Parent menu link - not working

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Parent menu items in the Dawn theme do not navigate to their assigned links; clicking the parent (e.g., “Men”) only expands the dropdown instead of going to the linked collection.

A proposed fix is to edit the theme code (header.liquid) to add a link for the parent item so it becomes clickable and routes to the desired collection URL.

This involves locating where child menu items are linked and inserting a similar link for the parent, using the specific collection URL.

The requester questions this approach, noting it may make every parent use the same link and asks for an easier alternative, such as a “View all” button at the top of the dropdown.

They also point out that Shopify’s Navigation settings allow adding a link to the parent item, yet it still doesn’t click through—suggesting Dawn’s default behavior treats parents as expand-only toggles.

Key terms: header.liquid (theme header template), collection (group of products), parent/child menu items (top-level vs nested links).

No resolution yet; the thread seeks a method to keep parent items clickable or add a “View all” link without custom code affecting all parents.

Summarized with AI on December 26. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Is there a way that I can assign a hyperlink to the parent item of my menu?

I am using the Dawn theme, and I have a range of menu items. e.g:

-Men

–Tshirt

–Jumper

When I click ‘Men’, I would like it to go to a collection, that includes everything else underneath. I have linked it to the collection, but it does not go anywhere when clicked (simply, it just expands, rather than clicks through).

Is there a way to correct this?

2

Hi @Jj37 ,
This is Theodore from PageFly - Shopify Page Builder App.

Yes, you can make parent menu items clickable in your Dawn theme! Here’s how:

  1. Edit theme code (Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit).
  2. In header.liquid, find the code that links child menu items.
  3. Add a similar line above it for the parent item.
    • Replace the title with your desired text (e.g., “Men’s Collection”).
    • Replace REPLACE_WITH_COLLECTION_URL with your collection’s actual URL (found in Products > Collections).
  4. Save the theme.

Now clicking the parent item will take users to the linked collection.

Best regards,
Theodore | PageFly

3

Is there an easier/better way to achieve this? Such as putting a “view all” button at the top of drop down menu? Your solution will make every parent go to the same link.

Within the Navigation settings, it asks for the ‘link’ to the parent menu item, so I do not know why it does no click/work.

1 Like