Why is the background video not playing on one of my devices?

If a background video is not playing on only one of your devices, it's possible that the issue lies in the settings of that device's browser. A common fix involves checking the reduced motion settings, as background videos may not play if these are enabled.

Here’s how to check and disable this setting:

On Windows:

1. Go to 'Settings'.
2. Navigate to 'Ease of Access'.
3. Select 'Display'.
4. Ensure that 'Show animations in Windows' is turned on.

On a Mac:

1. Click the Apple menu at the top left corner.
2. Select 'System Preferences'.
3. Click 'Accessibility'.
4. Choose 'Display' from the options on the left.
5. Make sure that the option for reducing motion is not selected.

Another reasons for background video not to play include: 

• Ad Blockers or Browser Extensions: Some ad blockers or browser extensions can block videos from playing, mistaking them for advertisements.
• Auto-Play Restrictions: Modern browsers often have restrictions on auto-playing videos, especially if they have sound. These restrictions can prevent background videos from playing automatically. Webflow's background video element does not have a sound option, so this is almost never a problem.
• When iOS devices have low power mode enabled background videos are disabled. This is an iOS feature to preserve battery life.

What is Reduced Motion Mode and How It Helps to Enhance Accessibility

Reduced motion mode is a feature available in many operating systems and applications designed to limit the amount and intensity of motion and animation in the user interface. This mode primarily serves two purposes:

1. Accessibility for Users with Motion Sensitivity: Some individuals experience discomfort or physical symptoms like dizziness, nausea, or headaches due to motion and animation effects on screens. This condition is known as vestibular disorder. Reduced motion settings help mitigate these effects by minimizing or eliminating animations and certain types of motion in the user interface, making the digital experience more comfortable for these users.
2. Reduced Distractions and Cognitive Load: Animations and motion effects can be distracting for some users, particularly those with attention-related disorders such as ADHD. By reducing these effects, the user interface becomes less distracting and easier to navigate, helping users focus better on the task at hand.

Reduced motion mode often modifies or removes:

• Parallax scrolling effects
• Zooming, fading, or sliding transitions
• Animated loading indicators
• Full-screen animations and video backgrounds
• Other motion-based interface elements

Enabling reduced motion mode varies depending on the operating system or application. In general, it can be found in the accessibility settings of the device or software. This mode illustrates the importance of designing digital products with accessibility in mind, ensuring that they can be comfortably used by people with a wide range of needs and preferences.