Why isn't my dropdown navigation menu functioning?

Topic summary

Dropdown and submenus in the main navigation fail to open or respond (often on mobile), sometimes also affecting the cart or sidebar. The original store owner shared header.liquid code, then confirmed the dropdown works after fixing rogue code; Shopify advised using code rollback.

Likely causes identified:

  • Custom or “rogue” code edits and app-injected scripts interfering with theme JS/CSS.
  • Third‑party themes where support and fixes must come from the theme developer.
  • Trial themes (not purchased) cannot have code edited to fix issues.

Recommended actions:

  • Revert edited files via Edit Code > Older versions (purple dot indicates changed files).
  • Duplicate the theme to safely test; download a fresh copy and compare behavior.
  • Disable or remove recently installed apps; if third‑party theme, contact its developer.
  • For Shopify Debut, escalate through Shopify Support for theme specialist review.

Recent updates: Several users report new breakages (e.g., mobile-only, home page only, flickering dropdown). Some sites were confirmed fixed after adjustments; others still experience unresponsive menus even on clean theme copies.

Status: Original case resolved; multiple follow-up cases remain open. No single universal fix—resolution depends on theme type and recent code/app changes.

Summarized with AI on January 19. AI used: gpt-5.

Hi,

Trying to add a dropdown menu under collections in the main navigation menu. When clicked, nothing happens, not showing and not linked.

Can you help?

Thank you

https://ginette.shop/

Hello @ginetteshop ,

Did you do changes in code??

1 Like

Hi,

Thank you for responding.

I did changed some lines but nothing concerning the menu.

I will set the menu as it’s not working then you can realiz

@ginetteshop ,

Can you DM me your header.liquid file

{% if section.settings.message %}

{% if section.settings.logo != blank %} .site-header__logo-image { max-width: {{ section.settings.logo_max_width | escape }}px; } {% endif %} {% if section.settings.align_logo == 'left' %} .site-header__logo-image { margin: 0; } {% endif %}

{% endif %}

{% if section.settings.message %} {% if section.settings.home_page_only == false or template.name == 'index' %} .announcement-bar { background-color: {{ section.settings.color_bg }}; }

.announcement-bar–link:hover {
{% assign brightness = section.settings.color_bg | color_brightness %}

{% if brightness <= 192 %}
{% assign lightenAmount = 255 | minus: brightness | divided_by: 255 | times: 16 %}
background-color: {{ section.settings.color_bg | color_lighten: lightenAmount }};
{% else %}
{% assign darkenAmount = 255 | divided_by: brightness | times: 8 %}
background-color: {{ section.settings.color_bg | color_darken: darkenAmount }};
{% endif %}
}

.announcement-bar__message {
color: {{ section.settings.color_text }};
}

{% if section.settings.message_link == blank %}

{% else %} {% endif %}

{% endif %}
{% endif %}

{% if section.settings.align_logo == 'center' %} {%- assign logo_classes = 'medium-up--one-third medium-up--push-one-third logo-align--center' -%} {% else %} {%- assign logo_classes = 'medium-up--one-quarter logo-align--left' -%} {% endif %}
{% comment %} Use the uploaded logo from theme settings if enabled. Site name gets precedence with H1 tag on homepage, div on other pages. {% endcomment %} {% if template.name == 'index' %}

{% else %}
{% endif %} {% if section.settings.logo %} {%- assign img_url = section.settings.logo | img_url: '1x1' | replace: '_1x1.', '_{width}x.' -%} {% capture logo_alt %}{{ section.settings.logo.alt | default: shop.name }}{% endcapture %} {{ logo_alt | escape }} {% capture image_size %}{{ section.settings.logo_max_width | escape }}x{% endcapture %} {{ section.settings.logo.alt | default: shop.name }} {% else %} {{ shop.name }} {% endif %} {% if template.name == 'index' %}

{% else %}
{% endif %}

{% if section.settings.align_logo == ‘left’ %}

{% include 'site-nav' %} {% endif %}
{% include 'search-form' %}
{% include 'icon-search' %} {{ 'layout.navigation.search' | t }}

