improved Cross-Browser Compatibility  

  • Some older or less standard browsers may not fully support all video formats. By offering both .mp4 and .webm, you optimize playback success across platforms.

​

Summary  

.webm uploads in Webflow enable use in custom code for broader video format compatibility, but only .mp4 files are used in the native Background Video component. Use .webm strategically in custom video embeddings for optimized performance and browser support.

Webflow Resources
Webflow templates
Webflow inspiration
Rate this answer

Other Webflow Questions

Explore Logic tutorials
How can I add tags or other form fields to requests when connecting Mailchimp to Webflow using Logic? I need to segment the audience signing up on my website. I have tried different permutations, but it hasn't worked so far.
What can I do to fix the issue with the navigation links not working properly when scrolling past the hero animation in my Webflow project?
How do I disable Horizontal Scroll on all pages in Webflow, for both desktop and mobile, in order to fix alignment issues on mobile? Additionally, how can I center the form in the footer for mobile in Webflow?
How can I create a scrolling effect for a section with multiple company logos of varying widths in Webflow?
How can I create a page in Webflow where text boxes scroll into view with images in the same div block, stop and become fixed in the middle of the viewport, and then scroll out of view once the images have been scrolled past?
How can I link each of my CMS collections, "stays_austria" and "paris", to the items on the travel selection section on my Webflow homepage?
Is there a code editor within Webflow where I can fix issues with rows/tables that are outside of the viewport?
Can user authentication be disabled on membership signup in Webflow to improve funnel flow?
How can I change the default color for the text link at the bottom of the home page in Webflow for Designed by BOC Services?
Can I share a link to a Webflow project for preview on different devices?
How can I fix the issue of a container disappearing from my Webflow website only on iPhones in Safari and Google Chrome?
How can Webflow be used to create both top to bottom and bottom to top animations on a single element, where the arrow points downwards when scrolling from top to bottom and upwards when scrolling from bottom to top?
How can I prevent mobile page zooming in Webflow despite having the code in place?
How can I use Webflow and Shopify ThemeKit to simplify the process of making theme changes and uploading them to Shopify without using Git?
What is the beta release of Webflow Designer Canvas and what does it represent?
Can I capture a screenshot of a Webflow page on click and convert it to a downloadable PDF?
How can I alternate the layout of the image and heading for each collection item in a two-column format on Webflow?
How can I execute JavaScript code when clicking a specific button with a given ID in a Webflow project?
How can I disable the Webflow success or failure state for a sign-up form and display a custom thank you page using jQuery and the Webflow form submit state?
How can I create a vertical scrolling menu with Webflow, similar to the one on Apple's website, that switches to horizontal scrolling when the menu doesn't fit on one screen?
How can I change the language of the Google Maps embed from English to Arabic in Webflow?
How can I reduce the vertical space between lines within a bullet point in Webflow? Can I replace the bullet points with icons on the "Services" page?
How can the text color be changed for custom input fields on Webflow?
How can I add conditional visibility in Webflow to prevent a div from appearing on a published page if a CMS field is empty?
How can I stop a YouTube video from playing in the background in audio mode when I close a modal in Webflow?
How can I connect and use my JavaScript and CSS files for special functions and styles in Webflow?
How can I fix the "Ensure text remains visible during webfont load" warning in Webflow?
How can I implement a ThreeJS script as a background for my Webflow project using custom code?
How can I send data from a Webflow Form to ActiveCampaign without using Zapier? I have set the form to POST and input the form's action URL, similar to Mailchimp but it redirects me to the admin area of ActiveCampaign without sending the data. Has anyone had success with this method?
Can Webflow be used to create a "blob" elements effect in the header of a website using custom code or JavaScript?