Navigation plays a critical role in how customers experience your Shopify store. If visitors cannot easily find products, collections, or important pages, they are more likely to leave without buying. That is why understanding how to add navigation on an online store in Shopify is essential for conversions, usability, and SEO.
In this complete guide, you will learn how Shopify navigation works, how to add and manage menus, create dropdowns, link collections and pages, and follow best practices to improve user experience. Everything is explained clearly so you can apply it immediately, even if you are new to Shopify.
What Is Navigation in Shopify?
Navigation in Shopify refers to the menus and links that help visitors move through your store. These menus usually appear in areas like:
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Header (main menu)
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Footer menu
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Sidebar (theme dependent)
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Mobile menu
Good navigation helps users quickly understand your store structure and reach the content they need without confusion.
Why Navigation Matters for Your Online Store
Navigation is more than design—it directly affects performance.
Strong navigation helps you:
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Improve user experience
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Reduce bounce rate
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Increase product discovery
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Boost conversion rates
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Support SEO with clear internal linking
Poor navigation, on the other hand, can frustrate users and cost you sales.
How Shopify Navigation Works
Shopify manages navigation through Menus. Each menu contains links to pages, collections, products, blogs, or custom URLs.
Shopify provides two default menus:
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Main menu – usually shown in the header
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Footer menu – shown at the bottom of the site
You can edit these menus or create new ones at any time.
How to Add Navigation on an Online Store in Shopify
Step 1: Go to Navigation Settings
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Log in to your Shopify admin
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Click Online Store
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Select Navigation
This opens the menu management screen where all store navigation is controlled.
Step 2: Choose a Menu to Edit
You will see existing menus such as:
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Main menu
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Footer menu
Click the menu you want to edit, or create a new one if needed.
Step 3: Add Menu Items
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Click Add menu item
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Enter a name (this is what customers see)
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Choose the link type:
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Collections
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Products
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Pages
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Blogs
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Policies
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Custom URL
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Select the destination
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Click Add
Repeat this process for each navigation link you want.
Step 4: Save Your Menu
Once all items are added, click Save menu. Your navigation updates immediately on the storefront.
How to Create Dropdown Menus in Shopify
Dropdown menus help organize large catalogs and keep navigation clean.
Steps to Create a Dropdown Menu
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Open your menu in Online Store → Navigation
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Add a main menu item (parent)
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Drag related items slightly to the right under the parent item
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Save the menu
These nested items will appear as dropdowns in most themes.
How to Add Collections to Navigation
Adding collections to navigation improves product discovery.
Best Practices for Collections
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Use clear, descriptive names
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Group related collections under dropdowns
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Avoid cluttering the main menu
To add a collection:
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Add menu item
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Choose Collections
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Select the collection
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Save
How to Add Pages to Shopify Navigation
Pages like About Us, Contact, Shipping, and FAQs should always be accessible.
Common pages to include:
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About Us
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Contact Us
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FAQ
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Shipping Policy
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Returns Policy
These pages are usually placed in the footer menu for easy access.
How to Add External Links to Navigation
You can link to external resources such as:
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Social media pages
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Help desks
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Partner sites
Choose Custom URL when adding a menu item and paste the external link.
How to Add Navigation for Mobile Users
Mobile navigation is just as important as desktop navigation.
Tips for mobile-friendly navigation:
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Keep menu labels short
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Limit top-level items
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Use dropdowns wisely
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Prioritize best-selling collections
Most Shopify themes automatically optimize menus for mobile, but structure still matters.
Common Navigation Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these errors to keep navigation effective:
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Too many menu items
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Confusing labels
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Duplicate links
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Broken URLs
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Hiding important pages
Navigation should guide, not overwhelm.
Best Practices for Shopify Navigation
Keep It Simple
Fewer, well-organized links perform better than crowded menus.
Use Clear Naming
Menu labels should be instantly understandable.
Prioritize Key Pages
Put best-selling collections and important pages first.
Use Footer Navigation Wisely
Footer menus are ideal for policies and informational pages.
Test User Flow
Ask yourself: can a new visitor find a product in two clicks or less?
How Navigation Impacts SEO
Navigation supports SEO by:
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Improving internal linking
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Helping search engines crawl your site
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Passing link equity to key pages
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Enhancing user engagement signals
A clean navigation structure strengthens both usability and rankings.
When You Need Custom Navigation
Some stores need advanced navigation such as:
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Mega menus
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Custom filtering links
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Dynamic menus by customer type
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Location-based navigation
These setups usually require theme customization or expert support.
Final Thoughts
Navigation is the backbone of a successful Shopify store. Learning how to add navigation on an online store in Shopify allows you to guide visitors smoothly, showcase products effectively, and increase conversions.
At The Foldtech, we help brands design and optimize Shopify navigation that improves usability, supports SEO, and drives real sales. From simple menu setups to advanced navigation structures, our team ensures your store is built for growth from the ground up.
If your store navigation feels confusing or underperforms, expert optimization can make a measurable difference.
