How to Open a WordPress Menu Item in a New Tab

If you’ve ever added a link to your navigation menu in WordPress and couldn’t figure out how to open that link in a new tab, I’m going to show you how to do it easily.

Step 1: Add a Custom Link to Your Menu

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard and navigate to Appearance > Menus.
2. For this demo, I’m going to add a Custom Link to my menu. Remember, it’s generally best to open external links in a new tab, rather than internal pages of your own website.
3. Add the URL and navigation label for your link. For example, you might add your website URL and label it Go to AWD.
4. Click Add to Menu.

Step 2: Enable the Link Target Option

By default, WordPress doesn’t display the option to open links in a new tab in the menu settings. You’ll need to enable this feature.

1. At the top of your screen, click Screen Options.
2. Under Show Advanced Menu Properties, check the box for Link Target.

Step 3: Set the Link to Open in a New Tab

1. After enabling the Link Target option, expand the custom link you just added to your menu.
2. You’ll now see a checkbox labeled Open link in a new tab under the Navigation Label.
3. Check this box to ensure the link opens in a new tab.

Step 4: Save and Test Your Menu

1. Save your menu changes by clicking Save Menu.
2. Visit your website and click the link you added. It should open in a new tab as expected.

Conclusion

That’s all there is to it! This simple but often overlooked feature can be easily accessed by enabling the Link Targetoption in the Screen Options menu. Now you can set any external link in your navigation menu to open in a new tab, enhancing your user experience.