Troubleshooting common issues when publishing Storylane interactive demos

Publishing interactive demos with Storylane should be straightforward, but real life says otherwise. If you’ve hit weird bugs, “not found” pages, or demos that just don’t load right, you’re not alone. This is for anyone who’s tried to publish a Storylane demo and thought, “Why is this so complicated?” Let’s cut through the noise and actually fix the stuff that matters.

1. Demo Won’t Publish or Is Stuck Processing

The Symptoms

  • You hit “Publish” and nothing happens—just endless spinning
  • The demo sits in “Processing” for ages
  • Error messages like “Failed to publish” pop up

What’s Really Happening

Most of the time, this comes down to browser issues, uploading massive assets, or a hiccup with Storylane’s servers.

How to Fix It

  • Refresh and Retry: Sounds obvious, but browser sessions can get stuck. Reload the dashboard and try again.
  • Check File Sizes: Huge videos and images can choke the uploader. Storylane works best with images under 2MB and short, compressed videos. If you’re using full-screen 4K videos, trim them down.
  • Browser Compatibility: Chrome is the most reliable. Safari and Firefox sometimes trip up on uploaders or interactive embeds.
  • Clear Cache or Use Incognito: Your browser might be holding onto a bad session or old cookies.
  • Check Storylane’s Status: If you suspect it’s not you, check their status page or Twitter—sometimes outages happen.
  • Try Another Network: Overzealous firewalls or slow connections can stall uploads.
  • Contact Support: If it’s still stuck after 10 minutes, reach out to Storylane support. Don’t waste hours hoping it’ll resolve itself.

Ignore: Reinstalling your browser or rebooting your computer. This almost never helps unless your whole system is acting up.

2. Demo Loads Blank or Shows a “Not Found” Error

The Symptoms

  • When you click your published link, it’s just a white screen
  • You see “404 Not Found” or “Demo doesn’t exist”

What’s Really Happening

Usually, this is an issue with demo privacy settings, expired links, or copying the wrong URL.

How to Fix It

  • Check Demo Visibility: In Storylane, set your demo to “Public” or “Anyone with the link.” If it’s “Private,” only you can see it.
  • Copy the Correct Link: The dashboard sometimes shows multiple links (preview, editor, published). Make sure you’re copying the actual live demo link.
  • Check for Expired Links: Some demos are set to expire after a certain date or number of views by default.
  • Look for Typoed URLs: Sounds silly, but copying from the wrong tab or pasting with extra characters happens more than you’d think.
  • Double-Check Your Publish: Did you actually hit “Publish” or just “Save”? Only published demos get a live link.

Ignore: Flushing your DNS or blaming your ISP. If you can see the dashboard, your network’s fine.

3. Interactive Steps Aren’t Working (Clicks, Tooltips, Forms)

The Symptoms

  • Clicks or hotspots don’t respond
  • Tooltips or callouts don’t show up
  • Embedded forms refuse to load

What’s Really Happening

This is almost always due to misconfigured steps, browser script blockers, or oddities in the site you recorded.

How to Fix It

  • Check Step Settings: Go through your steps in Storylane’s editor and make sure each action is correctly mapped. Sometimes steps lose their target if the underlying page changed.
  • Browser Extensions: Ad blockers, privacy blockers, and script blockers (like uBlock Origin) can break demo interactivity. Test in a clean incognito window with all extensions off.
  • Re-Record Problem Steps: If a particular click or tooltip never works, re-record that step. Sometimes the underlying DOM changes and Storylane loses track of what to interact with.
  • Embedded Content: If you’re embedding forms or widgets from third parties, check their embed settings. Some don’t allow loading in iframes or from other domains.
  • Check for Hidden Pop-ups: Sometimes overlays from the original site sneak into your demo, blocking clicks. Remove or hide these in the editor.

Pro Tip: If you always have to “fight” Storylane to get a step to work, it’s often faster to just re-record the section than to troubleshoot endlessly.

4. Demo Looks Different Than Expected (Styling, Layout, Branding)

The Symptoms

  • Fonts, colors, or logos look off
  • Steps overlap or break on mobile
  • Branding isn’t showing up

What’s Really Happening

Storylane does its best to capture the look and feel, but if the site you recorded uses custom fonts, weird CSS, or dynamic content, it can fall apart.

