Introduction to troubleshooting menu links that don't open in a new window
When browsing a website, you may click on a menu link and nothing happens, or the link doesn't open in a new window as expected. This problem can be frustrating for users and can affect the overall user experience of the site. There can be many reasons why a link doesn't open in a new window, including problems with the site's HTML code, compatibility issues with certain browsers or browser settings that prevent new windows from opening. In this introduction, we'll help you understand how to solve these problems of menu links not opening in a new window.
Discover our offers for WordPress website maintenance
Identify the problem of menu links not opening in a new window
Before getting to the heart of the matter, it's important to understand why a menu link might not open in a new window. There are many possible reasons for this, but the most common are usually due to errors in the HTML code or conflicts with other plugins or themes on your site.
For example, if you've recently installed a new plugin or updated your theme, this could be the cause of the problem. Another s
he common scenario is that the link was incorrectly configured when it was created. For example, the "target" attribute may have been omitted or misspelled, preventing the link from opening correctly.
HTML code correction
One of the first steps in solving this problem is to check the HTML code of your link. The code for a link that opens in a new window should look like this: <a href="/en/url/" target="_blank">Link text</a>. The "target" attribute with the value "_blank" tells the browser to open the link in a new window or tab.
If the "target" attribute is missing or misspelled, the link will not open as expected. In this case, you need to add or correct this attribute in your link code. If you're not sure how to do this, there are a number of online tutorials who can help you.
Managing plugin and theme conflicts
If your link code is correct, but the link still won't open in a new window, there may be a conflict with another plugin or theme on your site. This can be more difficult to diagnose, as it involves testing each plugin and theme individually to see if one of them is causing the problem.
A common way to do this is to deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme, then reactivate each plugin one by one until the problem reappears. This can be a tedious process, but it's often the only way to find the cause of the problem.
It's also possible that the problem is due to something specific to WordPress. In this case, you can consult this guide on how to troubleshoot order confirmation page loading issues on WordPress for further advice.
Conclusion
Fixing problems with menu links not opening in a new window can be a challenge, but with a little patience and perseverance, you can usually find a solution. Whether the problem is due to a code error, a plugin or theme conflict, or a broader issue with WordPress, there are resources available to help you solve the problem.
1. Check the link code: Make sure your link code is correctly written. For example, a link that opens in a new window would look like this: ``
2. Missing target tag: If your menu links don't open in a new window, it may be because you forgot to include the `target="_blank"` tag in your HTML code.
3. Bad URL: If the link URL is incorrect or broken, the link will not open correctly.
4. Using JavaScript: Some menus are controlled by JavaScript. If JavaScript is not correctly coded or if there is an error, links may not open correctly.
5. Browser problems: Sometimes problems can be browser-specific. Test your links in different browsers to see if the problem persists.
6. Check add-ons or extensions: Some browser add-ons or extensions may interfere with the opening of links. Try disabling these add-ons to see if this solves the problem.
7. Pop-up blocking: If your browser is configured to block pop-ups, this may prevent new tabs or windows from opening.
8. Security problems: Sometimes security problems can prevent links from being opened. Check that your site is secure and that there are no security problems that could prevent links from being opened.
9. Recent site updates or changes: If you've recently updated your site or made any changes, this could have impacted the way your links work. Go back and check if the changes could have caused the problem.
10. Server problems: If your server is experiencing problems, this may also affect the opening of your links. Check the status of your server to make sure it's working properly.
