---
title: "How to Create a Vertical Menu in Elementor?"
url: https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-vertical-menu-in-elementor/
date: 2023-10-27
modified: 2026-09-11
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "Do you want to show your menu as a column instead of a row? A vertical menu works well in a sidebar, a service page or a narrow panel. With..."
image: https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/How-to-Create-a-Vertical-Menu-in-Elementor_-1024x536.jpg
word_count: 439
---

# How to Create a Vertical Menu in Elementor?

## 

- Navigation Menu widget from The Plus Addons for Elementor turns any menu vertical with one setting, and the post says it is part of The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro.
- Vertical Menu uses the second Menu Direction option in Content > Layout, and it only uses the Slide Up/Down (JS) and Fade In/Out (JS) effects.
- Vertical Menu takes up space in normal page flow, so the post says to place it in a narrow column or sidebar container and turn on parent indicators in Style > Main Menu > Main Menu Indicator Style.

Do you want to show your menu as a column instead of a row? A vertical menu works well in a sidebar, a service page or a narrow panel.

With the Navigation Menu widget from The Plus Addons for Elementor, you can turn any menu vertical with one setting.

*To check the complete feature overview documentation of The Plus Addons for Elementor Navigation Menu widget, [click here](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/navigation-menu-widget-settings-overview/).*

***Requirement - This widget is a part of The Plus Addons for Elementor, make sure it's installed & activated to enjoy all its powers.***

[LIVE WIDGET LINK](https://theplusaddons.com/elementor-builder/header-builder/navigation-menu/?utm_source=tpae&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=text)

Table Of Contents

## Before You Start

- **Edition:** **Pro** — the Navigation Menu widget is part of The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro. The free plugin has a simpler widget, **Navigation Menu Lite**, which also has this option.- **Widget to enable:** Navigation Menu, switched on under **The Plus Addons > Widgets**.- **A WordPress menu** under **Appearance > Menus**, if you use the **Default** menu type.

## Step 1: Add the widget

Add the Navigation Menu widget where you want the menu — a sidebar, a page or a template. In **Layout**, choose the **Menu Type**.

## Step 2: Choose Vertical Menu

**Menu Direction** is a row of three pictures — **Horizontal Menu**, **Vertical Menu** and **Vertical Side Menu**, in that order. Hover over a picture to see its name. Choose the second one, **Vertical Menu**.

![Vertical Menu chosen in Menu Direction, with the menu shown as a column](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/navigation-menu-vertical-menu.webp)

## Step 3: Pick the menu and the dropdown behaviour

In **Content**, pick your menu (or add Repeater items). Then set **Menu Hover/Click** to open submenus on hover or on click, and choose **Menu Effects**.

> *A Vertical Menu only uses the **Slide Up/Down (JS)** and **Fade In/Out (JS)** effects. The other two fall back to Slide Up/Down.*

Your menu now shows as a column.

![A vertical menu on the published page](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/navigation-menu-vertical-menu-demo.png)

## Vertical Menu or Vertical Side Menu?

| | Vertical Menu | Vertical Side Menu |
| --- | ------------- | ------------------ |
| Layout | A plain column of items | A column with an optional title bar |
| Open and close the whole menu | No | Yes — on hover or click of the title bar |
| In the free Lite widget | Yes | No |

For the title bar version, see [how to create a side menu](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-side-menu-in-elementor/).

## Limitations

- **One direction per widget.** Use two widgets if you need both.- **It takes up space in the page.** A vertical menu in normal page flow pushes content down. Put it in a narrow column or sidebar container.- **Parent indicators are off by default.** Turn them on in **Style > Main Menu > Main Menu Indicator Style**.

## Troubleshooting

### I can't find where to switch back to horizontal

It is the first picture in **Content > Layout > Menu Direction**. The pictures have no text; hover over them to see the names.

## Related Docs

- [Navigation Menu widget: settings overview](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/navigation-menu-widget-settings-overview/)- [Create a side menu](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-side-menu-in-elementor/)- [Create a vertical mega menu](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-a-vertical-mega-menu-in-elementor/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What do I need before I can create a vertical menu in Elementor?**
A: The Navigation Menu widget has to be available first, because The Plus Addons for Elementor, The Plus Addons, Plus Addons for Elementor, POSIMYTH provides this feature inside the Elementor editor. The page also calls out two setup details: the widget is part of The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro, and the free plugin only has Navigation Menu Lite. If you use the Default menu type, a WordPress menu under Appearance > Menus is also required.

**Q: How do I make a menu vertical instead of horizontal in Elementor?**
A: The key setting is Menu Direction in Content > Layout > Menu Direction. The page says the direction choices are shown as three pictures, and Vertical Menu is the second one. That matters because the widget switches from a row layout to a column layout with one setting, which is why it works well in sidebars, service pages, and narrow panels.

**Q: What is the difference between Vertical Menu and Vertical Side Menu?**
A: Vertical Menu is a plain column of items. Vertical Side Menu adds an optional title bar and can open or close the whole menu on hover or click of that title bar. The page also notes that Vertical Side Menu is not available in the free Lite widget, so this choice affects both layout and which edition can use it.

**Q: Why won't my vertical menu open submenus the way I expect?**
A: The submenu behavior depends on Menu Hover/Click in Content. That setting controls whether submenus open on hover or on click, so it changes how users interact with nested items. The page also says Vertical Menu only uses Slide Up/Down (JS) and Fade In/Out (JS) effects, while the other two effects fall back to Slide Up/Down, which can make submenu animation look different than expected.

**Q: Can I use a vertical menu in a sidebar or narrow column?**
A: That is exactly where this layout fits best. The page says a vertical menu works well in a sidebar, a service page, or a narrow panel, and it also warns that it takes up space in normal page flow because it pushes content down. Putting it inside a narrow column or sidebar container keeps the layout from feeling heavy.

**Q: Why don't I see parent indicators on my vertical menu?**
A: Parent indicators are off by default in this setup. The page says they can be turned on in Style > Main Menu > Main Menu Indicator Style. That detail matters if your menu has nested items, because without indicators users may not notice which entries expand into submenus.