How to Fix It

  • Check Branding Settings: In Storylane, go to your workspace or demo settings and make sure your logo and brand colors are set.
  • Mobile Formatting: Storylane’s demos are mostly desktop-first. If you need mobile, test each step on a phone or small screen and adjust hotspot positions.
  • Custom CSS Issues: Super custom sites (think: heavy animations, custom fonts, or dynamic elements) don’t always render correctly. Try using a less complex version of the page, if possible.
  • Update Steps: If the underlying site changed since you recorded, re-record affected steps.
  • Preview Before Publishing: Use the preview functionality to catch layout issues before sharing.

Ignore: Tweaking the source site’s CSS just for demos. That’s way too much work for too little payoff.

5. Demo Won’t Embed on Your Website

The Symptoms

  • The embed code just doesn’t show up
  • You get browser warnings about insecure content
  • Your site’s layout breaks when the demo loads

What’s Really Happening

Usually, this comes down to mixed content (HTTP vs. HTTPS), restrictive website builders, or misconfigured embed code.

How to Fix It

  • Only Use HTTPS: Make sure your site is HTTPS and your Storylane demo link is also HTTPS. Most browsers block HTTP content on secure sites.
  • Double-Check the Embed Code: Storylane gives you an iframe or script snippet. Copy it exactly—don’t “fix” it unless you know what you’re doing.
  • Site Builder Restrictions: Some builders (like Wix or Squarespace) limit or sanitize custom embeds. Try using their “embed” or “HTML” block, not a generic text box.
  • Adjust Iframe Height: By default, the demo might be too tall or short. Adjust the height in the embed code to fit your layout.
  • Check for CSP Issues: If your site has a strict Content Security Policy, it might block Storylane’s scripts or iframes. You’ll need to allow their domain.

Pro Tip: Test the embed on a throwaway page first. Don’t break your homepage until you know it works.

6. Team Collaboration Issues

The Symptoms

  • Colleagues can’t see or edit demos
  • Comments or approvals disappear
  • Changes don’t sync between team members

What’s Really Happening

Storylane’s team features are decent but not perfect. Permissions, browser caching, or using multiple accounts can cause issues.

How to Fix It

  • Check Team Permissions: Make sure everyone’s added with the right role—“Editor” or “Viewer.” Only Editors can make changes.
  • Refresh the Dashboard: Sometimes changes don’t show up until you reload.
  • Avoid Simultaneous Editing: If two people edit the same demo at once, you’ll get conflicts. Agree on who’s editing, or use comments instead of live edits.
  • Log Out and Back In: Especially if you’re switching between accounts.
  • Commenting: Comments can sometimes vanish if you haven’t saved or published. Remind your team to hit “Save” often.

Ignore: Overcomplicating with workarounds—if you’re running into constant team issues, just coordinate edits over chat or use a single account for publishing.

7. Analytics or Lead Capture Not Working

The Symptoms

  • No data shows up in analytics
  • Lead forms don’t send submissions
  • Integrations (like HubSpot or Salesforce) don’t connect

What’s Really Happening

Analytics and integrations depend on both Storylane settings and the external system. If either side is misconfigured, nothing works.

How to Fix It

  • Check Integration Settings: Go to Storylane’s integration dashboard and reconnect any tools (Zapier, HubSpot, etc.). Tokens expire and need re-authentication.
  • Enable Analytics: Make sure tracking is turned on for your demo. Some privacy settings can block analytics.
  • Test Lead Forms: Fill out your own form and see if the data arrives. If not, double-check field mappings.
  • Pop-up Blockers: Some lead capture forms get blocked by browser privacy settings. Test in a clean browser setup.
  • Contact Support: Integration bugs are often on the vendor’s side. Don’t waste hours if you’re sure you set it up right—get Storylane or the integration partner involved.

Ignore: Rebuilding your whole integration from scratch unless support specifically tells you to.

Quick Checklist for Sanity

  • Are you using Chrome with extensions off?
  • Is your demo set to public and published?
  • Are all steps and assets under size limits?
  • Did you copy the right URL or embed code?
  • Did you check Storylane’s status if things are really weird?

Final Thoughts

Most Storylane demo headaches come down to a handful of real-world issues: browser quirks, big files, permissions, or a step that just didn’t record right. Don’t overthink it—start simple, get the basics working, and only chase bugs that actually block you. Publishing demos isn’t supposed to be a battle; keep it simple, fix what matters, and you’ll save yourself a ton of time and frustration.