{"id":343,"date":"2024-02-16T15:31:49","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T20:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/?p=343"},"modified":"2025-07-29T15:05:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T19:05:29","slug":"creating-and-managing-wordpress-menus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/creating-and-managing-wordpress-menus\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating and Managing WordPress Menus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\nsummary {\n\tbackground-color: #B2E0DF;\n}\n<\/style\n\n\n\n<p id=\"top\">Menus allow you to create navigation for your site. &nbsp;You can create single-layer or drop-down menus. Menus can include links to anything on your site such as pages, posts, categories or custom links.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">To Customize your Menus&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure you're logged into your site and can see the WordPress toolbar along the top of your site. <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"51\" class=\"wp-image-448\" style=\"width: 700px;\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/2024-02-16_14-52-09.png\" alt=\"The WordPress toolbar displaying My Sites, the Site name and Customize\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/2024-02-16_14-52-09.png 859w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/2024-02-16_14-52-09-300x22.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/2024-02-16_14-52-09-768x56.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/2024-02-16_14-52-09-400x29.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you don't see the toolbar, you might need to <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/wp-login.php\">Log in to WordPress<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From the top toolbar, choose <strong>Customize<\/strong>. The \u201cCustomizer\u201d will open on the left side of the window.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Menus<\/strong>. The \u201cCustomizing Menus\u201d menu will be displayed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From here, you'll be able to create new menus, edit existing menus, and--for some themes--set your menu location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Adding Items<\/summary>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To add items to the list, select <strong>+Add Items<\/strong>. The \u201cSearch menu items\u201d will be displayed on the right side of the toolbar. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can add several types of content:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Custom Links<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Custom links are great for adding links to content outside of your site, or to add a label to a dropdown option your site's navigation. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pages<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can add pages to your navigation once they're published<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Posts<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can add posts to your navigation once they're published<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Categories<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use categories to create a link that will take you to all of the posts in a specific category. It will automatically update as you add new content to that category.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tags<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use tags to create a link that will take you to all of the posts in a specific tag. It will automatically update as you add new content to that tag.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find the item you want to add and select <strong>its name<\/strong>. The \u201c+\u201d sign on the left side of the item will be replaced by a check mark and the item will appear at the bottom of the Menu list.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 400px;\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/0Bl7mzKJZN_u2LlUVgyNEWuzQJKgUMPD2bz7MUAGO-yG9hB0F7HXTxUExdP0pVnmhJJOt3IJKwcW9p_Ccf3IGcaj8PaVGjXhcaaIPRBiNAWgh1VEDVwezWXtmt_LcTBdH6ZkXZIwC08i8rTUS0dbVkw\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Creating Dropdown Menus<\/summary>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create dropdown menus in your navigation by clicking and dragging a menu item and nesting it under another item, or by using the <mark style=\"background-color:#fcb900\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/documentation\/article\/appearance-menus-screen\/\">Reorder option<\/a> <\/mark> to nest your items.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To create a dropdown menu that uses a label rather than a link, choose \"custom link\" and enter # in the link field, then enter the text of the title.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Removing Items<\/summary>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"1\">\n<li>To delete items from the list, click the <strong>X<\/strong> located on the right side of the menu order.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Reordering Menu Items<\/summary>\n<p>You can reorder menu items in two ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hover over the menu until you see the cross icon and <strong>drag and drop<\/strong> items to move them through the list.<br> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"294\" height=\"240\" class=\"wp-image-453\" style=\"width: 294px;\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/2024-02-16_15-06-12.png\" alt=\"A WordPress menu with the cross symbol icon\"><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose <strong>Reorder<\/strong>. Arrows will appear next to your items. Use these to move menu items up and down or to indent to items and create drop down menus.<br><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"394\" class=\"wp-image-455\" style=\"width: 300px;\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/WordPress-Menu-Reorder.png\" alt=\"A WordPress menu with with arrows displaying how it can be reordered\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/WordPress-Menu-Reorder.png 375w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/WordPress-Menu-Reorder-228x300.png 228w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>  <br><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Setting Menu Locations<\/summary>\n<p>Some themes can display multiple menus, or change the location of the main menu.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In \u201cCustomizing Menus,\u201d under Menu Locations, select <strong>View All Locations<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cMenu Locations\u201d will be displayed. Different themes have different sets of locations where menus can appear. &nbsp;Some themes have one, others have more.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-23441af8 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"375\" height=\"852\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/09\/2024-01-08_14-00-21.png\" alt=\"Menu Display from a theme that allows for a primary menu\" class=\"wp-image-964\" style=\"width:250px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/09\/2024-01-08_14-00-21.png 375w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/09\/2024-01-08_14-00-21-132x300.png 132w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"377\" height=\"852\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/image.png\" alt=\"Menu Display from a theme that allows for a primary menu and a footer menu\" class=\"wp-image-459\" style=\"width:250px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/image.png 377w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1047\/2024\/02\/image-133x300.png 133w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"3\">\n<li>In the \u201cNavigation\u201d drop-down menu, select the <strong>Menu<\/strong> you want to appear on the site.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you need to edit the new menu, follow the \u201cEdit Menu\u201d hyperlink that appears below the drop-down menu. Click <strong>Edit Menu<\/strong> to open the Menu Items editor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saving your Changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you used drag and drop to reorder the menu items, click <strong>Save<\/strong> at the top-left side of the page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you used the \u201cReorder\u201d feature, below the Menu items, click <strong>Done<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background-color has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5d2f8bdc wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b585a4aa wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wordpress-admin-starter-pack\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"15\">Back to WordPress Admin Starter Pack<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"> <a href=\"#top\">Go Back Up<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>summary { background-color: #B2E0DF; }<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5691,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[36],"class_list":["post-343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-wordpress-admin","tag-wordpress-admin"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5691"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=343"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":971,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/343\/revisions\/971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/project-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}