New to Shopify? Fyresite has you covered. Check out our other blogs about Shopify basics to give you a foundation of understanding of the Shopify ecosystem.

If you’ve ever interacted with a website, you’re familiar with menus. Structured links that allow you to navigate through a website.

But if you’re new to Shopify, you might not know where to find these menus, or how to optimize them for SEO. That’s where we come in.

Learn More Shopify Basics

Check out some of our other basics of Shopify blogs.

The Basics of Shopify Discounts

Shopify Fraud Protection 101: Keeping Your Shop Safe

Localization 101: Taking Over the World Using Shopify

Where Can I Find My Menus in Shopify?

You can access your menus through your Shopify admin.

  • First, open your Shopify admin.
  • Next, go to content and then menus.
  • There, you can view and edit your menus.

What are the Default Menus for Shopify?

When you set up your Shopify store, there’s 2 default menus set up: the main menu and the footer menu. These show up on every page.

What’s Included in the Main Menu?

Shopify’s main menu has 2 default items: home and catalog.

The home menu item in the home page of your store.

The catalog menu item is the page that displays all your products.

Troubleshooting Common Menu Errors on Shopify

Like every piece of technology, there can be errors you need to troubleshoot. Here are some common ones we see.

  • You didn’t click save
    • While it sounds obvious, sometimes it’s easy to overlook this important step
  • Your theme doesn’t support the menu type
    • Not all menu types are supported by every theme
  • Link or link type is incorrect
    • Double check the menu item

Menu Changes Not Showing on Store

If the changes you’ve made to the menu aren’t showing up in the store, try this:

  • Check theme settings in header and footer to make sure that the menu selected is the same on that you’re editing
  • If using an app for menus, make sure edits are being updated in your Shopify admin, not just in the app.
  • If you’re using an outdated theme or version of Shopify, some menu changes won’t load. Make sure you’re using the latest version and a 2.0 theme.

How to Edit Your Menus

Editing a menu is more than just changing a name; it’s about creating a flow that leads to a sale. Here is how you modify your existing menus or add new links:

  • Select Your Menu
    • On the Navigation page, click the title of the menu you want to edit (e.g., “Main Menu”).
  • Add a Menu Item
    • Click Add menu item. A sidebar will appear where you can enter the Name (what customers see) and the Link (where they go). You can link to internal pages, specific products, collections, or even external URLs.
  • Edit or Remove
    • Click Edit next to an existing item to change the text or link, or click the Delete (trash can) icon to remove it.
  • Reorder with Drag-and-Drop
    • Click and hold the icon (usually six dots) next to a menu item to drag it up or down.
  • Create Drop-down Menus (Nested Menus)
    • To create a “sub-menu,” drag a menu item slightly to the right under a “top-level” item. It will indent, indicating it is now nested.

How Can I Optimize My Menus for SEO?

Yes, even your menus can (and should!) be optimized for SEO. Here’s some tips on how to best optimize your menus:

  • Use descriptive keywords
    • Using descriptive keywords and phrases allows search engines, LLMs, and customers alike to understand and navigate
  • Use nested menus
    • For example, nesting sandals and sneakers under shoes. This shows authority to search engines
  • Prioritize important pages
    • Google ranks page importance based on how easy they are to reach. Your more important pages should be easiest and quickest to reach

Work With a Shopify Partner

Take your menu worries off your plate. Schedule a free consultation with Fyresite, a Shopify Plus Partner, to learn more about optimizing your menus.