{% if shop.customer_accounts_enabled %}
{% if customer %}

{% include ‘icon-login’ %}
{{ ‘layout.customer.account’ | t }}

{% else %}

{% include ‘icon-login’ %}
{{ ‘layout.customer.log_in’ | t }}

{% endif %}
{% endif %}

{% include 'icon-cart' %} {{ 'layout.cart.title' | t }}
{{ cart.item_count }} {{ 'layout.cart.items_count' | t: count: cart.item_count }}

{% if shop.enabled_currencies.size > 1 %}
{% form ‘currency’, class: “currency-selector small–hide” %}
{{ ‘general.currency.dropdown_label’ | t }}

{% include 'icon-chevron-down' %}
{% endform %} {% endif %}

{% unless linklists[section.settings.main_linklist] == blank %}

{% include ‘icon-hamburger’ %}
{% include ‘icon-close’ %}

{% endunless %}

    {% for link in linklists[section.settings.main_linklist].links %} {%- assign outerLoopIndex = forloop.index -%}
  • {% if link.links != blank %} {% capture child_list_handle %}{{ link.handle }}-{{ outerLoopIndex }}{% endcapture %} {{ link.title | escape }}
    {% include 'icon-chevron-right' %}
    • {{- link.title }} {{ 'layout.navigation.menu' | t -}}
    • {% include 'icon-chevron-left' %}
      {{ link.title | escape }}
    • {% for childlink in link.links %}

    • {% if childlink.links != blank %} {% capture grandchild_list_handle %}{{ childlink.handle }}-{{ outerLoopIndex }}-{{ forloop.index }}{% endcapture %} {{ childlink.title | escape }}
      {% include 'icon-chevron-right' %}
      {% else %} {{ childlink.title | escape }} {% endif %}
    • {% endfor %}
    {% else %} {{ link.title | escape }} {% endif %}
  • {% endfor %} {% if shop.enabled_currencies.size > 1 %}
  • {% form 'currency', class: "currency-selector" %} {{ 'general.currency.dropdown_label' | t }}
    {% include 'icon-chevron-down' %}
    {% endform %}
  • {% endif %}

{% if section.settings.align_logo == ‘center’ %}

{% include 'site-nav', nav_alignment: 'site-nav--centered' %} {% endif %}

{% if template.name == ‘index’ %}
{% assign potential_action_target = shop.url | append: “{{ routes.search_url }}?q={search_term_string}” %}

