Summarize this article with:
Your visitors are leaving. Not because your content is bad, but because they can’t find it.
Learning how to create a sub menu in WordPress fixes this problem in under five minutes.
Dropdown menus organize your pages into logical groups. They reduce clutter in your header. They help users find exactly what they need without clicking through endless pages.
This guide walks you through the complete process using the WordPress Menu Editor, Full Site Editor, and Theme Customizer.
You’ll learn how to nest menu items, create multi-level dropdowns, and troubleshoot common issues that break your menu structure.
No plugins required. No code needed.
How to Create a Sub Menu in WordPress
Creating a sub menu in WordPress is the process of adding nested menu items beneath a parent menu item using the WordPress Menu Editor.
Users need this when organizing site navigation, grouping related pages, or building a hierarchical menu structure.
This guide covers 5 steps requiring 2-5 minutes and basic WordPress Dashboard access.
Prerequisites
- WordPress 5.0 or later (6.0+ for Full Site Editor)
- Administrator or Editor role access
- An existing menu already created
- Pages, posts, or categories ready to add as child items
- Theme with dropdown menu support
Step One: How Do You Access the WordPress Menu Editor?
Open your WordPress Dashboard and navigate to Appearance > Menus to access the Menu Editor screen where all menu customization happens.
Action:
- Log into WordPress Dashboard at yourdomain.com/wp-admin
- Click Appearance in the left sidebar
- Select Menus from the submenu options
Purpose: The Menu Editor is the only location where you can create parent-child menu relationships in classic themes.
Step Two: How Do You Select the Menu You Want to Edit?
Use the dropdown at the top of the Menu Editor labeled “Select a menu to edit” and click the Select button to load your existing menu structure.
Action:
- Locate the dropdown menu selector at the top of the screen
- Click the dropdown arrow to reveal all saved menus
- Choose your target menu (Primary Menu, Header Menu, etc.)
- Click the Select button to load the menu
Purpose: WordPress sites can have multiple menus assigned to different menu locations. Selecting the wrong menu means your sub menu appears in the wrong place.
Step Three: How Do You Add Items to Your Menu?
Check the boxes next to pages, posts, categories, or custom links in the left panel, then click Add to Menu to insert them into your menu structure.
Action:
- Expand Pages, Posts, Categories, or Custom Links in the left column
- Check the boxes for items you want as sub menu entries
- Click Add to Menu button
- New items appear at the bottom of your menu structure
Purpose: You need menu items in place before you can nest them. Adding all items first speeds up the drag and drop organization process.
Step Four: How Do You Convert a Menu Item Into a Sub Menu?
Drag any menu item directly beneath its intended parent, then move it slightly to the right until the indent appears and the label changes to “sub item.”
Action:
- Click and hold the menu item you want to nest
- Drag it directly below the parent menu item
- Move it slightly right until you see the indent (approximately 20 pixels)
- Release when “sub item” label appears
Purpose: The visual indent creates the parent-child relationship that triggers dropdown menu behavior on the frontend.
Step Five: How Do You Save Your Sub Menu Changes?
Click the blue Save Menu button in the top right corner of the Menu Editor. Changes appear immediately on your live site.
Action:
- Review your nested menu structure in the Menu Editor
- Click Save Menu button (top right)
- Wait for “Menu updated” confirmation message
Purpose: WordPress does not auto-save menu changes. Leaving the page without saving loses all your work.
Alternative Method: Creating Sub Menus in Full Site Editor
Block themes like Twenty Twenty-Four use the Full Site Editor instead of the classic Menu Editor.
When to use: Your theme shows Appearance > Editor instead of Appearance > Menus.
Steps:
- Go to Appearance > Editor
- Select Templates, then choose a template with your menu (Home or Header)
- Open List View in the top-left corner
- Click the Navigation Block to select it
- Click on the parent menu item
- Click the Add submenu icon (curved arrow with three lines)
- Add links using the + icon
- Click Save
Key difference: Full Site Editor uses the Navigation Block for menu management instead of the drag and drop Menu Editor.
Alternative Method: Creating Sub Menus Using the Customizer
The user experience in the Theme Customizer includes live preview of your menu changes.
When to use: You want to see dropdown menu changes in real-time before publishing.
