Having issues with content not being able to be autofilled on your website or app can be incredibly frustrating. However, there are a few common reasons why content may not be autofilled properly, as well as steps you can take to fix the issue.
What is Autofill?
Autofill refers to the ability for browsers and apps to automatically populate certain form fields with data the program already has stored, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and payment information. For example, when you begin filling out a form, the autofill feature will suggest entries to fill in the form automatically based on data you’ve previously entered in that browser or app.
Autofill helps streamline the process of entering repetitive information and reduces the effort required by users to complete forms. It improves the user experience by cutting down on time spent manually inputting data.
Why Isn’t My Content Autofilling Properly?
There are a few common reasons why content may not be autofilling properly on your website or app:
Incorrect form labels
Autofill relies on matching form field labels and names with data that the browser has stored. For example, if you have a field labeled “Email Address” but your stored user data has it saved as “Email,” then autofill won’t be able to match the two up. Make sure your labels and names precisely match the autofill data that would populate that field.
Non-standard form fields
Browsers are programmed to autofill common fields like names, emails, addresses, and phone numbers. If your form contains non-standard fields specific to your site or app, they may not trigger autofill even if they have appropriate labels.
Lack of unique identifiers
To function properly, autofill needs each input field to contain attributes like name, id, type, etc. Fields without unique identifiers can’t be matched up clearly for autofill purposes.
Incorrect form field type
Using an improper HTML form field type, like inputting a phone number into a text box rather than tel input field, may prevent autofill from working correctly.
Security and permissions
In some cases, tight security settings, browser restrictions, or site permissions may block autofill even when everything else is configured properly. Users may need to manually enable permissions or lower security to get autofill working.
Browser incompatibility
Some browsers may not fully support autofill, or may require specific setup to enable the feature that hasn’t been implemented yet on your site or app.
How can I fix autofill issues?
If you’re running into problems with autofill on your web forms, here are some tips to help you troubleshoot and resolve the issues:
Use standard form field names
Stick to commonly recognized names like “first_name,” “last_name,” “email,” “address1,” etc. when naming your form fields. Avoid using proprietary or non-standard names.
Add labels that match the field name
The label text should match the actual data that will be populated into the field by autofill. So a “First name” label should correspond to a “first_name” field name.
Include autocomplete attributes
Adding autocomplete attributes like “on,” “off,” or “name” helps browsers understand how to handle each field when autofilling.
Use appropriate input types
Choose the correct input type based on the type of data, such as “text” for names, “email” for emails, “tel” for phone numbers, etc. This helps autofill recognize the field.
Uniquely identify each input
Give every input a unique ID attribute like id=”first_name” rather than just name=”first_name.” The ID allows precise identification for autofill purposes.
Check field accessibility
Make sure form fields are actually visible and accessible to autofill scripts. Fields hidden with CSS or javascript won’t be seen.
Confirm autocomplete attributes are allowed
Some sites restrict certain attributes, which may inadvertently block autocomplete. Check that attributes like autocomplete are permitted.
Test with multiple browsers
Try your form on different browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc. There are subtle differences in how each handles autofill.
Enable autofill permissions
Browsers require explicit user permissions for autofill in some cases. Have users check their autofill settings to make sure it’s allowed.
Provide autofill recommendations
You can supply a list of field recommendations through the autocomplete attribute that hints to the browser what data should be used to autofill each field.
Implement browser-specific autofill code
For fuller control, you can use proprietary browser code just for autofill functionality, like the -webkit-autofill CSS selector for Chrome and Safari.
Autofill Troubleshooting Tests
Here are some quick tests you can run to pinpoint what might be causing autofill issues:
| Test | What to Check For |
|---|---|
| Manually try autofilling | See if manually triggering autofill pops up suggested values from the browser to populate fields. |
| Check field labels vs names | Confirm field labels exactly match the name attribute of each form input. |
| Inspect field attributes | Validate every field has a name, id, and autocomplete attribute. |
| Review input field types | Make sure the type attribute fits the data entered into each field. |
| Toggle autocomplete attributes | Try turning autocomplete on/off for specific fields to see if it fixes issues. |
| Use autofill developer tools | Browser dev tools like Chrome’s Autofill section can diagnose issues. |
Common Autofill Errors
Here are some specific autofill errors you may encounter and how to resolve them:
Autofill not working in Chrome or Safari
Chrome and Safari share common autofill logic. If it’s not working, try:
- Adding the autocomplete attribute to fields
- Using fully qualified field names like address1 instead of address
- Triple checking labels match field names exactly
Firefox not autofilling certain fields
Firefox ignores autocomplete off values. To prevent Firefox autofill, set the field to readonly instead.
Safari asks to save new cards
Safari autofill for credit cards requires special handling. Follow guides for implementing ApplePay js to avoid “save new card” prompts.
Fields show as autofillable but aren’t filled
This typically occurs when labels and field names don’t match. For example, a field labeled Phone Number won’t autofill if its name attribute is phone_num.
Autofill works on one browser but not another
Browsers have slightly different autofill requirements. Make sure your fields adhere to autofill best practices for each major browser.
Autofill randomly stops working
Sporadic autofill failure is usually due to a browser update that changed autofill behavior or requirements. Adjust your fields to comply with the latest browser specs.
How to Prevent Autofill
In some cases, you may actually want to explicitly disable autofill for certain fields. Here are some tips for preventing autofill:
Use autocomplete=”off”
Adding autocomplete=”off” to a field disables autofill for most browsers.
Set readonly form fields
Readonly form inputs are ignored by autofill scripts.
Omit field names and labels
Removing names and labels means autofill has no way to match fields to saved data.
Use generic labels like “Field 1”
Overly generic labels won’t correlate to saved autofill data.
Intercept pasted content with JS
JavaScript events like onPaste can intercept pasted content before it populates fields.
Disable autofill in browsers
Users can disable autofill entirely in their browser preferences if allowed.
Conclusion
Debugging autofill issues takes patience, but usually boils down to inconsistencies between field labeling and naming conventions. Sticking to standard autofill practices that are consistent across browsers can prevent most problems.
Keep testing with different devices and browsers, and leverage browser developer tools to gain visibility into the autofill process. With some tweaking, you should be able to get autofill working reliably.
This will remove a major friction point for your users and allow conversion-boosting features like autofill to work their magic! Paying attention to these small but important details improves the overall user experience and makes life easier for your customers.