Hiding Elements on Mobile

Sometimes the best mobile design means showing less. Here's how to control element visibility on different devices.

Why Hide Elements?

Good Reasons to Hide

• Decorative images that clutter mobile
• Secondary navigation
• Complex data tables
• Large background videos
• Duplicate content

Keep Visible

• Primary content
• Main navigation
• Call-to-action buttons
• Essential forms
• Contact information

Using the Show on Mobile Toggle

Some Framekit components have a built-in toggle:

Where to Find It

Click on the component (Image, Video, Grid)

Open the settings panel

Look for "Show on mobile" toggle

Toggle OFF to hide on mobile

Components with This Toggle

• Images - Hide decorative images
• Videos - Hide heavy video content
• Grids - Hide complex grid layouts
• Compare Sliders - Hide comparison widgets

Using AI to Hide Elements

For AI components without a built-in toggle:

Hide Specific Elements

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Hide the background image on mobile

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Don't show the sidebar on mobile devices

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Hide the decorative icons on screens smaller than 768px

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Show Different Content

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On mobile, show a simplified version without the statistics section

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Replace the data table with a simple list on mobile

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Make It Editable

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Add a toggle in settings to show/hide this section on mobile

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Make the visibility of each element controllable for mobile and desktop separately

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Strategy: Progressive Disclosure

Instead of hiding completely, consider showing less:

Show Fewer Items

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Show only the first 3 features on mobile, all 6 on desktop

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Collapse Content

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On mobile, collapse the FAQ items by default instead of showing all answers

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Simplify Navigation

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Show only the top 4 nav items on mobile, put the rest in a "More" dropdown

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What to Hide: Examples

Hero Sections

Hide: Background video, secondary CTA button Keep: Main headline, primary CTA, essential image

Feature Sections

Hide: Decorative illustrations, extended descriptions Keep: Feature titles, icons, brief descriptions

Testimonials

Hide: Company logos, long quotes Keep: Short quotes, reviewer names

Footer

Hide: Secondary links, social media widgets Keep: Contact info, primary links, copyright

Testing Hidden Elements

After hiding elements:

Check desktop first - Ensure nothing important is hidden

Check mobile - Verify the simplified layout looks good

Check tablet - Middle ground should work too

Test the user journey - Can users still accomplish their goals?

Common Mistakes

❌ Hiding Too Much

Don't hide essential content thinking it's "mobile optimization." Users on mobile deserve the full experience.

❌ Hiding Interactive Elements

If desktop users need a button, mobile users probably do too. Don't hide functionality.

❌ Inconsistent Experience

Users switch between devices. Dramatically different content can be confusing.

Best Practice: Mobile-First

Instead of hiding things on mobile, try:

Start with mobile design

Add enhancements for larger screens

This naturally creates a clean mobile experience

Think: "What can I add for desktop?" not "What should I hide on mobile?"