Steps:
- Navigate to Appearance > Customize > Menus
- Select your menu or click Add a Menu
- Click Add Items to insert pages, posts, or custom links
- Click Reorder to enable drag and drop mode
- Use the right arrow to indent items as sub menu entries
- Click Publish when satisfied
Verification
After saving, visit your site’s frontend to confirm the dropdown menu works correctly.
Check these items:
- Hover behavior displays nested items
- Sub menu appears below the correct parent
- All links navigate to the right pages
- Mobile menu shows sub items (test on phone or use browser dev tools)
- Menu depth displays correctly (multi-level menus may need theme support)
Test in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari to confirm cross-browser compatibility.
Troubleshooting
Issue: Sub Menu Not Appearing on Hover
Solution: Check if your theme supports dropdown menus. Some themes require CSS styling for hover states. Verify the menu is assigned to a location that displays dropdowns (Primary Menu, Header Menu).
Issue: Items Not Indenting in Menu Editor
Solution: Click Screen Options at the top of the Menu Editor. Ensure all checkboxes are enabled. Clear browser cache and try a different browser.
Issue: Sub Menu Showing in Wrong Location
Solution: Scroll to Menu Settings at the bottom of the Menu Editor. Check the correct display location checkbox. Save and verify.
Issue: Mobile Menu Not Showing Sub Items
Solution: Many themes convert navigation to a hamburger menu on mobile. Check theme settings for mobile menu options. Some themes collapse sub items by default and require a tap to expand.
Issue: Multi-Level Dropdown Not Displaying Third Level
Solution: Not all themes support three or more menu levels. Check theme documentation or consider a mega menu plugin for complex hierarchical navigation.
Related Processes
- How to add internal links in WordPress
- How to change the order of pages in WordPress
- How to hide a page in WordPress
- How to add a search bar in WordPress
FAQ on How To Create A Sub Menu In WordPress
What is a sub menu in WordPress?
A sub menu is a nested menu item that appears beneath a parent menu item when users hover or tap. It creates dropdown navigation that organizes related pages into hierarchical groups within your WordPress menu structure.
Where do I find the Menu Editor in WordPress?
Access the Menu Editor by logging into your WordPress Dashboard and navigating to Appearance > Menus. Block themes display Appearance > Editor instead, where you edit the Navigation Block directly.
Can I create multi-level dropdown menus?
Yes. Drag menu items beneath existing sub items and indent them further right. This creates third-level or deeper nested menus. Check your theme documentation since not all themes support multi-level dropdowns.
Why is my sub menu not showing on hover?
Your theme may lack dropdown JavaScript or hover styles. Verify the menu is assigned to a location that supports dropdowns. Some themes require specific menu locations for sub menu visibility.
How do I create a sub menu in the Full Site Editor?
Open Appearance > Editor, select your header template, and click the Navigation Block. Select a menu item, click the Add submenu icon in the toolbar, then add your nested links using the plus button.
Can I add custom links as sub menu items?
Yes. Expand Custom Links in the Menu Editor left panel. Enter your URL and link text, click Add to Menu, then drag it beneath a parent item and indent right to create the sub menu relationship.
How do I reorder sub menu items?
Drag and drop items within the Menu Editor to reorder them. Sub items maintain their nested position when moved. You can also use the Move Up and Move Down links under each item for precise positioning.
Why won’t my menu items indent?
Click Screen Options at the top of the Menu Editor and enable all display options. Clear your browser cache. Try a different browser. Some browser extensions interfere with the drag and drop functionality.
Do sub menus work on mobile devices?
Most responsive design themes convert dropdown menus to tap-to-expand navigation on mobile. Users tap the parent item to reveal sub menu entries instead of hovering.
How many sub menu levels can I create?
WordPress supports unlimited nesting levels. However, most themes only style two or three levels of dropdowns. Deeper nesting creates usability issues and confuses visitors trying to navigate your site.
Conclusion
You now know how to create a sub menu in WordPress using three different methods.
The drag and drop approach in the Menu Editor works for most classic themes. The Navigation Block handles site navigation in Full Site Editor themes. The Theme Customizer gives you live preview while building your menu hierarchy.
Each method produces the same result: organized dropdown navigation that helps visitors find content faster.
Start with a simple parent-child menu relationship. Add more nested items as your site grows.
Test your menu on mobile devices. Check that all links work. Verify your menu locations are assigned correctly.
A clean menu structure improves user interface clarity and keeps visitors on your site longer.
