---
title: "How to Create a WordPress Mega Menu?"
url: https://nexterwp.com/docs/create-a-wordpress-mega-menu/
date: 2024-12-02
modified: 2026-09-13
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "A mega menu shows many links, headings and even images in one wide dropdown, which suits sites with lots of pages. The Navigation Menu block in Nexter Blocks Pro turns..."
image: https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/How-to-Create-a-WordPress-Mega-Menu_-1024x519.jpg
word_count: 411
---

# How to Create a WordPress Mega Menu?

## Key Takeaways

- Nexter Blocks Navigation Menu block creates a WordPress mega menu, and the post says Nexter Blocks must be installed and activated.
- Patterns are created for each mega menu item from Appearance > Patterns > Add New Pattern, then the pattern is named, Synced is kept enabled, and the menu is published.
- Navigation Menu block uses Menu Level 0 Level for top level items and 1 Level for submenu items, with levels available from 0 Level to 6 Level.
- Mega Menu submenu type uses a Select Pattern dropdown and offers Standard AJAX or Default loading, with Standard AJAX requiring Enable Ajax Templates in Nexter Blocks > Extra Options > Settings.

A mega menu shows many links, headings and even images in one wide dropdown, which suits sites with lots of pages.

The Navigation Menu block in Nexter Blocks Pro turns any pattern into a mega menu panel.

*For every Navigation Menu setting in one place, see the [Navigation Menu block guide](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-a-navigation-menu-in-wordpress/).*

[LIVE BLOCK LINK](https://nexterwp.com/nexter-blocks/builder/wordpress-navigation-menu/)

## Before You Start

- **Edition:** **Pro** — Mega Menu needs Nexter Blocks Pro.- **Block to enable:** Navigation Menu, switched on under **Nexter > Blocks** in your WordPress dashboard.- **A pattern for each mega panel:** build it under **Nexter > Patterns** with columns, headings and links.

## Create the Pattern

- Go to **Nexter > Patterns** and add a new pattern.

- Build the panel with blocks, for example Columns with a heading and a list of links in each column, and publish it.

## Add the Mega Menu

- Add the **Navigation Menu** block to your header template and set **Type** to **Manual Menu**.

- Add the top-level item (for example Our Services) with **Menu Level** set to **0 Level**.

![A Level 0 menu item with Menu Level, Link and Menu Text](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/navigation-menu-menu-items.webp)

- Click **Add Menu**, move the new item directly below it and set **Menu Level** to **1 Level**.

- Set **Submenu Type** to **Mega Menu** and choose your pattern in **Select Pattern**.

![Submenu Type set to Mega Menu with Select Pattern, AJAX Load and Mega menu Type](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/navigation-menu-mega.webp)

- Pick **Mega menu Type**: Default (custom width), Container or Full Width. Save.

![A mega menu dropdown with columns of links](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/navigation-menu-manual-menu-mega-menu-demo.gif)

## Mega Menu Settings

| Setting | Options | What it does |
| ------- | ------- | ------------ |
| Select Pattern | Your patterns | The content of the mega panel |
| AJAX Load | Default, Standard AJAX | Default loads the pattern with the page; Standard AJAX loads it later (turn on Enable Ajax Templates in Nexter > Extra Options > Settings) |
| Mega menu Type | Default, Container, Full Width | Panel width; Default adds Container Width and Dropdown Menu Alignment |
| Mobile Mega Menu Link | On / Off | Shows a plain link instead of the panel in the Custom mobile menu |

## How It Behaves

- Hovering (or clicking, with On Click) the top-level item opens the pattern in a wide dropdown.- The panel is a normal pattern, so you can edit it once under Nexter > Patterns and every menu using it updates.

## Limitations

- **Pro only.** The free plugin shows Mega Menu (Pro) and cannot select it.- Large patterns with many images add weight to every page. Consider Standard AJAX for heavy panels.

## Troubleshooting

### The dropdown is empty

The pattern is not published or no pattern is selected. Choose a published pattern in **Select Pattern**.

### The mega item shows as its own top-level link

Set its **Menu Level** to 1 Level and place it directly below the parent item.

## Related Docs

- [Navigation Menu block: all settings](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-a-navigation-menu-in-wordpress/)- [Create a vertical mega menu](https://nexterwp.com/docs/create-a-vertical-mega-menu-in-wordpress/)- [Create a vertical toggle mega menu](https://nexterwp.com/docs/create-a-vertical-toggle-mega-menu-in-wordpress/)- [Create a header template](https://nexterwp.com/docs/create-header-template-in-wordpress/)