How to Add a Menu to WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

Feb 19, 2025 | WordPress Tutorial | 0 comments

Adding a menu to WordPress is simple and quick. It enhances your site’s navigation and improves user experience.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to add a menu to your WordPress site. Menus help visitors find content easily. They make your site look organized. Even if you’re a beginner, you can add a menu without any trouble.

WordPress has built-in tools to create and manage menus. You don’t need coding skills. Just follow our easy steps, and you’ll have a professional-looking menu in no time. Ready to make your site user-friendly? Let’s get started!

How to Add a Menu to WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

Accessing The WordPress Dashboard

Accessing the WordPress Dashboard is the first step to adding a menu to your WordPress site. The dashboard is where you manage all aspects of your website. It is the control center for your site. Let’s dive into the steps to access it.

logging In

To begin, you need to log into your WordPress site. Here is how:

  1. Open your web browser and go to your WordPress login URL. This URL usually looks like www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin.
  2. Enter your username and password in the login fields.
  3. Click the Log In button to access your dashboard.

Once logged in, you will see your WordPress dashboard. This is where you can start adding a menu.

navigating To Appearance

After logging in, the next step is to navigate to the Appearance section. Follow these steps:

  • Look at the left-hand sidebar of the dashboard.
  • Find and click on Appearance. This will expand a submenu.
  • From the submenu, click on Menus.

Now, you are in the Menus section. Here, you can create and manage your site’s menus. You can add pages, posts, and custom links to your menu.

By following these simple steps, you can easily access the WordPress dashboard and navigate to the Appearance section to start adding a menu.

How to Add a Menu to WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Creating A New Menu

Adding a menu to your WordPress site makes it easier for users to navigate. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to create a new menu. Follow the instructions below to get started.

Locating The Menus Section

First, log in to your WordPress dashboard. Look for the Appearance option on the left side menu. Click on it to expand the options. Then, click on Menus.

You will now see the Menus screen. This is where you can create and manage your menus. If you do not see any menus, do not worry. We will create one in the next step.

Adding A New Menu

On the Menus screen, click the Create a new menu link. You will be prompted to enter a name for your menu. Choose a name that helps you identify its purpose, like Main Menu or Footer Menu.

After naming your menu, click the Create Menu button. Your new menu is now ready to be customized.

Step Action
1 Log in to WordPress dashboard
2 Click on Appearance > Menus
3 Click on ‘Create a new menu’
4 Name your menu
5 Click ‘Create Menu’

Your menu is now created, but it is empty. You can add pages, posts, custom links, and categories to your menu. On the left side of the Menus screen, you will see various options. Select the items you want to add to your menu and click Add to Menu.

  1. Select the items from the left panel.
  2. Click Add to Menu.
  3. Drag and drop items to arrange them.
  4. Click Save Menu to save changes.

Repeat these steps to add more items to your menu. You can also create sub-menus by dragging items slightly to the right under a main item. Sub-menus help organize your menu and make it more user-friendly.

Adding Menu Items

Adding menu items in WordPress helps organize your website’s navigation. This guide will show you how to add different types of menu items effectively.

Pages And Posts

Pages and Posts are the most common items to add to a menu. To include them:

  1. Go to the Appearance menu.
  2. Select Menus.
  3. In the left column, check the boxes for the Pages or Posts you want to add.
  4. Click Add to Menu.
  5. Drag and drop to arrange the items as needed.

Adding these items makes it easy for visitors to find your content.

Custom Links

Custom Links let you link to any URL, both internal and external. To add a custom link:

  1. Under Menus, find the Custom Links section.
  2. Enter the URL you want to link to.
  3. Provide a Link Text for the menu item.
  4. Click Add to Menu.
  5. Arrange the item in the menu structure.

This feature is helpful for linking to external resources or special pages.

Categories And Tags

Categories and Tags help organize your blog posts. To add them to your menu:

  1. In the Menus section, find the Categories and Tags panels.
  2. Check the boxes next to the categories or tags you want to add.
  3. Click Add to Menu.
  4. Arrange them in your menu as desired.

Adding categories and tags makes it easier for users to find related posts.

Organizing Menu Items

Adding a menu to your WordPress site is just the start. Organizing your menu items is crucial for easy navigation. A well-structured menu enhances user experience and improves your site’s SEO. Let’s dive into how you can organize your menu items efficiently.

Dragging And Dropping

WordPress offers a simple drag-and-drop interface to organize your menu items. Follow these steps to rearrange your menu items:

  1. Go to Appearance > Menus in your dashboard.
  2. Click and hold the menu item you want to move.
  3. Drag the item to its new position and release it.

Using the drag-and-drop feature, you can easily reorder items. This intuitive method helps you create a logical flow in your menu.

