# How to set up Shopify navigation menus

> Set up Shopify navigation menus: edit the main and footer menus in Content > Menus, add drop-downs, and fix the problems that stop changes from showing.

Published 2026-11-04, updated 2026-11-04. Source: https://forgefont.com/blog/shopify-navigation-menus

To set up Shopify navigation menus, go to Content > Menus in your admin, open the main menu or footer menu, and add a link for each page shoppers need. Drag items under another item to create a drop-down, click Save menu, then test every link on a phone and on a computer.

## Before you start: plan the menus on paper

Your store has [two default menus](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/menus-and-links/understanding-navigation) that display on every page. The main menu starts with Home and Catalog. The footer menu is where shoppers usually look for policies and contact details.

| Menu | Put here | Leave out |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Main menu | Your main [collections](https://forgefont.com/blog/shopify-collections-structure), About | Legal policies, every single product |
| Footer menu | Shipping, returns, contact, privacy, terms | Your full catalog |

Not sure what to link? Start from the list of [pages a Shopify store needs](https://forgefont.com/blog/shopify-pages-you-need), and create those pages first.

## Step 1: add items to the main menu

These steps follow [Shopify’s menu guide](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/menus-and-links/editing-menus), as checked in November 2026.

1. Go to Content > Menus and click the name of the menu.
2. Click **Add menu item** and enter a short name.
3. Click the **Search or paste a link** field and select a destination.
4. Click **Add**.
5. Repeat for each item, then click **Save menu**.

Pick pages from the list instead of pasting their address, which helps you avoid 404 errors. To reorder, drag the handle beside an item. Items appear on your store in the order listed.

## Step 2: create a drop-down

A drop-down helps when you have more collections than fit in a line. Shopify’s [drop-down guide](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/menus-and-links/drop-down-menus) works like this.

1. Open your main menu and choose the item that will be the header, such as Shop.
2. If the header should not link anywhere, enter `#` in its link field.
3. Add the items that go inside it.
4. Drag each one under the header until it is indented.
5. Click **Save menu**.

You can go three levels deep in total, if your theme supports it. For a small store, one level of drop-down is usually easier to use, especially on a phone.

## Step 3: fill the footer

Open the footer menu and link your policies and your Contact page. Shopify links policies in the checkout footer on its own, and [adding them to a store menu](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/checkout-settings/refund-privacy-tos) lets shoppers find them earlier.

## Step 4: test it

- Click every link and look for demo pages or empty collections.
- Open the store on your phone and try every drop-down.
- Check that each name says what is behind it. “Shop” and “Contact” beat clever labels.

This is also an item on our [launch checklist](https://forgefont.com/blog/shopify-store-launch-checklist).

## Why does my menu not update or display correctly?

| Problem | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| Changes do not appear on the store | Check that the theme’s Header and Footer settings select the menu you are editing. A menu app can also override your admin menus. |
| Nested items do not show | Drag them fully under the header until they are indented. |
| The header opens a page on mobile | Confirm that its link is `#`. |
| An item vanished from the menu | If you delete a collection or other resource, Shopify deletes its menu items too. Add a new link. |
| Three levels do not display | Your theme may not support them. All Online Store 2.0 themes do, while older themes might need an update. |

## Menus that come with the store

Forgefont connects a header menu on desktop, a side menu on mobile and a footer menu to every page it creates. They get a new name, so your existing menus are not changed, and you keep control of them in your Shopify admin. [Configure your store](https://forgefont.com/configurer) to see the price with your options.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many levels can a Shopify menu have?

Three in total: a top-level item plus up to two nested levels, as checked in November 2026. Your theme must support them, so test a sample menu on desktop and on mobile.

### Why does my drop-down header not open a page?

In many themes, a drop-down header works as a button that expands the submenu, not as a link. To let shoppers reach the category page, add it as the first item inside the drop-down.

### Is there a limit on menu edits before saving?

Shopify restricts further actions after 200 changes until you save. Each add, edit, delete or move counts as one change, so save as you go on a large menu.