Understanding menus

When you set up your online store, consider how you want customers to find your products and information about your business. This can help you make decisions about your online store navigation, and how to set up your menus.

Default menus

Your online store has two default menus that display on every page: the main menu and the footer menu. You can add, remove, or edit menu items in your online store's default menus.

If you use customer accounts, then a customer account main menu is also included on your store by default.

You can add, remove, or edit menu items in your online store's default menus. All menus can include online pages such as products, collections, webpages, blog posts, and customer account pages, as well as links to other websites. You can also create drop-down menus within your main menu and customer account menu.

Main menu

The main menu displays on every page of your online store. The main menu usually displays as items across the width of the header, or else as a list of items in a sidebar. A customer might view your main menu to find your products and information about your business, such as an "About us" page.

Your main menu has two default menu items:

• Home: the main page of your online store
• Catalog: a page that displays all of your products

Footer menu

The footer menu usually displays as items across the width of the footer. A customer might view your footer menu to find information about your store policies and contact information.

Customer account menu

The customer account main menu displays on your online store, as well as anywhere that you use your customer account header, such as a mobile app. Learn more about customizing your customer account menus.

Other menus

Depending on your store's theme, you might be able to add a new menu by editing the settings in the theme's Header section. If your theme doesn't let you add a new menu by editing theme settings, then you can customize your theme code to add a new menu. You can also hire a Shopify Partner to make the changes for you. Learn more about hiring a Shopify Partner.

Comparing navigation in different themes

Every theme has a different design, so your menus might display differently on different themes.

For a demonstration, go to any theme in the Shopify Theme Store and click View Demo.

Troubleshooting issues with your menus

Menu issues can be from multiple factors. Review the following areas of your admin and your theme to ensure that the menu is configured properly and you have no incompatibility issues:

• Review the menu item to ensure the link and link type are correct.
• Ensure that the link is set correctly. If you're linking to a sub-menu, then you might need to adjust the link type or remove any unnecessary nesting.
• Ensure your theme allows the type of menu you are trying to create. For example, if you're creating a multi-level drop-down menu, then your theme needs to support that menu type.
• Review your theme settings to ensure the correct menu is linked.
• Ensure there is no custom code in your theme that's causing the navigation issues. You can roll back your theme code to test that the code is causing a conflict.
• Review your apps to ensure they aren't overriding your menu with a menu in the app.