Creating Submenus

Submenus, or dropdown menus, allow you to group related items under a parent item. This is useful for organizing content and reducing clutter. Here’s how you can create a submenu:

  1. In the Menus section, drag the item you want to be a submenu.
  2. Move it slightly to the right under the parent item.
  3. Release it and the item will now appear as a submenu.

You can create multiple levels of submenus. This feature helps you categorize your content more effectively.

Remember, a well-organized menu improves user experience. It also helps search engines understand your site’s structure. This is beneficial for SEO.

Setting Menu Locations

In WordPress, menus help users navigate your site easily. Setting the correct menu location is crucial for better user experience. This guide will show you how to assign menu locations in WordPress for a primary and footer menu.

Primary Menu

The primary menu is usually located at the top of your website. It is often the main navigation menu. Follow these steps to set your primary menu location:

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Appearance > Menus.
  3. Select the menu you want to assign as the primary menu from the dropdown list.
  4. Check the box next to Primary Menu under Menu Settings.
  5. Click Save Menu.

Your primary menu is now set. It will appear at the top of your site.

Footer Menu

The footer menu is located at the bottom of your website. It often contains links to important pages such as contact, privacy policy, and terms of service. Follow these steps to set your footer menu location:

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Appearance > Menus.
  3. Select the menu you want to assign as the footer menu from the dropdown list.
  4. Check the box next to Footer Menu under Menu Settings.
  5. Click Save Menu.

Your footer menu is now set. It will appear at the bottom of your site.

Setting these menu locations ensures your users can navigate your site with ease. It improves the overall user experience.

How to Add a Menu to WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

Customizing Menu Appearance

Customizing your WordPress menu can make your site look unique. It helps create a better user experience for your visitors. In this section, we’ll explore ways to customize your menu’s appearance. We’ll cover using CSS classes and adding icons to your menu items.

Using Css Classes

CSS classes allow you to change the style of your menu items. You can add different styles to each menu item. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Appearance > Menus.
  3. Select the menu you want to edit.
  4. Click on Screen Options at the top of the page.
  5. Check the box next to CSS Classes.
  6. Expand a menu item to add your custom CSS class.
  7. Enter the class name in the CSS Classes field.

Here is an example of how you might add a CSS class:


.menu-item-1 {
    background-color: #f0f0f0;
    color: #333;
}

Adding Icons

Adding icons to your menu items can make them more attractive. You can use a plugin or manually add icons using HTML. Follow these steps to add icons:

  1. Install and activate the Menu Icons plugin.
  2. Go to Appearance > Menus.
  3. Select the menu you want to edit.
  4. Click on a menu item to expand it.
  5. Click on the Icon field and choose an icon.
  6. Save your menu.

If you want to manually add icons, you can use HTML:

In this example, we use Font Awesome for the icon. Make sure you include the Font Awesome library in your theme. This will allow the icons to display correctly.

Saving And Publishing The Menu

After creating a custom menu in WordPress, it’s important to save and publish it. This ensures your visitors can navigate your site easily. This section will guide you through the steps.

Saving Changes

Once you have added all desired items to your menu, look for the “Save Menu” button. You can find it at the bottom or top of the menu editing page.

Click on the “Save Menu” button. This action saves your changes and updates your website’s navigation menu.

Previewing The Menu

After saving, it’s a good idea to preview your menu. Navigate to the “Appearance” section and click on “Menus” again. Check the “Menu Structure” area to ensure all items appear as you want.

To see how your menu looks on the live site, click on the “Preview” button located in the top right corner. This lets you view your changes before making them public.

If you need to make further adjustments, you can go back and edit the menu. Don’t forget to save your changes again after any edits.

Common Menu Issues And Fixes

Menus are essential for easy navigation on your WordPress site. But sometimes, issues can arise. Below, we discuss some common menu issues and fixes.

Menu Not Appearing

Is your menu missing? This is a common issue. It can happen due to several reasons.

  • Theme Compatibility: Check if your current theme supports menus. Some themes have limited menu options.
  • Menu Location: Ensure you have assigned the menu to a location. Go to Appearance > Menus and select a display location.
  • Saved Changes: Confirm that you have saved your changes. Click the Save Menu button after editing.

Broken Links

Broken links in the menu can frustrate users. They can also hurt your SEO.

  • Incorrect URLs: Double-check the URLs you have entered. Make sure they are correct and complete.
  • Permalink Settings: Sometimes, permalink settings can cause issues. Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes to reset the structure.
  • Deleted Pages: If a page is deleted, its link in the menu will break. Ensure all pages linked in the menu still exist.

Conclusion

Adding a menu to WordPress is simple and essential. Menus help visitors navigate your site easily. Follow the steps outlined in this post. Customize the menu to fit your needs and design. Regularly update it to keep content fresh. A well-organized menu improves user experience.

Happy website building!