Publishing interactive demos with Navattic is supposed to be painless. Most of the time, it is. But every so often, something goes sideways—your demo won’t load, changes won’t show up, or you’re stuck staring at an error message that’s about as clear as mud.
If you’re reading this, you probably just want the thing to work so you can move on. This guide is for anyone who’s hit a wall trying to publish a Navattic demo—whether you’re a marketer, a product person, or just the unlucky soul who got “volunteered” to own the demo.
Below, I’ll walk through the most common problems, how to fix them, and what you can safely ignore. No fluff, just actual solutions.
1. Make Sure Your Changes Are Actually Saved
Let’s start with the basics because, frankly, this is the #1 culprit.
- Double-check the “Save” button. Navattic’s editor doesn’t always autosave every tweak. If you close the tab or switch tasks, your last changes might not be in there.
- Look for unsaved indicators. Sometimes, the UI will warn you there are changes not yet published. Don’t ignore those little prompts.
- Refresh before you panic. Sometimes the browser gets out of sync. Reload the editor and see if your updates are still there.
Pro tip: If you’re collaborating with teammates, only one person should work on a demo at a time. Edits can overwrite each other.
2. Publishing: Did You Hit the Right Button?
Navattic separates “Save” and “Publish.” It sounds obvious, but it’s an easy miss.
- “Save” just updates the draft. It doesn’t push changes live.
- You have to “Publish” for anyone else to see updates. If you’re sending a link and they see old content, double-check this.
What to ignore: Don’t waste time tweaking sharing permissions unless you’re getting explicit access errors. Most publishing issues come down to the Save vs. Publish confusion.
3. Demo Won’t Load? Check Your Embeds and Share Links
If your demo isn’t appearing where it should, or it loads as a blank box, try these steps:
A. Is Your Link Correct?
- Use the “Copy Share Link” button. Don’t copy from the browser address bar; those aren’t always public links.
- Test the link in a private/incognito window. If it works there, you’re probably logged in with extra permissions in your main browser.
B. Embedding Gotchas
- Double-check your embed code. Use the latest code snippet Navattic gives you. Old embeds can break after updates.
- Look for browser console errors. Right-click, Inspect, and check “Console” for red error messages. If you see “X-Frame-Options” or “Content Security Policy” errors, your site might be blocking third-party embeds.
- Try embedding on another page/platform. If it works elsewhere, the issue is with your site, not Navattic.
Pro tip: WordPress, Wix, and some other builders are notorious for mangling embed codes or blocking iframes by default. Try a plain HTML page if you’re stuck.
4. Changes Not Showing Up? It’s Probably Caching
This one’s annoying and surprisingly common.
- Force a hard refresh. On most browsers:
Ctrl+Shift+R(Windows) orCmd+Shift+R(Mac). - Clear your browser cache. Sometimes, old versions of your demo get stuck.
- Check with someone else. If they see the new version and you don’t, it’s definitely cache.
- Wait a few minutes. Navattic CDN updates are usually fast, but not instant. Give it 2-5 minutes after publishing.
What not to do: Don’t start republishing repeatedly or making tiny edits hoping for a different outcome. That just clogs up your version history.
5. Media and Assets Not Loading? Check Your Uploads
If your screenshots, GIFs, or videos aren’t showing up in the live demo:
- File size and type matter. Stick to standard formats (PNG, JPG, GIF, MP4) and keep file sizes under a few MB. Giant files can choke or fail silently.
- Re-upload the asset. Sometimes uploads glitch. Try deleting and adding the file again.
- Check for broken image links. If you pasted a URL rather than uploading, the link might be dead or blocked by CORS rules.
Pro tip: Host images and videos in Navattic whenever possible, not on random external sites. It’s just less hassle.
6. “Something Went Wrong” Errors? Read the Details
Navattic’s error messages aren’t always poetry, but they’re usually specific. Don’t just dismiss pop-ups; look for:
- Network errors: These often mean your internet connection dropped or your company firewall is blocking something.
- Permission errors: You might not have rights to publish if you’re on a restricted team account.
- Step validation errors: Sometimes you’ll see a warning about a missing field or misconfigured action—fix that first.
What to ignore: Generic browser warnings about mixed content (HTTP/HTTPS) are almost always about your site setup, not Navattic.
7. Demo Loads, But Interactivity Is Broken
Your demo appears, but buttons don’t work, or tooltips don’t show up. Here’s what to check:
- Step triggers: Did you set the trigger type correctly? (e.g., “click,” “hover,” “next”)
- Overlapping steps: If multiple steps are stacked or cover the same area, they can interfere with each other.
- Custom code conflicts: If you pasted custom scripts or CSS (rare, but possible), try disabling them to see if the demo works.
Pro tip: Build your demo step by step and test as you go. Don’t add 30 steps, then try to debug the whole thing at once.
8. Permissions and Team Issues
If you’re seeing “not authorized” or “demo not found,” it’s usually an account problem.
- Are you logged into the right Navattic account? Double-check, especially if you have multiple emails.
- Check workspace permissions. Some organizations restrict who can publish or edit demos. Ask your Navattic admin if you’re locked out.
- Was the demo deleted or archived? If so, you’ll need to restore or duplicate it.
Pro tip: If you just joined a team, ask for editor or admin access up front. Viewer-only roles can’t publish or make changes.
9. Navattic Bugs and Outages (Yes, It Happens)
No platform’s perfect. If you’ve tried everything and it’s still broken:
- Check Navattic’s status page. Outages happen, even to the best.
- See if others in your company have the same issue. If everyone’s stuck, it’s probably not you.
- Contact Navattic support. Provide screenshots, error messages, and what you’ve already tried. The more info, the faster they can help.
What not to do: Don’t waste hours assuming you’re the problem if it feels like a platform-wide issue. Sometimes you just have to wait.
10. Annoying Edge Cases (and How to Avoid Them)
Here are a few weird but real gotchas:
- Browser extensions: Privacy blockers or ad-blockers can sometimes break demos. Test with extensions disabled.
- Incognito mode: Some features (like persistent logins) won’t work in incognito. Use a normal window for final checks.
- Mobile devices: Navattic demos are best optimized for desktop. If you need mobile support, check layout and tap targets carefully.
Wrap-Up: Keep It Simple, Don’t Overthink
Most Navattic publishing problems boil down to a handful of issues: not saving, not publishing, caching, embeds, or permissions. Resist the urge to make things more complicated than they are. Start with the basics, check one thing at a time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when it’s genuinely broken.
The good news is, once you’ve fixed it once, you’ll know what to look for next time. Iterate, keep your demos lean, and remember—nobody else is judging your troubleshooting skills as harshly as you are. Get it live, get feedback, and move on.