{% endif %}

{% schema %}
{
“name”: {
“de”: “Titel”,
“en”: “Header”,
“es”: “Encabezado”,
“fr”: “En-tête”,
“it”: “Header”,
“ja”: “ヘッダー”,
“nl”: “Koptekst”,
“pt-BR”: “Cabeçalho”,
“zh-CN”: “标头”,
“zh-TW”: “標頭”
},
“settings”: [
{
“type”: “radio”,
“id”: “align_logo”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Logo-Ausrichtung”,
“en”: “Logo alignment”,
“es”: “Alineación de logotipo”,
“fr”: “Alignement du logo”,
“it”: “Allineamento logo”,
“ja”: “ロゴアラインメント”,
“nl”: “Logo-uitlijning”,
“pt-BR”: “Alinhamento do logotipo”,
“zh-CN”: “logo 对齐方式”,
“zh-TW”: “商標對齊”
},
“default”: “left”,
“options”: [
{
“value”: “left”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Links”,
“en”: “Left”,
“es”: “Izquierda”,
“fr”: “Gauche”,
“it”: “Sinistra”,
“ja”: “左”,
“nl”: “Links”,
“pt-BR”: “Esquerda”,
“zh-CN”: “左侧”,
“zh-TW”: “左方”
}
},
{
“value”: “center”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Mittig”,
“en”: “Centered”,
“es”: “Centrada”,
“fr”: “Centré”,
“it”: “Centrato”,
“ja”: “中央揃え”,
“nl”: “Gecentreerd”,
“pt-BR”: “Centralizado”,
“zh-CN”: “居中”,
“zh-TW”: “置中”
}
}
]
},
{
“type”: “image_picker”,
“id”: “logo”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Logo-Foto”,
“en”: “Logo image”,
“es”: “Logotipo”,
“fr”: “Image du logo”,
“it”: “Immagine del logo”,
“ja”: “ロゴ画像”,
“nl”: “Afbeelding van logo”,
“pt-BR”: “Imagem do logotipo”,
“zh-CN”: “logo 图片”,
“zh-TW”: “標誌圖片”
}
},
{
“type”: “range”,
“id”: “logo_max_width”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Logobreite”,
“en”: “Custom logo width”,
“es”: “Ancho del logotipo personalizado”,
“fr”: “Largeur personnalisée du logo”,
“it”: “Larghezza logo personalizzato”,
“ja”: “ロゴの幅をカスタムする”,
“nl”: “Aangepaste logo-breedte”,
“pt-BR”: “Largura do logotipo personalizado”,
“zh-CN”: “自定义 logo 宽度”,
“zh-TW”: “自訂商標寬度”
},
“min”: 50,
“max”: 250,
“step”: 5,
“unit”: {
“de”: “px”,
“en”: “px”,
“es”: “px”,
“fr”: “px”,
“it”: “px”,
“ja”: “px”,
“nl”: “px”,
“pt-BR”: “px”,
“zh-CN”: “px”,
“zh-TW”: “像素”
},
“default”: 100
},
{
“type”: “link_list”,
“id”: “main_linklist”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Menü”,
“en”: “Menu”,
“es”: “Menú”,
“fr”: “Menu”,
“it”: “Menu”,
“ja”: “メニュー”,
“nl”: “Menu”,
“pt-BR”: “Menu”,
“zh-CN”: “菜单”,
“zh-TW”: “選單”
},
“default”: “main-menu”
},
{
“type”: “header”,
“content”: {
“de”: “Ankündigungsbereich”,
“en”: “Announcement bar”,
“es”: “Barra de anuncios”,
“fr”: “Barre d’annonces”,
“it”: “Barra degli annunci”,
“ja”: “告知バー”,
“nl”: “Aankondigingsbalk”,
“pt-BR”: “Barra de anúncios”,
“zh-CN”: “公告栏”,
“zh-TW”: “公告列”
}
},
{
“type”: “checkbox”,
“id”: “message”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Ankündigung anzeigen”,
“en”: “Show announcement”,
“es”: “Mostrar anuncio”,
“fr”: “Afficher l’annonce”,
“it”: “Mostra annuncio”,
“ja”: “告知を表示する”,
“nl”: “Aankondiging weergeven”,
“pt-BR”: “Exibir anúncio”,
“zh-CN”: “显示公告”,
“zh-TW”: “顯示公告”
},
“default”: false
},
{
“type”: “checkbox”,
“id”: “home_page_only”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Nur Startseite”,
“en”: “Home page only”,
“es”: “Solo página de inicio”,
“fr”: “Page d’accueil uniquement”,
“it”: “Solo home page”,
“ja”: “ホームページのみ”,
“nl”: “Alleen startpagina”,
“pt-BR”: “Apenas página inicial”,
“zh-CN”: “仅主页”,
“zh-TW”: “僅限首頁”
},
“default”: true
},
{
“type”: “text”,
“id”: “message_text”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Text”,
“en”: “Text”,
“es”: “Texto”,
“fr”: “Texte”,
“it”: “Testo”,
“ja”: “テキスト”,
“nl”: “Tekst”,
“pt-BR”: “Texto”,
“zh-CN”: “文本”,
“zh-TW”: “文字”
},
“default”: {
“de”: “Hier etwas ankündigen”,
“en”: “Announce something here”,
“es”: “Anuncia algo aquí”,
“fr”: “Annoncez quelque chose ici”,
“it”: “Annuncia qualcosa qui”,
“ja”: “ここで告知してください”,
“nl”: “Kondig hier iets aan”,
“pt-BR”: “Anuncie algo aqui”,
“zh-CN”: “在此处进行公告”,
“zh-TW”: “在此公告資訊”
}
},
{
“type”: “url”,
“id”: “message_link”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Link”,
“en”: “Link”,
“es”: “Enlace”,
“fr”: “Lien”,
“it”: “Link”,
“ja”: “リンク”,
“nl”: “Link”,
“pt-BR”: “Link”,
“zh-CN”: “链接”,
“zh-TW”: “連結”
},
“info”: {
“de”: “Optional”,
“en”: “Optional”,
“es”: “Opcional”,
“fr”: “Facultatif”,
“it”: “Facoltativo”,
“ja”: “選択させる”,
“nl”: “Optioneel”,
“pt-BR”: “Opcional”,
“zh-CN”: “可选”,
“zh-TW”: “(選填)”
}
},
{
“type”: “color”,
“id”: “color_bg”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Zeile”,
“en”: “Bar”,
“es”: “Barra”,
“fr”: “Barre”,
“it”: “Barra”,
“ja”: “バー”,
“nl”: “Balk”,
“pt-BR”: “Barra”,
“zh-CN”: “栏”,
“zh-TW”: “橫條”
},
“default”: “#7796a8
},
{
“type”: “color”,
“id”: “color_text”,
“label”: {
“de”: “Text”,
“en”: “Text”,
“es”: “Texto”,
“fr”: “Texte”,
“it”: “Testo”,
“ja”: “テキスト”,
“nl”: “Tekst”,
“pt-BR”: “Texto”,
“zh-CN”: “文本”,
“zh-TW”: “文字”
},
“default”: “#fff
}
]
}
{% endschema %}

