How to Create a Mega Menu in WordPress? Beginner’s Guide

Want to learn how to create a mega menu in WordPress to enhance your site’s navigation? If yes, then stay right here!

As your website grows, smartly managing content becomes essential for a positive user experience. 

No doubt, mega menus allow you to streamline navigation by grouping your links, categories, and subcategories in a visually organized dropdown. This not only helps users find content quickly but also improves engagement and boosts SEO.

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll show you how to create a mega menu in WordPress step-by-step via several methods.

So, let’s dive in!

What Exactly is Mega Menu?

Before we move forward, let’s quickly understand what exactly a mega menu is.

Simply put, the mega menu is a powerful navigation tool, particularly a large dropdown-style navigation menu that displays multiple options at once. 

Unlike regular menus, which show a simple list of links, mega menus can include categories, subcategories, images, and other content in a neat layout. 

This type of menu is highly structured, allowing you to organize your site’s navigation efficiently. Consequently, this makes it easier for your visitors to find what they need quickly.

It’s particularly useful for websites with a lot of content, like eCommerce stores, blogs, or news websites. Mega menus improve user experience by reducing the number of clicks needed to access specific pages.

Why Add a Mega Menu to Your WordPress Site?

Some of the top 3 reasons why you need to add a mega menu to your WordPress site are:

• First, it allows visitors to find what they’re looking for without scrolling through endless menus. 
• By organizing content in a clean, accessible way, you reduce frustration and increase the likelihood of visitors staying on your site longer. 
• Mega menus also let you showcase a variety of content, such as popular posts, featured products, or key categories, right from the main navigation.

All of this can significantly improve navigation and user engagement reducing bounce rate. Ultimately, this boosts SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and improves conversions.

How to Create a Mega Menu in WordPress? Beginner’s Guide

Now, we’ll learn how to create a mega menu in WordPress via several methods. Let’s explore them one by one!

Method 1: Using a WordPress Plugin 

One of the easiest ways to create a mega menu in WordPress is by using a plugin. 

For this method, we’ll be using the Max Mega Menu plugin. It’s a popular and beginner-friendly plugin that lets you build a fully customizable mega menu without any coding. 

So, follow the below steps as we guide you through!

Step 1: Install & Activate the Plugin

First, log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to ‘Plugins > Add New Plugin’. 

Then, search for ‘Max Mega Menu’, and once you locate ‘Install’ and ‘Activate’ it. 

Step 2: Configure a New Menu Location

Once activated, you’ll see a new ‘Mega Menu’ option will appear in your WordPress dashboard’s sidebar for easy access. 

Now, the first thing to do here is, you need to go to the ‘Mega Menu > Menu Locations’ and click on ‘Add another menu location’. 

With that, you’ll see the page as shown below. Now, give a Location Name for your mega menu, for instance, Header. 

Then, click on the ‘Add Menu Location’ button. 

Step 3: Set Up the Menu Layout & Configure Max Mega Menu Settings

Next, you need to go to the ‘Appearance > Menus’ and create your first menu. 

So, let’s set up the menu layout first by giving a menu name, let’s say ‘Mega Menu’. 

Then, select the pages that you want to add and click on the ‘Add to Menu’. 

Note: Just to let you know, we’ve created these pages earlier. If you haven’t, then you can also easily do so by navigating to the ‘Pages > Add New’.  

For more reference, you can check our article on how to add pages to the menu in WordPress. 

With that, you’ll see the selected pages have been added on the right-hand side. You can easily drag and drop to arrange it the way you like. 

Once done, click on the ‘Create Menu’ option. 

With that, your simple normal menu is ready. But, since we’re creating a mega menu, now, you need to create several sub-menus as per your requirements. 

So, let’s do it. 

For that, go to the ‘Custom Links’ option. Then, add a Link Text, and for the URL, if you already have a particular page ready, then you can put the concerned URL. Or else, you can just keep it hash (#) for now. 

As an example, here we’ve kept ‘Consulting’ as Link Text and # for the URL. Then, click on the ‘Add to Menu’. 

Once done, it’ll be added and you can easily drag it as the sub-item under the preferred main menu item. As here, we’ve kept it under the Services menu. 

Following the same process, you can add more sub-items as per your need. Here, we’ve added some more sub-items for Services as shown below.

Likewise, you can add other sub-items for other pages. For example, here we’ve added Products and Blogs. 

Now, let’s again specify the products. For that too, once again follow the same process as before. 

Go to ‘Custom Links’, add your product name and if you already have a product page created, then add its link or else # for now. 

For a quick reminder once again, check the image below. 

Then, drag it under the concerned product sub-items that you’ve created before. 

Following the same process again, you can do it for other product categories too. 

Further, if you want to specify your menu more, you can do so by following the same pattern as above. 

Once you’re done with setting up your menu layout, enable the Display location as Header. And don’t forget to click on the ‘Save Menu’ option. 

