=== Video Background Block – make any section stand out with motion === Contributors: bplugins, abuhayat, shihabshamim Tags: video background, background video, video, block, gutenberg Tested up to: 7.0 Stable tag: 2.0.2 Requires PHP: 7.4 Requires at least: 6.5 Donate link: https://gum.co/wpdonate/ License: GPLv3 or later License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html Add self-hosted, YouTube, or Vimeo video backgrounds to any section in Gutenberg – with overlays, fallback images, and responsive controls . == Description == **Turn plain sections into scroll-stopping hero banners with beautiful video backgrounds – no code, right in the Gutenberg editor.** [**Video Background**](https://bplugins.com/products/video-background-block/) | [**Live Demos**](https://bplugins.com/products/video-background-block/#demos) | [**Pricing**](https://bplugins.com/products/video-background-block/pricing/) ### Why Video Background Block? Static sections are easy to scroll past. **Video Background Block** lets you create beautiful sections with background videos directly in the Gutenberg editor – using self-hosted videos, YouTube, or Vimeo – to build engaging hero sections, banners, landing pages, and promotional content without writing any code. The plugin is lightweight and easy to use: scripts only load when the block is actually used, and simple sidebar-based settings mean there's no technical setup. It also provides universal shortcodes, so you can display video backgrounds in other page builders too. Whether you're building a business website, portfolio, agency site, product landing page, or personal blog, Video Background Block helps you create eye-catching sections that improve the visual experience. ### Free Features - **Universal Shortcodes:** Use video backgrounds with Gutenberg and other popular page builders. - **Background Video:** Display a video as the background of any section. - **Fallback Image:** Show an image when the video cannot be loaded. - **Overlay Color:** Add a color overlay to improve text readability. - **Custom Height:** Set the section height to fit your design. - **Padding Controls:** Adjust the spacing around your content. ### Pro Version – Unlock Premium Features [**Upgrade to Pro**](https://bplugins.com/products/video-background-block/pricing/) to unlock more customization and advanced video background controls. - **Self-hosted Video Support:** Use MP4, WebM, and OGG videos. - **YouTube Background Videos:** Display YouTube videos as section backgrounds. - **Vimeo Background Videos:** Add Vimeo videos with background playback. - **Responsive Video Sources:** Use different videos for desktop, tablet, and mobile. - **Responsive Poster Images:** Set separate poster images for different screen sizes. - **Poster Image Options:** Show or hide the poster, apply blur effects, or use automatic or custom dominant colors. - **YouTube No-Cookie Mode:** Improve user privacy with YouTube's no-cookie domain. - **Advanced Overlay Controls:** Customize overlay colors, gradients, opacity, and blend modes. - **Overlay Patterns:** Add dot, grid, or diagonal patterns with adjustable opacity. - **Animated Overlay Effects:** Create subtle motion for a more dynamic design. - **Noise Texture Overlay:** Add texture for a modern visual style. - **Cinematic Vignette:** Highlight your content with a soft vignette effect. - **Responsive Height and Padding:** Different minimum heights and spacing per device. - **Video Fit Options:** Choose Cover, Contain, or Fill based on your layout. - **Segment Loop:** Play only a selected portion of the video with start and end times. - **Playback Speed Control:** Adjust the video playback speed to match your design. ### How to Use – Quick Start 1. Install and activate the **Video Background Block** plugin. 2. Open a page or post in the Gutenberg editor. 3. Add the **Video Background** block. 4. Select your video source and customize the settings from the right sidebar. 5. Publish or update your page and enjoy your new video background. [**Live Demos**](https://bplugins.com/products/video-background-block/#demos) | [**Explore Premium Features**](https://bplugins.com/products/video-background-block/pricing/) ### Use Cases - **Hero Sections:** Give your homepage an instant, cinematic first impression. - **Landing Pages:** Add motion to product and campaign pages that convert. - **Agency & Portfolio Sites:** Showcase work with dynamic section backgrounds. - **Business Websites:** Modernize banners and promotional sections. - **Personal Blogs:** Make key sections memorable with subtle video motion. Have a feature request, found a bug, or just want to say hello? [Send us your feedback](mailto:support@bplugins.com) — we'd love to hear from you. ### More From bPlugins **Parent Plugin** [bBlocks](https://bblockswp.com) – A full blocks collection and page-building toolkit for Gutenberg. **Other Plugins You Might Like** * [HTML5 Video Player](https://bplugins.com/products/html5-video-player/) – Single and playlist video display in multiple skins. * [PDF Poster](https://bplugins.com/products/pdf-poster/) – Display and embed PDF files in various styles. * [HTML5 Audio Player](https://bplugins.com/products/html5-audio-player/) – Play audio with rich, animated visuals. * [StreamCast](https://bplugins.com/products/streamcast-radio-player/) – A customizable radio player with multiple skins. * [3D Viewer](https://bplugins.com/products/3d-viewer/) – Embed interactive 3D models and products. * [Advanced Post Block](https://bplugins.com/products/advanced-post-block/) – Display posts and custom post types in flexible layouts. == Installation == **From your WordPress dashboard (recommended):** 1. Go to **Plugins → Add New**. 2. Search for **"Video Background Block"**. 3. Click **Install Now**, then **Activate**. 4. Add the **Video Background** block to any post or page from the block inserter. **Manual installation:** 1. Download the **Video Background Block** plugin as a `.zip` file. 2. In your WordPress admin, go to **Plugins → Add New** and click **Upload Plugin**. 3. Select `video-background-block.zip` and click **Install Now**. 4. Activate the plugin. **Via FTP:** 1. Download and unzip the plugin. 2. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`. 3. Activate the plugin from the **Plugins** menu in WordPress. == Frequently Asked Questions == = Is Video Background Block free to use? = Yes. The core plugin is completely free. A Pro version is available with advanced features like YouTube/Vimeo backgrounds, overlay patterns, and playback controls. = Which video sources can I use as a background? = You can use self-hosted videos, YouTube videos, or Vimeo videos. Self-hosted MP4/WebM/OGG support and YouTube/Vimeo backgrounds are part of the Pro version. = What happens if the video cannot load? = You can set a fallback image that displays whenever the video cannot be loaded, so your section never looks broken. = Can I use it outside Gutenberg with other page builders? = Yes. The plugin provides universal shortcodes, so you can display video backgrounds with other popular page builders as well. = Will it slow down my site? = No. The plugin is lightweight, and scripts only load on pages where the block is actually used. = Will it work with my theme? = Yes — the block is built to work with any standard WordPress theme. = Can I customize the block's appearance? = Yes. All settings are available in the right-hand sidebar of the Gutenberg block editor. = Is there a limit to how many times I can use the block? = No. You can add and reuse the block as many times as you like, on as many pages as you like. = Where can I get help if I run into an issue? = Visit our [support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/video-background-block/) and post your question — our team actively monitors it. == Screenshots == 1. Block settings panel — overview 2. Block settings panel — advanced options 3. Default video background view 4. Pattern overlay in action 5. Blend mode overlay example 6. Animated overlay effect 7. Cinematic vignette effect 8. Playback speed set to 2x == Changelog == = 2.0.2 – 9 July 2026 = * Improved: Separated Free and Pro codebases for better performance and maintainability. = 2.0.1 – 22 June 2026 = * Added: A modern, more intuitive dashboard layout. = 2.0.0 – 10 March 2026 = * Added: Universal Shortcodes for compatibility with all major page builders. * Added: Advanced video background features (see Pro Features above). * Added: A redesigned plugin dashboard. = 1.0.5 – 6 August 2025 = * Added: SDK integration. = 1.0.4 – 13 March 2025 = * Fixed: Video alignment issue causing off-center display. = 1.0.3 = * Fixed: Video not playing on mobile devices. = 1.0.2 = * Added: Fallback image support. * Improved: Scripts no longer load on pages where the block isn't used. = 1.0.1 = * Added: Translation support. = 1.0.0 = * Initial release. == Upgrade Notice == = 2.0.2 = Free and Pro code has been separated for better performance. No action needed — your existing settings are preserved. = 2.0.0 = Major update introducing Universal Shortcodes, advanced video background features, and a redesigned dashboard. Recommended for all users. = 1.0.2 = Adds fallback image support and improves load performance by only loading scripts where the block is used.