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Troubleshooting Hestia Mobile Menu Issues: Submenus Not Working and Common Fixes

54 threads Sep 10, 2025 Theme → Hestia

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Mobile menu problems are a frequent issue reported by users of the Hestia theme. A common complaint is that submenus fail to expand when the dropdown arrow (caret) is tapped on a phone or tablet. This guide will explain why this happens and walk you through the most effective troubleshooting steps.

Why Do Mobile Submenus Stop Working?

Based on community reports and solutions, the problem is rarely a bug in the Hestia theme itself. Instead, it is typically caused by one of the following:

  • Plugin Conflicts: Another plugin's JavaScript or CSS can interfere with the theme's menu functionality. This is the most common cause.
  • Custom Code: CSS added to your site, perhaps to modify another element, can accidentally break the menu's layout or behavior.
  • JavaScript Errors: Errors from other scripts on the page can halt the theme's JavaScript, preventing the menu from working.
  • Page Builder Layouts: In some cases, content built with page builders like Elementor can cause overflow issues that break the menu on specific pages.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix the Issue

Step 1: Check for Plugin Conflicts

The first and most important step is to rule out a conflict with another plugin.

  1. Install and activate the official Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin.
  2. Go to Tools > Site Health > Troubleshooting and enable troubleshooting mode. This will deactivate all plugins for your user session only; visitors will see your site normally.
  3. With all plugins disabled, check your mobile menu on a real device or using your browser's mobile device emulation tools.
  4. If the menu now works, you know a plugin is the culprit. Re-enable your plugins one by one, testing the menu after each one, to identify which one is causing the problem.

Step 2: Look for JavaScript Errors

JavaScript errors can stop the menu script from running. To check for errors:

  1. On a desktop computer, open your website in the Chrome browser.
  2. Right-click and select Inspect to open Developer Tools.
  3. Click the Console tab.
  4. Reload the page and look for any error messages shown in red. These errors can point to the source of the problem.

Step 3: Investigate Custom CSS

Custom CSS can sometimes cause the mobile menu dropdowns to malfunction. For example, one solution provided in the Hestia community involved fixing an overflow issue on a specific page with this CSS:

.page-id-5649 .page-content-wrap {
    overflow: hidden !important;
}

Review any custom CSS you have added in Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS or in a child theme. Temporarily remove it to see if it resolves the menu issue.

Step 4: Clear All Caches

If you use a caching plugin, a CDN, or a server-level cache, clear them all after making any changes. Often, an old, cached version of your site's CSS or JavaScript is the reason a fix doesn't appear to work immediately.

When to Seek Further Help

If the steps above do not resolve your issue, the problem may be highly specific to your site's configuration. The Hestia community forums can be a valuable resource, as other users may have encountered a similar problem. When asking for help, be sure to provide your site's URL and detail the steps you have already taken.

Remember, persistent issues caused by third-party plugins often need to be addressed by the plugin's developers for full compatibility.

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