Afterward, you’ll see the short panel box for Max Mega Menu Settings on the left-hand side as shown below.

Here, click on the ‘Enable’ and ‘Save’ button. 

Further, when you hover over the menu items, you’ll see the Mega Menu icon.

Here, you can click on it to customize your mega menu the way you like. Or, you can leave it as default for now. And simply click on ‘Save Menu’ option. 

Step 4: Go to Site Editor & Configure Mega Menu Display

But wait! The work is not done yet. 

Next, depending on the theme you’re using, you need to go to the ‘Appearance > Editor’ on the left-hand side navigation of your dashboard. 

With that, you’ll be taken to the editor panel. 

Now, hover over the navigation and click the Triple Dot icon and the ‘Delete’ option. This will delete your previous normal menu. 

Then, click on the Plus icon located in the navigation menu and search for ‘Max Mega Menu’. Once you locate it, click on it. 

Once again, set the location to the ‘Header’ option. 

With that, you’ll see that it’s been added to the editor panel. Now, click on the ‘Save’ button in the top right corner. 

Step 5: Preview WordPress Mega Menu

Last but not least, you can go to your live website and have a preview of your WordPress mega menu. 

If you need to make any final adjustments, return to the Max Mega Menu settings in the WordPress dashboard and tweak the configuration.

Method 2: Using a Premium WordPress Theme 

Likewise, if you prefer not to use a plugin, some premium themes, like Kadence Pro, come with built-in mega menu functionality. 

As a result, you can seamlessly integrate mega menus without the need for additional plugins. 

So, follow the below steps to create a mega menu using the Kadence Pro theme. 

Step 1: Purchase, Install & Activate Kadence Theme

First thing first, go to the official Kadence theme website and purchase the Kadence Pro package.

Once purchased, you’ll get your Kadence account details from where you can get the Kadence pro zip file along with the license key. 

Then, come back to your WordPress dashboard to install the pro version. However, note that, before installing the free version, you need to install the normal version of the Kadence theme. 

You can install it like any normal WordPress theme. For more guidance, you can check out our article on how to install a WordPress theme. 

Now, you need to upload the Kadence pro zip file that you’ve previously downloaded from your Kadence account. 

For that, go to the ‘Plugins > Add New Plugin’, then upload the zip file and click on the ‘Install Now’ button. 

Shortly, click on the ‘Activate Plugin’ button. 

Then, go to the ‘Appearance > Kadence’ and on the right hand side you’ll see the License Key box. 

There, you need to paste the previously copied license key and click on the ‘Save Changes’ button. 

Step 2: Enable Required Pro Add Ons

Now the next step is to enable the required pro add ons. 

But before that, let’s quickly import any one Starter Template for this tutorial. For that, simply go to the ‘Starter Templates’ tab and click on the ‘Browse Kadence Starter Templates’. 

Then, simply choose any one of the starter templates that suits your needs with a quick hover. 

With a few clicks as the asked prompts, your chosen starter site will be imported. With that, you’ll see the page as shown below. 

Here, click on the ‘Go to My Pages’ option with which you’ll come back to the WordPress admin panel. 

Now, under the ‘Appearance > Kadence’ tab, scroll down to the ‘Pro Addons’ section. 

Here, you need to enable 3 addons. They are: ‘Header Addons’, ‘Ultimate Menu’, and ‘Hooked Elements’. 

Step 3: Create a Mega Menu & Configure Required Mega Menu Settings

Once done, click on the ‘Customize’ option under Ultimate Menu or you can go to ‘Appearance > Menus’. Whichever way you choose, you’ll see the page as shown below.

Since we’ve imported the starter template, by default there are already a few page menu elements. 

Meanwhile, if you haven’t imported the starter template, then you can create your pages via ‘Pages > Add New’ and add them. 

So, now it’s time to set up a layout for the mega menu. 

As done before, go to the ‘Custom Links’ tab and add your Link Text. If you already have a specific page ready to put under navigation, then you can put its URL. Or just go for (#) and click on the ‘Add to Menu’ option. 

Once done, you’ll see the new sub item has been added and further you can drag that under your desired menu element. 

Following the same pattern, we’ve added some more sub items under the same menu element.

You can do it for as many as you want as per your choice. 

Again, let’s add another sub-sub item via the ‘Custom Links’ tab following the same process. 

Once done, it looks something like as shown below. 

Here, don’t forget to click on the ‘Save Menu’ option. 

Next, go to the parent menu element and click on the drop-down icon and ‘Menu Item Settings’. 

Afterward, hover to the ‘Mega Settings’ tab and Enable Mega Menu Dropdown. 

And configure the settings as you wish and click on the ‘Save and Close’ button. 

Following the same process, you can configure the mega menu for other parent menu elements. 

Step 4: Preview Your Mega Menu

Once all is done, go to your live website and preview your mega menu. Quite cool, right?

