Where Is the Menu in Squarespace?

In Squarespace, the menu structure you interact with may vary slightly depending on which version of Squarespace you're using—either Squarespace 7.0 or Squarespace 7.1. Both versions have a relatively similar user interface but with key differences in directory and feature placement. Below, I'll outline where to find the menu in both versions and provide practical steps for ease of use.

Squarespace 7.0

In Squarespace 7.0, the primary navigation menu is located on the left-hand side of the screen. Here's how you can access it:

1. Log in to Your Account:

2. Navigate to the Squarespace login page and enter your credentials to access your website dashboard.

3. Open the Site Menu:

4. Once logged in, you will see a sidebar on the left-hand side. This sidebar is your primary menu for navigating around your site’s backend. Here, you’ll find several key sections:

   • Pages: Manage your site’s pages and navigation.
   • Design: Customize the visual appearance of your website.
   • Commerce: Manage your store and products (if applicable).
   • Marketing: Access tools for SEO, email campaigns, and other marketing efforts.
   • Analytics: Review your site’s performance metrics.
   • Settings: Adjust general settings, domains, and other configurations.
   • Help: Access Squarespace’s support resources.

5. Navigating the Pages Section:

6. Click on "Pages" to edit or add new pages to your site. Here, you’ll see a list of your site’s pages and the structure of your navigation menu.

Squarespace 7.1

In Squarespace 7.1, the interface is slightly different but the overall layout remains intuitive. Here's how you can find the menu:

1. Log in to Your Account:

2. Visit the Squarespace login page and enter your credentials to access your site’s backend.

3. Accessing the Main Navigation:

4. Similar to Squarespace 7.0, upon logging in you’ll be presented with a sidebar on the left-hand side. This sidebar includes:

   • Pages: Controls navigation and page management.
   • Design: Customize the overall design and template settings.
   • Commerce: For managing any e-commerce functionalities.
   • Marketing: Tools for optimizing your site’s reach and engagement.
   • Scheduling: Appointment and calendar functionalities (if added).
   • Analytics: Detailed performance and traffic statistics.
   • Profiles: Manage customer profiles and user data.
   • Settings: Comprehensive settings for the entire website.
   • Help: Links to help resources and support.

5. Editing Navigation Menu:

6. Click on "Pages" where you’ll find the site navigation tree. You can reorganize pages, add new ones, and see how they build out your site’s menu.

Practical Steps to Customize Your Menu

1. Reordering Pages:

2. In either version, to reorder pages within the navigation:

   • Click and hold a page in the "Pages" section.
   • Drag it to the desired position within the tree structure.
   • Release to place it in its new location.

3. Adding New Pages:

4. To add a new page to your navigation:

   • Click the "+" button typically found in the "Pages" section.
   • Choose the type of page you want to create (Standard Page, Blog Page, etc.).

5. Setting Dropdown Menus:

6. To create a dropdown menu:
   • Make use of folder elements. Create a folder and drag relevant pages into this folder. The folder itself will act as a parent menu item, with contained pages becoming the dropdown items.

Considerations and Limitations

• Template Specificity: The availability of some design and menu features can vary depending on the specific template you are using for your Squarespace site.
• Custom Code: Advanced customization of menus may require injecting custom CSS or JavaScript, particularly in scenarios where the built-in customization options are insufficient.
• Mobile Experience: Ensure that any changes you make to the site menu are tested on both desktop and mobile devices to ensure a consistent and user-friendly experience.

By understanding the layout and navigation of Squarespace's menu configuration, you can effectively manage and customize your site to better serve your needs.