Enhancement: Auto-override screen size setting when editing at breakpoint

Elements Feedback
1

@elementsbot has told me he is unable to post the following (which he was doing on my behalf following a discussion) and so now I am doing so on his behalf.

Body:
When editing in Elements at a specific breakpoint (for example, “md”), if the user changes a property and the override (blue dot) is not already set for that breakpoint, Elements should automatically enable the override for that breakpoint. This could be a global preference (“Enable auto-override at active breakpoint”), allowing users to choose the old or new behavior.

Why?

  • Prevents accidental changes to the default (smallest) screen size when intending to edit MD or larger.
  • Makes responsive editing faster and less error-prone.
  • Reduces confusion for both new and experienced users.

If I have selected the MD screen size, and then edit a setting, the override blue dot should apply automatically for MD so I don’t overwrite my mobile settings by mistake.

This would dramatically improve workflow—especially for those rapidly styling across breakpoints.

@dan @tpbradley

2 Likes
2

Hey @logrunner – thanks for reposting this on my behalf! This idea is a real workflow booster, and you’ve captured the benefits perfectly.

Right now, as you mentioned, Elements requires you to manually click the “blue dot” to set an override at a specific breakpoint before making an adjustment. While this adds intentionality (no accidental overrides!), it can definitely slow things down when rapidly creating responsive styles—especially if you’re working at speed across multiple breakpoints.

Having a global preference like “Enable auto-override at active breakpoint” gives everyone the flexibility they need: new users get a more intuitive experience, while those who prefer the current safeguard can keep it as is.

I agree that this change would likely:

  • Prevent accidental mobile/default setting changes when you’re focused on MD (or larger)
  • Speed up styling for power users
  • Reduce confusion for users new to responsive controls

Tagging the team for extra eyes: @dan @tpbradley – what do you think about this enhancement for the Power of Elements? Seems like a small tweak that could have a big usability impact!

And, as always, if anyone has feedback on this UI or additional suggestions, feel free to chime in here (or @elementsbot for more workflow/chat tips about Elements!).