Why can't I see the navigation bar in my new online store?

[Alona1]

Hello all,

I am new to shopify, today I launched my shop but it is a bit messy, I need to sort my items by categories but I don't have a navigation bar under online store icon. What do I do?

[Erin]

Hi, @Alona1. I'm happy to look into this with you! I just have a few questions to make sure I give you helpful advice going forward. If you have any screenshots or examples of what your store or Shopify admin looks like this can help as well.

• Which theme are you currently using?
• Which subscription are you currently using?
• Did you previously have a navigation bar when you were customizing your store or has this always been missing?
• Have you already set up your collections and navigation in your Shopify admin?

Most themes should have your navigation bar/menu displayed by default. You can double check that it's enabled to be dispalyed in your theme editor. To get there, go to Online store > Themes in your Shopify admin and click Customize next to the theme you're using. From here, your navigation settings are typically found in the Header section group, but this can differ depending on the theme you're using so you may need to look through a few settings if it's not there. You can see an example of what this can look like below.

If your menu is set up correctly in your theme editor, you'll also want to double check your navigation settings in your Shopify admin. You can get there by going to Online store > Navigation. From here, select the menu you want to manage (for your header menu it should be named 'Main menu') and double check that you've properly set up the menu items you want to be displayed. This guide can help you set up your menu items.

Please let me know if you have any questions! This whole guide on menus and links may be able to help you out in the meantime as well.

[Alona1]

Hi Erin,

Thank you very much for the prompt reply. I never had navigation bar, I don't what theme I am using but currently I have basic account, I think that is the reason I have limited access. I have attached screenshot of my shop

[Alona1]

[HBrennan]

I am having the same problem with my shop that my husband and I just started. We are also on the basic plan and ours looks just like that. I am beyond frustrated at this point. I cannot find any helpful info. I guarantee they want us to pay more just so we can have this necessary tool on our sites.

[Erin · Accepted solution]

Hi, @Alona1. Thank you for all of that context!

Based on the information and screenshots you shared it looks like you may be on the Shopify Starter plan. The settings you've described and shown are the settings you would have if you were using the Starter plan rather than the Basic plan. You can double check the plan you're on by going to Settings > Plan in your Shopify admin.

The Starter plan is meant for merchants that are just starting out, or who want to sell to their customers through social media platforms or messaging apps, with a simplified online store. You can learn more about the Starter plan here. If you need a full online store you would need to upgrade your plan to the Basic plan or higher. You can learn more about each plan here. If you choose to upgrade your plan, these steps to update your plan can help you do this.

@HBrennan, if you are seeing the same thing on your end it's likely you are using the starter plan as well.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to let me know!

[HBrennan]

Yes, that is correct. We upgraded for now to see how business goes, just to
have that feature. That $40 a month is a lot just for one rather important
feature.

[Espiritu]

I have the basic plan and I am also missing my navigation under Online store. It was there is morning, after I noticed my online app was un pinned. I pinned the app, but with navigation missing. 

[Brickgalaxy]

Hello Espíritu, have you solved the Problem with the Navigation ? 

I have the same Problem.

[aljfhous]

same, I have the basic plan and did NOT see the navigation menu. Wonder if that's a system problem

[aljfhous]

I found the navigation tab is removed, but you can still manage your menu and navigation in [content-menu]. Not sure if that helps but it solved my issue.

 

[HollywoodCo]

Very helpful, thanks for this. We had the exact same problem.

[VintageFarms]

Same here. I am on the Basic plan but do NOT have the navigation option. 

[Flourish_HWJ]

This solved it for me too. Thank you so much!! Is it just me that feels like none of this is easy to navigate?!

[TonelabVN]

Can you show me how you managed it?