Video: background section
The Video: background section plays a muted MP4 video behind a heading, text and button in Split, with a fallback image for mobile.
Applies to: Split 5.1.0 and later. Added in: Split 1.0.0. Last checked: 2026-10-13 against Split 5.1.0.
The Video: background section plays a muted, looping video across the full width of the page, with a heading, text and button over it. A fallback image takes the video's place when it cannot play.
Where to find it: select Add section in the theme editor, then choose Video: background.
Uploading the video
Add the section
In the theme editor, select Add section and choose Video: background. Until you pick a video, the section plays a Shopify sample video.
Pick the video
Select Video, then upload an MP4 or choose one that is already in Shopify admin → Content → Files. The video plays muted and on a loop, so it needs no sound.
Set the fallback image
Select Fallback image and choose an image from the video, for example its first frame. Split shows it when the video fails to load.
Set the height and the text
Choose Video height and Text alignment, then add the Heading, Text and Button blocks you need.
The video starts loading when the section comes close to the screen, so it does not slow down the top of the page.
Video height and text alignment
- Video height sets the height of the section:
- Natural (16:9) (default) follows the 16:9 shape of a video across the full width of the screen.
- Large is 75 percent of the screen height.
- Full is the screen height below the header.
- On screens 728 px wide and narrower, Full becomes 75 percent and Large 55 percent of the screen height.
- Text alignment places the blocks over the video: left, center or right, at the top, middle or bottom. Default: Center middle.
- The video always fills the section and is cropped to fit, so keep the important part in the middle.
Blocks and colors
Each block can be added once. The preset starts with a Heading and a Text.
Heading
- Heading is the title text.
- Heading size sets its size: Small, Regular (default) or Large.
- Heading tag (under SEO) sets the HTML tag for search engines, span by default. It does not change the size.
Text
- Text is a paragraph under the heading. It supports bold, italic and links.
Button
- Button label and Button link set the button text and the page it opens.
Horizontal line
- Draws a short line between the blocks. It has no settings.
Under Custom colors, Text sets the color of the blocks and Video overlay lays a color over the video at 40 percent opacity, so the text stays readable. Leave them transparent to keep the theme colors.
Why does my video not play on a phone?
Because phones can block videos that play by themselves, for example in low power mode or to save data. Split shows the Fallback image when the video fails to load or stops loading before it starts. Without a fallback image the section shows only its background color and text.
Which image size works best for the fallback?
A landscape image the size of a full screen, 1920 x 1080 px. See Image size recommendations.
All Video: background settings
Every setting in this group, with its type and default.
Accepts these blocks: Heading, Text, Button and Horizontal line.
Video (video): Plays this video muted and on a loop behind the blocks. Without a video, a Shopify sample video plays.
Fallback image (image): Shows this image instead of the video when the video fails to load or stops loading before it starts.
Video: background section: Size & alignment
Where to find it: Video: background → Size & alignment
Video height (dropdown, default: Uncropped: Natural (16:9)): Sets the section height: Natural follows the 16:9 shape of the video across the full width, Large is 75 percent of the screen height, Full is the screen height below the header. On screens 728 px wide and narrower, Large becomes 55 percent and Full 75 percent of the screen height. Options: Uncropped: Natural (16:9), Cropped: Large, Cropped: Full.
Text alignment (dropdown, default: Center middle): Sets where the heading, text and button sit over the video. Options: Left top, Center top, Right top, Left middle, Center middle, Right middle, Left bottom, Center bottom, Right bottom.
Video: background section: Custom colors
Where to find it: Video: background → Custom colors
Text (color, default: transparent): Sets the color of the blocks over the video. Leave it transparent to use the theme colors.
Video overlay (color, default: transparent): Lays this color over the video at 40 percent opacity, to keep the text readable.
Heading block
Where to find it: Video: background → Add block → Heading
One Heading block per section.
Heading (text field, default: "Talk about your brand").
Heading size (dropdown, default: Regular). Options: Small, Regular, Large.
Heading block: SEO
Where to find it: Video: background → Add block → Heading → SEO
Heading tag (dropdown, default: span): Specify heading level to help search engines index the structure of your page. Options: H1, H2, H3, H4, span.
Text block
Where to find it: Video: background → Add block → Text
One Text block per section.
Text (rich text, default: "Describe a product, share announcements, or welcome customers to your store.").
Button block
Where to find it: Video: background → Add block → Button
One Button block per section.
Button label (text field, default: "Button label").
Button link (link).
Horizontal line block
Where to find it: Video: background → Add block → Horizontal line
One Horizontal line block per section.
The Horizontal line block has no settings in Split 5.1.0.
Related pages
- Video: popup section: a YouTube or Vimeo video that opens in a popup.
- Slideshow section: full-screen slides that can also hold an MP4 video.
- Image size recommendations: the size of the fallback image.
- How Split is built: what "screen height below the header" means in Split.
Text columns with icons
The Text columns with icons section shows up to 3 short texts with an icon, heading and button in Split, for shipping, returns or contact info.
Video: popup
The Video: popup section shows a background image with a play button that opens a YouTube or Vimeo video in a popup on Split pages.