How to Add a Moving Background on Shopify

Adding a moving background to your Shopify store can elevate its visual appeal and engage customers uniquely. Whether aiming to showcase a dynamic video or a subtle animation, this guide will walk you through the steps to achieve a captivating moving background on your Shopify site.

Understanding Moving Backgrounds

Before diving into the technicalities, it's essential to understand what a moving background is and why it can be beneficial. A moving background can be a video, an animated GIF, or CSS-based animations. These backgrounds can make your store more dynamic, catching visitors' attention and encouraging them to stay longer. However, it's crucial to balance aesthetics with performance, ensuring your site remains fast and responsive.
 

Preparing Your Media

Choosing the right media for your moving background is a critical step. Here are some tips to consider:

• Select High-Quality Media: Ensure your video or GIF is high resolution but optimized for web use to prevent slow load times.
• Keep it Relevant: Choose media that complements your brand and product offerings.
• Optimize File Size: Use tools like HandBrake for videos or TinyGIF for GIFs to reduce file sizes without losing quality.
   

Adding a Video Background

To add a video background to your Shopify store, follow these steps:

1. First, upload your video to a hosting service like YouTube or Vimeo.

2. Obtain the embed code from the hosting service.

3. Go to 'Online Store' > 'Themes'.

4. Click on 'Actions' > 'Edit code'.

5. In the theme editor, locate the `index.liquid` or `theme.liquid` file.

6. Add the following code where you want the video to appear:

    ```html
    <div class="video-background">
        <iframe src="YOUR_VIDEO_URL?autoplay=1&mute=1&loop=1&controls=0&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    </div>
    ```
5. Add CSS to ensure the video covers the desired area without affecting site usability.

    ```css
    .video-background {
        position: absolute;
        top: 0;
        left: 0;
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
        z-index: -1;
        overflow: hidden;
    }

    .video-background iframe {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
        object-fit: cover;
    }
    ```
 

Adding a GIF Background by Custom CSS Code

1. From your Shopify admin panel, navigate to 'Online Store' > 'Themes' > 'Actions' > 'Edit Code'.

2. Under the Assets folder, click on 'Add a new asset'. Upload your chosen GIF (for example, 'star-background-gif-_no-shooting-star.gif').

3. Still in the code editor, go to 'Layout' and open the theme.liquid file. Before the `</head>` tag, insert the following code:

{% style %}
       body {
          background: url({{ 'star-background-gif-_no-shooting-star.webp' | asset_url }})!important;
          background-repeat: no-repeat;
          background-position: center;
          background-size: cover;
      }
{% endstyle %}
 

Remember to replace 'star-background-gif-_no-shooting-star.webp' with the name of your uploaded animated GIF if it's different.

4. After adding the code, click on 'Save' to apply the changes.

Now, when you visit your store, you should see the new moving background in place. If you don't see the changes immediately, try clearing your browser cache or view the site in a private browsing window.
 

Conclusion: How to Add a Moving Background on Shopify

Adding a moving background to your Shopify store can significantly enhance its visual appeal and create a more engaging experience for visitors. By choosing the right media and method—whether a video or GIF—your store can stand out and attract more attention. Follow the steps outlined to ensure a seamless and visually captivating addition to your online shop.