How to Add a Main Navigation Link

Main Navigation At a Glance

Use the main navigation to help your primary audience(s) find the most important services, resources or programs your agency offers.
The main navigation appears at the top of every page.
The main navigation includes links to the main sections of your site and a dropdown menu with links to pages in that section.

On this page

Watch: How to add a page to the Main Navigation
How to add a main navigation link when editing a page
How to add a main navigation link using the Drupal Menus page
How to reorder navigation links
Get support

The simplest way to add a page to the main navigation is when editing the page itself.

Step 1: Find your page

Select Content from the Drupal menu on the far left side of the screen.

Find your page in the list of pages and components. Use the search and filter if needed.

Click the Edit button.

Step 2: Add the page to the menu

Check the Provide a menu link checkbox on the right side under Menu settings.

Expanded Menu settings drop-down menu with arrow pointing to the provide a menu link checkbox

Step 3: Select a Parent Link

Choose a page from the Parent link dropdown menu on the right side of the screen. The parent link you choose will determine where the link shows on your site.

Option 1: Show the page in your site’s header

Select <Main navigation> to show the page as a label in your site’s header.

Use this option for the pages that are most important or for the pages that cover the broadest topics.

Expanded Menu settings drop-down menu with arrow pointing to the parent link drop-down menu which has "<Main navigation>" populated

Example Header menu with arrows pointing to the top and bottom of the menu, illustrating where links with a <Main Navigation> parent show — When <Main navigation> is the Parent Page link, the page appears in your site's header and at the bottom of a drop-down menu.

Option 2: Show the page in your site’s header dropdown menu

Select a parent link with two dashes (- -) to show the page in your site’s header dropdown menu.

Use this option for the pages that are important but fall within a broader category on your site.

Expanded Menu settings drop-down menu with arrow pointing to the parent link drop-down menu which has a Parent Link with -- populated

Example Header menu with arrow pointing to a link in the header drop-down menu, illustrating where links with a Parent Link with -- show — When a page with two dashes (- -) is the Parent Page link, the page appears as a link in the dropdown menu.

Option 3: Show the page only in a side navigation

Select any other parent link (with 4 or more dashes) to place the page deeper in your site. Pages with a parent link with >4 dashes will not show in your site’s header dropdown menu, only in the side navigation.

Use this option for all other pages.

Expanded Menu settings drop-down menu with arrow pointing to the parent link drop-down menu which has a Parent Link with ---- populated

Example subnavigation showing how links with a Parent Link with >4 dashes only show in the side navigation — When a page with 4 or more dashes is the Parent Page link, the page will only appear in the side navigation. It will not appear in your site's header.

Tip: Do not use the Weight field.

Step 4: Save your changes

Click the Save button at the bottom of the screen.

Step 1: Open the Main Navigation Menu page

Click the Menus link in the Drupal menu on the far left side of your screen.

Click the List links button for the Main navigation.

Click the Add link button.

Step 2: Enter the Link details

Enter the Menu link title. If this link is a link on your site, use the name of the page.

Enter the Link. Select a page on your site or enter the URL from another site.

Step 3: Select a Parent Link

Choose a page from the Parent link dropdown menu on the right side of the screen. The parent link you choose will determine where the link shows on your site.

Option 1: Show the page in your site’s header

Select <Main navigation> to show the page as a label in your site’s header.

Use this option for the pages that are most important or for the pages that cover the broadest topics.

Option 2: Show the page in your site’s header dropdown menu

Select a parent link with two dashes (- -) to show the page in your site’s header dropdown menu.

Use this option for the pages that are important but fall within a broader category on your site.

Option 3: Show the page only in a side navigation

Select any other parent link (with 4 or more dashes) to place the page deeper in your site. Pages with a parent link with >4 dashes will not show in your site’s header dropdown menu, only in the side navigation.

Use this option for all other pages.

Step 4: Save your changes

Click the Save button at the bottom of the screen.

Use the Drupal Menus page to reorder links within your navigation menus. When editing any of the navigation menus, drag any page you wish to reorder to the proper location using the crosshairs icon to the left of the Page Title.