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How to Add Post Type Archive in WordPress Navigation Menus

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Recently, one of our readers asked if it was possible to add a link to custom post type archive pages in WordPress navigation menus. An archive page in WordPress displays a list of all posts under a specific post type, category, or tag. In this article, we will show you how to add post type archive in WordPress navigation menus.

How to add custom post type archive link in navigation menus

Custom Post Type Archives in WordPress

In WordPress, the term ‘Archives’ is used for a list of entries from a post type or taxonomy (like categories and tags).

If archives are enabled for a custom post type, then you can display them on your website. Typically, the URL of your custom post type archive page is in this format:

http://example.com/post-type-slug/

Post type slug is the nice name for your custom post type.

For example, we have a custom post type called ‘Deals’, and you can view its archive page at a URL like this:

https://www.wpbeginner.com/deals/

You can place a link to the archive page of your custom post type in your site’s navigation menus. This will allow your users to see all past entries posted in that post type on a single page.

Having said that, let’s see how to add a link to your custom post type archive page in WordPress navigation menus.

Adding Link to Custom Post Type Archive page in Navigation Menus

First, you need to visit Appearance » Menus page. You will notice a tab for each of your custom post type in the left column.

Custom post type tab on navigation menus screen in WordPress

You need to click on the name of your custom post type to expand it and then click on the ‘View all’ tab.

You will see an option for your post type archives. Check the box next to it and then click on the Add to Menu button.

Your custom post type archive will now appear as a menu item in the right column.

Post type archive menu item

By default, it will use your custom post type name with the word archives for the link label.

You may want to change this into something easier. Click on the menu item to edit it and then change its navigation label.

Menu label

Don’t forget to click on the save menu button to store your changes.

You can now visit your website to see the custom post type archive link in your navigation menu.

Custom post type link in WordPress navigation menu

Just like posts and pages, you can also add a single entry from your post type to navigation menus.

Simply select an entry and then click on add to menu button.

Adding single items from a post type to navigation menus

Don’t forget to click on the save menu button to store your changes.

My Custom Post Type Doesn’t Appear on Menus Screen

Custom post types need to match some requirements in order to be displayed on Appearance » Menus page.

First you need to make sure that an archive page exists for your custom post type. Typically it is a URL like this:

http://example.com/movies/

Replace example.com with your own domain name and movies with your post type.

If you can see entries from your post type on this page, then this means your post type supports archives but does not support other requirements.

Good news is that you can still add your custom post type archive page as a custom link.

Visit Appearance » Menus page and then click on the ‘Custom Link’ tab to expand it.

Adding a post type archive link as a custom link

Enter the URL of your custom post type archive page in the URL field and add the label you want to display in the link field.

Next, click on the add to menu button, and you will notice the custom link appear in the right column.

Custom link item in navigation menu

You can now click on the save menu button to store your changes.

We hope this article helped you learn how to add post type archive in WordPress navigation menus. You may also want to see our list of 12 most useful WordPress custom post types tutorials.

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Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff at WPBeginner is a team of WordPress experts led by Syed Balkhi with over 16 years of experience in WordPress, Web Hosting, eCommerce, SEO, and Marketing. Started in 2009, WPBeginner is now the largest free WordPress resource site in the industry and is often referred to as the Wikipedia for WordPress.

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Reader Interactions

9 CommentsLeave a Reply

  1. Syed Balkhi says

    Hey WPBeginner readers,
    Did you know you can win exciting prizes by commenting on WPBeginner?
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  2. Vale says

    Hello,
    I am kind of confused, didn’t we supposed to use our-category.php template and our-taxonomy.php archive pages? Or in this case we don’t need to create those custotom php loop/templates?
    Thank you

  3. Jordan says

    Is there a way to do this but to carry over a parent in the URL? for example.. I create a CPT called /videos/. I add it to the menu under “our-projects”… so the url ends up being /our-projects/videos/

    Thanks!

  4. Roland says

    “Custom post types need to match some requirements in order to be displayed on Appearance » Menus page.”

    What requirements are these then?

  5. Amani Joseph says

    Hi am a small website owner in Tanzania, wpbeginner help me from the day i start blogging to date. Am proud of my self to find this site and i will recommend this site to any WordPress beginner even pros, Today i have one Question i didn’t know where to ask and i think this is opportunity for you guys you can create the platform where we can i ask question about WordPress and other people or even you guys you can ask, This give the chance to find something to write to your blog. That say’d my question is i want to run something like deals like you do on the Deals section on this blog, can you recommend any plugin to do the work.

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