PRACTICAL GUIDE
How to fix mobile layout problems in an AI-built website
Diagnose overflow, navigation, images, tables, forms, and sticky elements with reproducible tests and targeted correction prompts.
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Reproduce one problem before requesting a fix
A useful mobile bug report identifies the page, screen width, steps, expected behaviour, and actual behaviour. “The mobile site is broken” can refer to overflow, a hidden menu, unreadable text, an image crop, or a form covered by a sticky button. Each problem needs a different correction.
Use a real phone where possible and a narrow browser preview for repeatable checks. Record the state that triggers the issue: menu open, long text entered, validation error visible, or table scrolled. A layout can work on the initial screen and fail only after interaction.
Find the element causing horizontal overflow
If the page moves sideways, inspect wide tables, fixed-width cards, images, long unbroken strings, and flex or grid children that cannot shrink. Do not immediately hide all horizontal overflow on the page. That can conceal content or controls instead of solving the cause.
| Suspected element | Useful correction to investigate |
|---|---|
| Fixed-width panel | Allow it to fit the available width |
| Flex or grid child | Permit shrinking and constrain its maximum width |
| Long URL or identifier | Wrap safely where appropriate |
| Comparison table | Use an intentional labelled scroll region |
| Image | Preserve aspect ratio within its container |
| Navigation row | Wrap, scroll intentionally, or use a suitable menu |
Ask the builder to identify the actual element and explain the change. Recheck the desktop layout afterward. A correction that makes every component narrow on large screens may solve one symptom while creating another.
Make navigation usable in every state
Open the menu, follow a link, return, and close it. The close control should remain reachable, focus should be visible, and the menu should not trap a keyboard user unexpectedly. Check whether the page behind it scrolls in a confusing way or whether a fixed header covers the destination heading.
Keep labels understandable. A collection of tiny icons without text may save space while making navigation harder to interpret. For a small site, a short wrapping navigation row may be simpler than a complicated drawer. Choose the pattern that fits the number of useful destinations.
On [page] at [width], the mobile menu [observed failure]. Make the open and close controls reachable and clearly labelled. Preserve desktop navigation. Check keyboard focus, scrolling, following a menu link, and returning to the page. Do not hide overflow globally to conceal the problem.
Check images and headings with real content
A desktop landscape image may crop poorly in a tall mobile container. Identify the important focal point and decide whether to preserve the full image, use an approved alternate crop, or adjust the container. Do not stretch the image out of proportion.
Long headings need an appropriate size and line length. Test the longest real title rather than only the shortest example. Avoid forcing line breaks that look good on one device but create awkward fragments on another. Let the layout respond to the available width with sensible constraints.
Give tables and diagrams a deliberate mobile treatment
A comparison table may legitimately need horizontal scrolling. Put it in a bounded region with an understandable label and keep the rest of the page within the viewport. Ensure headers remain clear and text does not become so small that the table is technically visible but practically unreadable.
For small datasets, a stacked presentation may work better. Preserve the relationship between each value and its label. Do not convert a table into cards that omit the dimensions needed for comparison. The goal is comprehension, not merely removing a scrollbar.
Test forms with the keyboard open
Enter realistic text on a phone, including a long message. Check whether the on-screen keyboard covers the active field or submit action. Trigger validation errors and confirm they appear near the relevant field without erasing the input. Labels should remain visible while typing.
Test appropriate input types and autocomplete behaviour where useful. A phone number, email address, and free-text message have different needs. Avoid requiring unnecessary fields simply because the layout has space for them. A form should be easy to complete and should still deliver to the intended destination.
Inspect sticky elements and overlays
Sticky headers, bottom CTAs, chat widgets, and consent notices can overlap. Test the combinations that visitors actually see. The final paragraph, form error, and last button should remain reachable. A fixed promotional element should not prevent completion of the main task.
If an overlay is optional, make dismissal understandable and persistent according to the intended behaviour. Do not rely on a tiny close target. Recheck with enlarged text because an element that fits at the default size may cover content when the user adjusts readability settings.
Write focused correction requests
Fix only the horizontal overflow on [page] at [width]. Identify the element exceeding the viewport, correct its sizing or wrapping, and preserve intentional table scrolling. Keep approved copy and interactions unchanged. Then check the page at a narrow phone width, a wider phone width, and desktop size, including open menus and form errors.
Keep a before-and-after note. If the same issue returns after another revision, the record helps locate the dependency. Avoid requesting a full redesign to fix a single oversized container; a smaller change is easier to verify and less likely to disturb working behaviour.
Run a final mobile journey
Start at the homepage, navigate to a detailed page, read a table or prompt, and complete the main action. Test direct entry to an internal page as well. Check loading and failed states, not only the completed layout. Use the actual published domain after deployment.
A mobile site is ready when people can understand the content and complete the task comfortably. Passing one screenshot at one width is useful evidence about that state, but it is not a complete responsive review. Keep the checks tied to real content and interactions as the site grows.
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