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Why isn't my media query for mobile devices applying correctly when I resize the browser window?

Asked on Dec 18, 2025

Answer

Media queries are crucial for responsive design, but they can sometimes behave unexpectedly if not set up correctly. Let's explore a basic example of how to ensure your media query works as intended.

<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
    <style>
      body {
        background-color: lightblue;
      }

      @media (max-width: 768px) {
        body {
          background-color: lightcoral;
        }
      }
    </style>
    <!-- END COPY / PASTE -->

Additional Comment:

Ensure your media query is correctly targeting the desired screen width. In the example, it changes the background color for screens 768px wide or smaller.
Check if your CSS is being overridden by other styles. Use browser developer tools to inspect and debug.
Verify that your HTML includes the viewport meta tag: <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">.
Remember that resizing a desktop browser window may not perfectly simulate a mobile device environment.

✅ Answered with CSS best practices.

Ask any question about CSS here... and get an instant response.

Why isn't my media query for mobile devices applying correctly when I resize the browser window?

Asked on Dec 18, 2025

Answer

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