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How to Fix Grayed Out or Missing Breadcrumb NavXT Settings for Custom Post Types

22 threads Sep 10, 2025 Plugin → Breadcrumb navxt

Content

If you manage a WordPress site with custom post types, you might have encountered a frustrating issue within the Breadcrumb NavXT settings: the option to Show breadcrumb for post type archives is grayed out and cannot be changed. This article explains why this happens and provides the most common solutions to regain control over your breadcrumb trails.

Why This Happens

Based on community support threads, the primary reason for this grayed-out setting is straightforward. The Breadcrumb NavXT plugin disables this option when the custom post type in question does not have an archive enabled. This is a logical restriction; if a post type has no archive page, the plugin cannot generate a link to it.

The confusion often arises when a setting is checked but grayed out. This typically indicates that the post type previously had an archive enabled, which allowed the setting to be activated. When the archive was later disabled (either by changing the post type's registration code or by a theme/plugin update), the setting remained checked but became inaccessible in the admin panel.

How to Fix It

Here are the two most effective methods to resolve this issue, as suggested by the Breadcrumb NavXT team in various support responses.

Solution 1: Temporarily Re-enable the Post Type Archive

This method involves briefly re-enabling the archive to access the setting.

  1. Locate the code where your custom post type is registered (usually in your theme's functions.php file or a custom plugin).
  2. Find the 'has_archive' argument and temporarily set it to true.
  3. Save the file and refresh your WordPress admin panel. The setting in Breadcrumb NavXT should now be accessible.
  4. Navigate to Breadcrumb NavXT Settings > Post Types, uncheck the option for the post type, and save your changes.
  5. Revert the 'has_archive' setting back to false in your post type registration code.

Solution 2: Reset Breadcrumb NavXT Settings

If you cannot or prefer not to modify the post type registration, a full reset of the plugin's settings is a reliable alternative.

  1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > Breadcrumb NavXT.
  2. Click on the Help tab.
  3. Navigate to the Import/Export/Reset section.
  4. Click the Reset button. This will restore all settings to their default values.
  5. After resetting, you will need to reconfigure any other custom settings you had previously.

When the settings are reset, the default value for a post type without an archive will be disabled, which should resolve the unwanted archive link in your breadcrumbs.

Important Considerations

  • No Archive, No Link: Remember, if a post type has no archive, the plugin is designed not to show a link. If you find yourself needing the text "Regional Hubs" in a trail like Home > Locations > Regional Hubs > Europe without a link, you will need to implement a custom filter using the bcn_after_fill or bcn_breadcrumb_url hook to manually insert and modify a breadcrumb.
  • Root Page Settings: The root page setting for a custom post type is intended to function like the "Posts page" setting for default posts. It is designed to use a page from the built-in "Page" post type. Using a custom post type as a root page is not supported in the standard settings interface.

By understanding the link between your post type's configuration and the Breadcrumb NavXT settings, you can effectively troubleshoot and achieve the perfect breadcrumb structure for your site.

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