How to Create a Menu with Categories in WordPress

In WordPress, categories are a great way to organize your blog content, especially if you write about different topics. Creating a menu that links directly to your categories makes it easier for your visitors to find the content they’re interested in.

Step 1: Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard

1. Go to your website’s URL and log in with your username and password.
2. Once logged in, you’ll be taken to your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Access the Menu Settings

1. From the WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Menus.
   • This is where you can create and manage your website’s menus.

Step 3: Create a New Menu

1. If you don’t have a menu set up yet, click on Create a New Menu.
2. Name your menu (e.g., “Blog Categories” or “Main Menu”).
3. Click the Create Menu button to continue.

Step 4: Add Categories to Your Menu

1. Find the Categories Section
   • On the left side of the screen, you’ll see options like Pages, Posts, and Custom Links.
   • Scroll down and find the Categories section.
   • Here, you’ll see all the categories you’ve created for your blog posts.
2. Select the Categories
   • To add categories to your menu, simply check the boxes next to the categories you want to include.
   • Once selected, click Add to Menu.
3. Rearrange the Categories (Optional)
   • After adding the categories, you can drag and drop them to rearrange their order.
   • Place the categories in the order you want them to appear on your menu.

Step 5: Choose the Menu Location

1. Select the Menu Location
   • WordPress themes often have predefined spots where menus can appear, such as at the top of the page or in the footer.
   • Under Menu Settings, you’ll see options like:
     • Primary Menu (usually the main navigation at the top of your site)
     • Footer Menu (appears at the bottom of your site)
2. Assign Your Menu
   • Choose the location where you want your menu to appear, such as the Primary Menu.
   • After selecting the location, click Save Menu to save your changes.

Step 6: Review Your Menu

1. Check Your Website
   • Go to your website and check to see if the categories now appear in the menu.
   • When visitors click on a category, they will be taken to all the posts under that category.
2. Make Adjustments if Needed
   • If you need to add or remove categories, go back to Appearance > Menus.
   • From here, you can adjust the categories, reorder them, or remove any items.

Optional: Adding Custom Links

If you want to add external links or specific blog posts to your menu, you can do that too:

1. Add Custom Links
   • In the Custom Links section, enter the URL of the link you want to add and give it a label (e.g., “Latest Posts”).
   • Click Add to Menu to add it to your menu.
2. Create Dropdown Menus
   • You can also create dropdown menus by adding sub-categories under a main category. To do this, drag a category slightly to the right under another category. This will make it a sub-item in a dropdown.