Media and video
Choose the right media section and understand slides, source priority, autoplay, and Auto-scroll gallery.
Use these answers to choose a media surface before working through its detailed settings.
Which media section should I choose?
| Goal | Start with |
|---|---|
| One opening image or a small sequence of hero slides | Media hero or slideshow |
| One focused hosted or external video | Video |
| Independent image, video, and text tiles in one composition | Flexible media grid |
| Two large linked media panels | Split media banners |
| An interactive comparison between two images | Before and after |
| An editorial grid whose depth can respond to scrolling | Parallax grid |
| A continuously moving row of social or campaign cards | Auto-scroll gallery |
Choose the simplest section that communicates the story. A more complex grid should solve a real content or comparison need rather than compensate for unsuitable source media.
Is a static media hero different from a slideshow?
They are two uses of the same Media hero section. One media block creates a static hero. Adding more media blocks creates the slideshow path, and autoplay becomes meaningful only when there is more than one slide.
Use a single slide for one durable campaign message. Use several only when each slide has a distinct purpose and the first slide remains understandable before any movement begins. See Media hero or slideshow for the block types and limits.
How does Video choose a source?
The Video section uses Shopify-hosted media when either a Desktop video or Mobile video is selected. An External video URL is used only when no hosted video is selected.
- When Mobile video is blank, the Desktop video is reused on mobile.
- When Mobile video is the only hosted source, it is used at every size.
- When Poster image is blank, the hosted video's preview image is used when available.
This priority prevents an external provider from unexpectedly replacing an uploaded source.
What does Video Autoplay do?
The Theme Editor describes Autoplay as muted, visibility-managed playback for Shopify-hosted video. The current controller does not read that setting to start playback, so a hosted source still waits for the shopper's first Play. That action unmutes the video and makes native controls available.
External YouTube or Vimeo video also waits for Play. This is a confirmed schema/controller mismatch, not evidence that the browser blocked an implemented autoplay request. Final manual activation, provider fallback, off-screen pause, looping, fullscreen, and reduced-motion behavior still need accepted browser verification.
Why is Video parallax static?
Video has a local Enable parallax for this section switch. It also requires global Theme settings > Animation > Enable parallax effects, usable video or poster media, and a motion preference that permits the effect. Reduced motion keeps the frame static even when both merchant switches are on.
Where did Social carousel go?
The current Theme Editor label is Auto-scroll gallery. Its published documentation route remains /strata/sections/media/social-carousel/ so existing links stay stable; the current and former names are both searchable.
Auto-scroll controls continuous movement. Enable edge blur fades the visible ends of the track and makes them eligible for the progressive blur treatment. Global Enable background blur decides whether supported browsers also blur content behind those edges. Reduced-motion visitors receive the non-automatic presentation.
If the result differs
Confirm the selected media source, mobile fallback, poster, manual activation state, parallax controls, and reduced-motion state before changing the section type. Treat the current hosted Autoplay mismatch as a known implementation gap. Use the canonical guide for settings and Troubleshooting for another reproducible playback or provider issue.