If necessary, return to the Kadence Pro settings or the Menu section to make any final adjustments and tweaks to perfect the look and functionality. 

Method 3: Using Elementor Builder

If you’re a fan of drag-and-drop website builders, Elementor is an excellent option for creating a mega menu in WordPress. 

For free Elementor users, adding ElementsKit (a popular Elementor addon) will unlock advanced mega menu features.  

However, if you’re using Elementor Pro, you won’t need any additional addons, as the Pro version already includes built-in mega menu functionality. 

So, here we’ll show you how to create a mega menu using Elementor and ElementsKit.

Step 1: Install & Activate Elementor Plugin

Go to your WordPress dashboard, hover over ‘Plugins > Add New Plugin’, and search for ‘Elementor’. 

Once you locate the plugin, click ‘Install Now’ and ‘Activate’ it. 

Step 2: Configure Elementor & Add Template 

After it’s activated, you’ll see the Elementor setup panel. First, you need to click on the ‘Create my account’ and connect it with your Gmail account.

Next, you can see the prompt to ‘Continue with Hello Theme’, click on it. 

Then, you’re asked to select the Pro features, for that, you can simply click on ‘Skip’ for now. 

Further, you’ll see the page as shown below, here you can click on the ‘Choose a professionally-designed template or import your own’ option. 

With that, you’ll access the Elementor Kit Library, and from there you can choose your preferred template.

Simply, click on the ‘Apply Kit’ to proceed forward. 

Now, with a few prompts, you’ll see that your kit is live on your site as shown below.

Here, you can click on the ‘Close’ button, and with that, you’ll reach back to your WordPress dashboard.

Step 3: Install, Activate & Configure ElementsKit Elementor addons  

Now, as mentioned earlier, to use the mega menu in the Elementor free version, we need to install the ElementsKit Elementor addons plugin. 

For that, simply go to the ‘Plugins > Add New Plugin’ and search for ‘ElementsKit’. 

Once you locate it, click on the ‘Install Now’ followed by the ‘Activate’ button. 

Step 4: Configure ElementsKit

After the plugin is activated, you’ll see the ElementsKit setup configuration panel. 

You can enable Header Footer and Mega Menu modules and quickly configure other tabs. 

Once done, hit the ‘Save Changes’ button. 

Step 4: Create ElementsKit Mega Menu Header

Next, go to the ‘ElementsKit > Header Footer’ and click on the ‘Add New’ option at the top. 

Here, you need to configure the mega menu header template. Let’s start by giving a title ‘Mega Menu’, select type as ‘Header’ and enable Activate/Deactivate option and click on the ‘Save Changes’. 

With that, your mega menu header is created. 

Now, go to ‘Appearance > Menus’ to enable ElementsKit Megamenu and click on the ‘Save Menu’ option.

Now, let’s say, you want to set up a Mega Menu under a particular given menu element. 

For that, simply hover over that menu element, and with that, you’ll see ‘Mega Menu’, click on it. 

Next, click on the ‘Megamenu enabled’ option and then hit ‘Edit Mega Menu Content’. 

With that, you’ll see the page as shown below, click on the ‘ElementsKit’ icon. 

Now, under the ‘Sections’ tab, search for ‘Mega Menu’ and import your mega menu design as your choice. 

Further, you can edit the mega menu content as per your needs.

And once you’re done with editing the mega menu content as you like, click on the ‘Publish’ button. 

Step 5: Go to ElementsKit > Header Footer to Place the Mega Menu

Now the next step is to, come back to the ‘ElementsKit > Header Footer’, here you’ll see the Mega Menu header that you’ve previously created. Hover over it and click on the ‘Edit with Elementor’ option. 

Here, under the ‘Widgets’ tab, search for ‘ElementsKit Nav Menu’ and once you find it, drag it to the editor panel. 

Afterward, under the Menu Settings, select ‘Mega Menu’ from the drop down option. Further, you can also explore its Style & Advanced option. 

Once all is done, you can click on the ‘Publish’ button.

Step 6: Preview Your Mega Menu

Now, go to your live site, and hover over or click the menu item where you’ve enabled the mega menu to see how it looks. 

If needed, then you can go back to Elementor or ElementsKit settings to tweak the design, layout, or animations until they match your vision.

Frequently Asked Questions on Creating a Mega Menu in WordPress

Now, let’s check out the frequently asked questions on creating a mega menu in WordPress. 

Browse our article on the best practices for website navigation along with examples. 

Conclusion

And that’s all, folks! We’ve come to the end of our tutorial article on how to create a mega menu in WordPress.

Whether you opt for a plugin, a premium theme, or a page builder, you can create a professional, organized menu that helps visitors find content easily. 

If you’ve any questions or confusion, then do, let us know in the comment section below. We’re happy to help you out. 

Also, check out other tutorials such as how to update WordPress to the latest version and how to change footer text and background color in WordPress. 

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