WordPress Mobile Menu Not Working? Easy To Solve Menu Issue

If you’re struggling with a WordPress mobile menu not working, you’re not alone. This guide will walk you through common reasons, from JavaScript and CSS conflicts to plugin issues, and provide actionable fixes so your menu works flawlessly on mobile.

Follow the steps in this article to solve your issue.

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Common Causes of WordPress mobile menu not working Issues

JavaScript or jQuery Conflicts: Conflicts between scripts in your theme, plugins, or WordPress itself can interfere with the menu.
Plugin Conflicts: Plugins, particularly caching and optimization plugins like LiteSpeed Cache, can cause mobile menus to stop functioning.
CSS and Responsive Settings: Certain themes require specific responsive settings or custom CSS for mobile menus to display correctly.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. Update Theme and Plugins

Ensure your theme and all plugins are updated to the latest versions. Many updates include improvements in mobile compatibility and bug fixes.
Check your theme’s documentation for any specific instructions on mobile menu settings.

2. Configure Theme’s Mobile Settings

Go to Appearance > Customize > Menus. Check for mobile-specific settings, such as “Mobile Menu” or “Responsive Display,” as some themes require mobile menus to be enabled here.
Make sure your menu is correctly set for mobile devices and is saved.

3. Disable Plugins to Check for Conflicts

Deactivate all plugins temporarily and check if the mobile menu starts working. If it does, activate plugins one at a time until you identify the one causing the issue.
Pay special attention to caching and optimization plugins like LiteSpeed Cache, as they often affect menu functionality (see LiteSpeed Cache section below for more details).

4. Clear the Cache

If you’re using a caching plugin, clear the cache after each troubleshooting step. Caches can store older versions of the site, so it’s essential to see the latest changes.
In the caching plugin settings, look for Clear Cache or Purge All options to refresh the stored version of your site.

5. Check for JavaScript or jQuery Errors

Many mobile menus rely on JavaScript or jQuery, so if these files are missing or conflicting, the menu may not work.
Add this code to your theme’s functions.php to ensure jQuery loads correctly:

				
					function load_jquery() {
    if (!is_admin()) {
        wp_enqueue_script('jquery');
    }
}
add_action('init', 'load_jquery');

Clear your cache after adding this code and check if the menu is functional.

6. Adjust CSS for Display and Z-Index

If the menu appears but isn’t functioning as expected, try custom CSS:
- Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS and add:

				
					.mobile-menu {
    display: block !important;
    z-index: 1000;
}

Adjust .mobile-menu to match your theme’s mobile menu class.

7. Test in Browser Developer Tools

Open your site, right-click on the page, and select Inspect. Use the Mobile View to test the menu on a simulated mobile device.
Check the Console tab for errors, especially JavaScript or jQuery issues that could point to conflicts preventing the mobile menu from displaying correctly.

LiteSpeed Cache Plugin: How It Affects the Mobile Menu

The LiteSpeed Cache plugin is excellent for performance optimization, but it can sometimes interfere with mobile menus. Here’s how it can affect the menu and how you can configure it to avoid issues.

How LiteSpeed Cache Causes Issues

LiteSpeed Cache optimizes your website by minifying and combining CSS and JavaScript, but these features can occasionally disrupt mobile functionality:

JavaScript Minification: Removing spaces and other characters can sometimes break scripts that manage the mobile menu.
CSS and JavaScript Combination: Merging files can lead to loading sequence issues, affecting menus that depend on scripts being loaded in a specific order.
Deferred Loading: Delayed script loading can prevent the mobile menu from initializing properly.

Solution: Configuring LiteSpeed Cache for Mobile Menu Compatibility

If you have LiteSpeed Cache installed and suspect it’s causing issues, follow these steps:

Use the “Basic” Preset
- Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Preset.
- Select Basic to simplify the settings and remove aggressive caching and optimization options that may interfere with your menu.
Exclude Mobile Menu JavaScript from Minification and Combination
- Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization > JS Settings.
- Locate JS Minify and JS Combine settings.
- Add exclusions by entering the specific JavaScript file(s) that control your mobile menu (you may need to check your theme’s documentation for these files).
- Save and clear the cache to apply changes.
Turn Off JavaScript Deferred Loading
- In LiteSpeed Cache > Page Optimization, find JS Deferred.
- Uncheck Deferred Inline JS and Load JS Deferred to prevent delays in loading the JavaScript files your menu depends on.
- Save your settings and clear the cache to ensure these updates take effect.
Purge All Cache
- Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Toolbox and select Purge All.
- This will clear the cache completely, ensuring you’re viewing the updated site with the latest settings applied.

Summary of Steps

Update your theme and plugins.
Configure mobile settings in Appearance > Customize > Menus.
Deactivate plugins temporarily to identify any causing conflicts.
Clear your cache after each step.
Add jQuery code in functions.php to ensure it loads properly.
Add custom CSS to control the display and z-index of the mobile menu.
Configure LiteSpeed Cache by using the Basic preset, excluding menu JavaScript from minification, disabling deferred loading, and purging all cache.