Your Elementor dropdown sub menu should appear above all page content. When it hides behind a section, slider, or hero image, visitors cannot access your site navigation at all.
This is a CSS stacking conflict. It happens when a z-index value or overflow setting on a parent container pushes the dropdown below other page elements.
Below are three proven fixes, each with step-by-step instructions. All steps were last verified in April 2026 on WordPress 6.9 and Elementor 4.0.
Why Does the Elementor Dropdown Sub Menu Hide Behind Content?
The Elementor dropdown sub menu hides behind content because of a CSS stacking conflict. Browser pages layer elements using z-index values, overflow settings, and CSS positioning rules.
When any of these are misconfigured on a parent container, or a conflicting plugin stylesheet overrides them, the dropdown renders below other content instead of above it.
Header designed using the Header Builder from The Plus Addons for Elementor
| Cause | Type | How to Identify | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z-index conflict | CSS stacking | Dropdown slides under a section, slider, or sticky header | Fix 1: Raise z-index |
| Overflow set to hidden | Container setting | Dropdown is clipped at the container edge | Fix 2: Set overflow to default |
| Theme or plugin CSS | Style conflict | Issue appears only with a specific theme or plugin active | Fix 3: Switch to a mega menu |
Z-Index Conflict
Z-index controls the stacking order of elements. If a content section, slider, or hero block has a higher z-index than your navigation container, the dropdown renders behind it. This is the most common cause and is fixable directly in the Elementor editor, no code required.
Overflow Set to Hidden on the Parent Container
If the container holding your navigation menu has its overflow set to “Hidden,” the dropdown gets clipped at the container boundary and may appear to vanish entirely. Dropdowns extend downward past the header area, and overflow: hidden cuts them off. Changing the overflow setting to Default resolves this without any code.
Theme or Plugin CSS Conflict
Some themes and third-party plugins add CSS rules that affect z-index or positioning across the entire site. If Fixes 1 and 2 don’t resolve the issue, a conflicting stylesheet is likely the cause. Temporarily switching to a minimal theme like Nexter WP Theme can help confirm whether the issue is theme-related.
Looking to build a Mega Menu on your Elementor website? Check out this list of top Mega Menu builder plugins for Elementor that give you full control over dropdown design and positioning.
How to Fix Elementor Dropdown Sub Menu Hidden Behind Content
Work through these fixes in order. Fix 1 resolves the issue in most cases. Fix 3 is the permanent solution if the first two don’t work, or if you want complete control over dropdown layout and behavior going forward.
Fix 1: Raise the Z-Index on the Navigation Container
Raising the z-index tells the browser to render the navigation container above other page elements. In our testing across multiple Elementor header setups, a z-index of 99 resolves the dropdown visibility issue in the majority of cases without pushing other elements out of order.
- Open the page containing your header or navigation in the Elementor editor.
- Click the section or container that holds your navigation menu to select it.
- Go to the Advanced tab in the Elementor left panel.
- Scroll down to the Z-Index field and enter 99.
- Click Update, then refresh the page and test the dropdown.
What to expect: After saving, hover over the parent menu item. The dropdown should now appear above all other content. If it still hides behind a specific element, check the z-index of that element too, it may need to be lowered. If increasing the z-index value too high causes other elements to appear behind the dropdown, adjust those elements individually to restore the correct stacking order.
Mega menus give you full layout control over dropdown content. Read the step-by-step guide on how to create a Mega Menu in Elementor using The Plus Addons for Elementor.
Fix 2: Set the Parent Container Overflow to Default
When the overflow property of the navigation container is set to Hidden, Elementor clips any content that extends beyond the container’s boundaries. Your dropdown sub menu extends downward past the header area, and that is exactly what gets clipped. Changing overflow to Default removes this restriction and lets the dropdown render fully.
- Open the page in the Elementor editor and click the container or section holding your navigation menu.
- Go to the Layout tab in the Elementor left panel.
- Scroll down to Additional Options.
- Find the Overflow setting. Confirm it is not set to Hidden. Change it to Default if it is.
- Click Update, then refresh the page and test the dropdown.
What to expect: The dropdown should now extend beyond the container boundary and appear fully visible. If you have nested containers, check the overflow setting on each parent container in the hierarchy. Any single container set to overflow: hidden anywhere in the chain can cause the clipping.
Fix 3: Replace the Native Menu with The Plus Addons Mega Menu (Pro)
If Fixes 1 and 2 don’t resolve the issue, or if you want to prevent dropdown visibility problems across all your menus permanently, replacing the native Elementor menu with a Mega Menu from The Plus Addons for Elementor (Pro) is the most reliable approach.
As of The Plus Addons for Elementor v6.4.13, the Mega Menu widget renders dropdown content inside a fully Elementor-controlled layout, bypassing the CSS stacking conflicts that affect native dropdown menus entirely.
- Install and activate The Plus Addons for Elementor (Free) and the Pro version. Compare plans and pricing here.
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plus Mega Menu and click Add New Item.
- Give the mega menu a name, then click Edit with Elementor to launch the editor.
- Design your dropdown content inside Elementor, add sub-menu items, columns, images, or links as needed.
- Save the mega menu and return to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Appearance > Menus, select your menu, and add a Custom Link item using
#as the URL. - Click the Plus icon on that menu item to add a sub-menu, select Mega Menu, and choose the mega menu you designed.
- Save the menu, then check your site. The dropdown now renders inside an Elementor-controlled layout with no z-index conflicts.
Here’s a video walkthrough:
What to expect: The mega menu renders as a full Elementor layout on dropdown. Because the content is positioned by Elementor’s layout engine rather than native CSS stacking rules, dropdown visibility issues do not occur.
Snapshot of the Elementor Mega Menu widget created using The Plus Addons for Elementor Header Builder (Pro).
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Which Fix Should You Use for the Elementor Dropdown Issue?
The right fix depends on what is causing the problem on your specific setup.
- Fix 1 (Z-Index) is the starting point for most users. If the dropdown hides under a section, slider, or sticky header, raising the z-index to 99 resolves it in the majority of setups. Start here.
- Fix 2 (Overflow) applies when the dropdown is cut off at the container edge rather than pushed behind other content. Check the overflow setting on every parent container in the hierarchy, any one of them can cause the clipping.
- Fix 3 (Mega Menu) is the permanent solution when neither of the above works, or when you want to build a richer dropdown with columns, images, or custom layouts. The Plus Addons for Elementor Mega Menu widget (Pro) bypasses native CSS stacking entirely and gives you full Elementor design control over every dropdown.
Who this is not for: If your navigation is built with a third-party menu plugin rather than Elementor’s native nav widget or The Plus Addons Navigation Menu widget (Free), these fixes may not apply directly. Check your plugin’s own settings for z-index and overflow controls.
The Plus Addons for Elementor’s Header Builder gives you complete control over navigation menus, sticky headers, mega menus, and mobile drawers, all without writing code. The Navigation Menu widget is available on the Free plan. The Mega Menu and full Header Builder are included on Pro. See what’s included in each plan.
