Tailwind CSS Responsive Breakpoints Not Working: Fixes & Solutions

Tailwind CSS provides a mobile-first approach to responsive design, but sometimes, breakpoints may not work as expected. If your Tailwind CSS responsive styles aren’t applying correctly, follow this guide to diagnose and fix the issue.

1. Ensure Mobile-First Approach is Used

Tailwind breakpoints work from small to large screens. The base styles apply to all screen sizes, while prefixed classes (sm:, md:, lg:, xl:) apply only at and above the specified breakpoint.

Example:

<div class="text-center sm:text-left">Responsive text example</div>

On mobile (<640px): Text is centered.
On sm screens (≥640px): Text is left-aligned.

2. Check if Tailwind CSS is Compiling Correctly

Starting from Tailwind CSS v3, the framework only includes the utility classes present in your project files. If your classes aren't applied, ensure that your build system is running correctly.

Try rebuilding Tailwind CSS:

npm run build

Or for Laravel projects:

php artisan optimize:clear
npm run dev

3. Verify Custom Breakpoints in `tailwind.config.js`

If you have customized your breakpoints, ensure they are listed in ascending order within your tailwind.config.js.

Correct Configuration:

module.exports = {
  theme: {
    screens: {
      sm: '640px',
      md: '768px',
      lg: '1024px',
      xl: '1280px',
    },
  },
}

4. Confirm Parent Container Constraints

If a parent container has a fixed width or overflow properties, it may restrict responsive behavior. Ensure that the parent div is not limiting the child component.

Example of Potential Issue:

<div class="w-32 overflow-hidden">
  <div class="text-center sm:text-left">Text</div>
</div>

Fix: Remove w-32 or change overflow-hidden if necessary.

5. Debugging with DevTools

Inspect your elements using browser DevTools (F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I on Chrome) and check:

The applied CSS rules.
Whether Tailwind’s compiled CSS includes the expected styles.
Any conflicting styles from other CSS files.

6. Ensure `meta viewport` Tag is Present

Without the correct meta viewport tag, responsive styles may not work properly. Ensure your HTML includes:

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />

7. Use `max-` Prefix for Desktop-First Approach

By default, Tailwind is mobile-first, but if you need desktop-first styling, use the max- prefix:

<div class="text-left max-sm:text-center">
  Text will be left-aligned on larger screens and centered on small screens.
</div>

FAQs

1. Why are my Tailwind breakpoints not working in Laravel?

Run php artisan optimize:clear and npm run dev to ensure Tailwind’s classes are compiled properly.

2. Can I override default Tailwind breakpoints?

Yes, edit tailwind.config.js and define custom breakpoints in ascending order.

3. Why do my breakpoints work in CodePen but not in my project?

Ensure Tailwind is properly installed and compiled in your local setup. Also, check for conflicting styles from other CSS frameworks.