Hi, @ginetteshop !

My name is Lilith, I’m on the Social Care team at Shopify.

I went in to check how your dropdown menu is doing:

It appears that you’ve got it working at this time. Did you manage to correct the code in your theme that was causing this for you?

Whenever you do any code changes and something isn’t quite working well, you can also revert the theme code back to the last version or original version.

Here’s a guide on how to do that if you ever need a temporary quick fix for any code issues. The steps are just in the last few steps on how to revert the theme code.

I’m happy to answer any questions you think of as you work on your business.

1 Like

Thank you for checking. I fixed it saturday.

I’m thrilled to hear it’s been fixed! Thank you so much for the update on that. Happy selling!

Hi,

I am having the same issue - How did you solve it?

Thank you

1 Like

Hi @LaraCD one of the things that caused the issue in the OP’s store was rogue code that was interfering with their theme build.

Have you installed any apps or had someone edit the code for your theme since you started seeing the issue? If so, you can use the method in my post above to revert that code back to before the issue started.

1 Like

hi

i have same issue, did you make it work?

please, advise

@eddyzp To help give you some idea on what causes this and how to solve, you can check on this post here. Have you had a chance to try out some of the tips in the thread?

Is someone able to help me with this? I don’t want to revert back to the original code because the other changes made are helpful, however the “Shop” drop down won’t open.

Any suggestions?

URL is zibo.com.au Password: shopzibo321

Hi @lanal24 It appears you were able to get that sorted. I see that your site has a functioning dropdown menu:

If you find yourself needing to check which code is causing any issues in your theme in the future, I would recommend creating a duplicate of your theme that you can troubleshoot on so as to not change the live site.

1 Like

Hello! i have similar problem on mobile mod (customize and actual site)..

my top left main menu doesn’t open when i tap it and same for the cart icon..

when i press them nothing happen and i tried to search everything in the settings..

@monTFury do you have a link to your site that I can take a look at? If you download a new copy of the same theme to your account, do you get the same issue with the unresponsive clicks?

1 Like

Narutofashion.com
And yes same with the copy..

Narutofashion.comand yes same with the copy..

@monTFury Thanks for the URL! I can see what you mean that it’s unresponsive. The theme looks like it might be a third-party theme, I don’t recognize it as one of the Shopify created themes.

Do you recall the name and version of your theme? You can find it by going to Online Store > Themes > Customize > Theme Actions. It’ll tell you the name and version of the theme as well as the developer that created it.

1 Like