Menus control how visitors navigate your website. They determine which links appear in your main navigation, footer, or other menu areas.
Understanding how menus work helps you keep your website organized and easy to use.
A menu is a collection of links that guide visitors through your website.
Menus commonly appear:
At the top of the website (main navigation)
In the footer
In a sidebar (depending on theme)
Menus are managed separately from pages. Creating a page does not automatically add it to a menu unless your site is configured to do so.
To manage menus:
Click Appearance in the left-hand menu.
Click Menus.
If your site uses the newer Site Editor (block themes), menus may be managed inside the Editor under Navigation.
If you’re unsure, check with your administrator before making changes.
A menu contains individual menu items.
Menu items can link to:
Pages
Posts
Custom URLs
Categories
Other content types
Each item can be arranged in a specific order.
Menus also support hierarchy, meaning you can create dropdown menus.
If a menu item is slightly indented beneath another item, it becomes a sub-item.
For example:
Government
Departments
Agendas & Minutes
“Roofing” and “Gutters” are subpages under “Services.”
To create a dropdown:
Drag a menu item slightly to the right under a parent item.
Save the menu.
This creates a structured navigation system.
Many themes support multiple menu locations, such as:
Primary Menu (top navigation)
Footer Menu
Secondary Menu
You must assign your menu to the correct location for it to appear.
Look for a section labeled “Menu Settings” or “Display Location.”
To add a page to a menu:
Select the menu you want to edit.
Check the box next to the page.
Click Add to Menu.
Drag it into the correct position.
Click Save Menu.
If you do not click Save Menu, your changes will not apply.
To remove an item:
Expand the menu item.
Click Remove.
Click Save Menu.
Removing a page from a menu does not delete the page itself.
It simply removes it from navigation.
To change order:
Click and drag the item up or down.
Place it in the desired position.
Click Save Menu.
Menu order determines how links appear to visitors.
Menus can include links that are not pages.
Examples:
External websites
PDF downloads
Special landing pages
To add a custom link:
Enter the full URL.
Add link text.
Click Add to Menu.
Save Menu.
Always test custom links after saving.
Forgetting to click Save Menu
Adding a page but not assigning the correct menu location
Accidentally creating unwanted dropdowns
Deleting menu items instead of removing them properly
Confusing menu changes with page edits
Menus are separate from page content.
Keep navigation simple
Limit the number of top-level items
Use dropdowns only when necessary
Use clear, concise labels
Maintain consistent structure
Simple menus improve usability.
A well-structured main menu often includes:
Home
About
Services (with dropdowns if needed)
Resources or Blog
Contact
Avoid overcrowding the top navigation.
Menus do not:
Change page content
Affect page layout
Delete pages
Automatically reorganize themselves
They only control visible navigation links.
Review current menu structure.
Make small adjustments.
Save the menu.
View the live site.
Confirm links and dropdowns work correctly.
Always check both desktop and mobile navigation.
Menus control how visitors navigate your website.
They allow you to:
Add pages to navigation
Create dropdown menus
Link to external resources
Reorder links
Menus are managed separately from pages, so adding or editing a page does not automatically update navigation.