Modals and Popups Cut Off on Small Mobile Screens
Modals, popups, and dialog boxes in your Base44 app are unusable on mobile devices. The modal content extends beyond the screen with no way to scroll, action buttons at the bottom are hidden below the viewport, and users can't complete the action the modal was designed for.
Modals are used for critical interactions in Base44 apps: editing records, confirming deletions, viewing details, and filling out forms. When they're broken on mobile, users are stuck and can't complete core workflows.
The issue is especially bad on smaller phones (iPhone SE, older Android devices) and when the device keyboard opens inside a modal form, shrinking the visible area to almost nothing.
Error Messages You Might See
Common Causes
- Fixed height exceeding viewport — Modals have a fixed height (e.g., 600px) that exceeds small phone screens (667px or less)
- No internal scrolling — Modal content doesn't scroll, so content below the fold is permanently hidden
- Centered positioning ignores viewport — CSS centering with transform places the modal partially off-screen on short viewports
- Keyboard pushes modal up — When the keyboard opens for form inputs, the modal shifts up and the top is cut off
- Padding consuming too much space — Large padding inside the modal wastes valuable screen real estate on mobile
How to Fix It
- Use max-height: 90vh with overflow-y: auto — Limit modal height to 90% of viewport and make the content scrollable
- Make modals full-screen on mobile — Below 768px, switch modals to full-screen sheets that cover the entire viewport with proper scrolling
- Stick action buttons to the bottom — Use position: sticky; bottom: 0 on the button row so it's always visible regardless of scroll position
- Reduce padding on mobile — Use smaller internal padding (12px instead of 24px) on screens below 640px
- Handle keyboard appearance — Use the Visual Viewport API to adjust modal position when the keyboard opens
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Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Why can't I see the buttons at the bottom of my Base44 modal on mobile?
The modal height exceeds the phone's screen height and the content isn't scrollable. Add max-height: 90vh and overflow-y: auto to the modal, or make buttons sticky at the bottom of the modal.
Should I use modals at all on mobile?
For simple confirmations, modals are fine. For forms with multiple fields, consider navigating to a full-page form on mobile instead of using a modal. This gives users more space and avoids keyboard issues.