How to create your first project on Webflow

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

To create your first Webflow project, sign in to your account, click the 'Create New Project' button from your dashboard, choose a template or start from scratch, and select your project settings. You'll then enter the Webflow Designer where you can begin building your website.

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Prerequisites

A Webflow account
Basic understanding of web design concepts
Computer with internet connection
Modern web browser

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access your Webflow dashboard

Sign in to your Webflow account at webflow.com and navigate to your dashboard. If you don't see projects immediately, click on the Dashboard tab in the top navigation. Your dashboard displays all your existing projects and provides access to create new ones.

Bookmark your dashboard URL for quick access to your projects.

Start a new project

Click the Create New Project button, which appears as a large plus icon or button on your dashboard. This will open the project creation wizard where you'll configure your new site. The button is typically located prominently at the top or center of your projects view.

Choose your starting point

Select whether to start From scratch with a blank canvas or choose from Templates. If selecting a template, browse the categories like Business, Portfolio, or E-commerce and click on one that matches your vision. Templates provide pre-built layouts and styling that you can customize.

Templates are great for beginners as they provide structure and design inspiration you can modify.

Configure project settings

Enter your project name in the Project Name field - choose something descriptive and memorable. Select your Plan (Free, Basic, CMS, Business, or Enterprise) based on your needs. Review the features included with each plan before proceeding.

You can always upgrade your plan later as your project grows and needs more features.

Set up hosting preferences

Choose your hosting option: use a free webflow.io subdomain for testing, or connect a custom domain if you have one. For your first project, the free subdomain option works perfectly for learning and development. Click Create Project when ready.

Start with the free subdomain - you can always add a custom domain later from the project settings.

Enter the Webflow Designer

After creation, you'll automatically enter the Webflow Designer, the visual website builder. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the interface: the canvas in the center, the Add Panel on the left, the Style Panel on the right, and the Navigator panel. The top toolbar contains publish, preview, and settings options.

Press <code>?</code> in the Designer to open the keyboard shortcuts panel and speed up your workflow.

Add your first elements

Click the Add Elements button (plus icon) to open the elements panel. Drag a Section onto your canvas first, then add a Container inside it, followed by basic elements like Heading and Text Block. This creates the foundation structure for your page content.

Always structure your layout with Sections and Containers first - this ensures proper responsive behavior.

Preview and publish your project

Click the Preview button (eye icon) in the top toolbar to see how your site looks to visitors. When satisfied with your changes, click Publish to make your site live on the web. Choose Publish to Webflow for the free hosting option, then click Publish to Selected Domains.

Always preview your site on different device sizes using the device icons before publishing.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Cannot find the 'Create New Project' button

Make sure you're on the main Dashboard page, not inside another project. Look for a plus icon or button near the top of your projects list. If you're on a free plan and have reached your project limit, you'll need to delete an existing project or upgrade your plan.

Template preview not loading

Check your internet connection and try refreshing the page. If templates still won't load, try using a different browser or disable browser extensions that might block content. Clear your browser cache if the issue persists.

Designer interface appears broken or missing panels

Press Tab to toggle all panels back on, or use 1, 2, and 3 keys to show individual panels. Ensure your browser window is wide enough - Webflow requires a minimum width of 1024px for the Designer to function properly.

Published site shows 404 error

Wait a few minutes after publishing as DNS propagation can take time. Check that you published to the correct domain in Project Settings > Hosting. If using a custom domain, verify your DNS settings are configured correctly according to Webflow's requirements.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Webflow website before purchasing.

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