How To Add Subcategories To A Menu In Woocommerce

# How to Add Subcategories to Your WooCommerce Menu: A Beginner’s Guide

WooCommerce is fantastic for selling online, but sometimes its default menu structure needs a little tweaking. One common request is adding subcategories to your main menu for better navigation and organization. This guide will walk you through different methods, from simple plugin solutions to a bit of code if you’re feeling adventurous. Let’s get started!

Why Add Subcategories to Your WooCommerce Menu?

Imagine a large online bookstore. Would you prefer a menu with just “Books” or one with “Books” leading to subcategories like “Fiction,” “Non-Fiction,” “Children’s,” etc.? The latter is far more user-friendly! Subcategories improve navigation by:

• Improving User Experience: Customers can Learn more about How To Set Up Woocommerce Shipping Tracking Emails quickly find what they need.
• Boosting Sales: Organized menus lead to higher conversion rates.
• Strengthening SEO: Well-structured menus improve your site’s crawlability.

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Method 1: Using a WooCommerce Menu Plugin (Easiest Way)

The simplest way to add subcategories to your WooCommerce menu is using a plugin. Many plugins offer this functionality with a user-friendly interface, eliminating the need for code. Popular choices include:

• WooCommerce Menu Categories: This plugin allows you to easily add categories and subcategories to your navigation menus within the WordPress menu editor. No coding skills are required.
• WP Mega Menu: While more comprehensive, this plugin offers extensive customization options for creating dropdown menus, including subcategories.

How to use a plugin (general steps):

1. Install and activate the plugin: Go to your WordPress admin dashboard > Plugins > Add New. Search for your chosen plugin, install, and activate it.

2. Configure the plugin: Most plugins will add a new settings page or integrate with the default WordPress menu editor. Follow the plugin’s instructions.

3. Create your menu: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Menus. Add your WooCommerce categories and arrange them to create the desired hierarchy.

Method 2: Using the Default WordPress Menu Editor (More Manual)

You can achieve a basic level of subcategory creation within the default WordPress menu editor without any extra plugins. However, this method is less visually intuitive for complex structures.

1. Create your categories and subcategories: Ensure your WooCommerce product categories are properly organized with subcategories in your WordPress admin dashboard under Products > Categories.

2. Create or edit a menu: Navigate to Appearance > Menus.

3. Add your categories: Select your main category from the “Available menu items” list and add it to the menu.

4. Add subcategories (Manually): You’ll need to add each subcategory individually. The menu editor won’t automatically nest them. This can become cumbersome with numerous subcategories. It’s better to use a plugin.

Method 3: Customizing with Code (For Advanced Users)

This method involves modifying your theme’s functions.php file Learn more about How To Use Paypal Sandbox Woocommerce or creating a custom plugin. Proceed with caution; incorrect code can break your website. Always back up your site before making code changes.

This example shows how to create a custom menu walker to display subcategories. This is a more advanced technique and requires understanding of PHP and WordPress theme development.

 class My_Custom_Walker_Nav_Menu extends Walker_Nav_Menu { 

function start_el(&$output, $item, $depth = 0, $args = array(), $id = 0) {

$output .= ‘

• ‘;

  $output .= ‘url . ‘”>’ . $item->title . ‘‘;

  $output .= ‘

‘;

}

}

function custom_menu_walker( $item ) {

return new My_Custom_Walker_Nav_Menu();

}

add_filter(‘wp_nav_menu_args’, ‘custom_menu_walker’);

This is a *very* basic example and will likely need significant adjustments to work correctly within your theme. You’ll need to adapt the `start_el` function to handle subcategories appropriately, including nested `

` and `
• ` tags.

  Conclusion: Choose the Right Method for You

  Choosing the right method depends on your technical skills and the complexity of your menu. For most users, a WooCommerce menu plugin is the easiest and safest solution. The default WordPress menu editor is sufficient for very simple setups, while code Explore this article on How To Enable Woocommerce Breadcrumbs customization is only recommended for experienced developers. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes.