# \#sidebar **URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/tag/sidebar/483.md [Latest](https://meta.discourse.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://meta.discourse.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://meta.discourse.org/tags.md) --- ## [Side pannel not showing a category despite specified in Default navigation menu categories](https://meta.discourse.org/t/side-pannel-not-showing-a-category-despite-specified-in-default-navigation-menu-categories/412035)
**Author:** [@MiniForum](https://meta.discourse.org/u/MiniForum)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/side-pannel-not-showing-a-category-despite-specified-in-default-navigation-menu-categories/412035 "2026-09-09T22:47:50Z")
I configured 2 categories: one category School\_A which is private for a specific group\_School\_A one category Support which is private for Trust Level 0 users I configure the setting Default navigation menu categories … --- ## [Group Sidebar Menus](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menus/394653)
**Author:** [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2026, 6:16am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menus/394653 "2026-09-08T06:16:45Z")
:information\_source: Summary Create custom sidebar menus for selected groups :hammer\_and\_wrench: Repository https://github.com/Lillinator/group-sidebar-menus :question: Install Guide How to install a theme… --- ## [Cannot rearrange links in custom sidebar sections on mobile](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-rearrange-links-in-custom-sidebar-sections-on-mobile/271618)
**Author:** [@Firepup650](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Firepup650)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-rearrange-links-in-custom-sidebar-sections-on-mobile/271618 "2026-08-28T14:42:20Z")
I added a few links to a custom sidebar section I have, then realized I should flip two of them, and found that trying to drag a link scrolls the page, and holding → dragging selects the link, doesn’t allow scrolling, bu… --- ## [New drag-and-drop support for managing custom sidebar content](https://meta.discourse.org/t/new-drag-and-drop-support-for-managing-custom-sidebar-content/410915)
**Author:** [@lindsey](https://meta.discourse.org/u/lindsey)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/new-drag-and-drop-support-for-managing-custom-sidebar-content/410915 "2026-08-28T13:48:26Z")
We’ve built two new drag-and-drop behaviors to make it easier to build and organize custom sidebar sections. With these changes, you can now drag links into the sidebar to add to existing sections or create new sections,… --- ## [How to choose icons for links in custom section](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-choose-icons-for-links-in-custom-section/294219)
**Author:** [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-choose-icons-for-links-in-custom-section/294219 "2026-08-14T18:40:33Z")
Continuing the discussion from Custom sidebar sections being tested on meta: I added a personal, custom link section to one of the forums I use often. I prefer to use different icons and not only the default link icon b… --- ## [Configuring the default sidebar for your users](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configuring-the-default-sidebar-for-your-users/347764)
**Author:** [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configuring-the-default-sidebar-for-your-users/347764 "2025-01-18T01:59:06Z")
The sidebar provides quick access to important sections of your Discourse site. While users can customize their own sidebar to suit their preferences, providing a thoughtful default setup helps especially new users and v… --- ## [Sidebar Menu Reorder](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-menu-reorder/394049)
**Author:** [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-menu-reorder/394049 "2026-07-31T16:02:47Z")
:information\_source: Summary Allows reordering default and custom sidebar menu sections :eyeglasses: Preview https://discourse.theme-creator.io/theme/Lilly/discourse-sidebar-menu-reorder … --- ## [Closed Sidebar by Default](https://meta.discourse.org/t/closed-sidebar-by-default/408578)
**Author:** [@nathank](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nathank)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/closed-sidebar-by-default/408578 "2026-07-29T22:36:14Z")
:information\_source: Summary allows admins to control the default behaviour of the Discourse sidebar per group :hammer\_and\_wrench: Repository GitHub - nathan-nz/closed-sidebar-by-default: Allows control of t… --- ## [Custom sidebar section translations break after changing the site's default locale](https://meta.discourse.org/t/custom-sidebar-section-translations-break-after-changing-the-sites-default-locale/408327)
**Author:** [@Don](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Don)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/custom-sidebar-section-translations-break-after-changing-the-sites-default-locale/408327 "2026-07-24T16:35:56Z")
Hello :waving\_hand: \[EDGE CASE\] There is an issue with the translation/localization feature for Custom Sidebar Sections/Links. If a custom sidebar section or link is created while the site’s default locale setting is … --- ## [Feature request: make it possible to translate custom sidebar links and sections](https://meta.discourse.org/t/feature-request-make-it-possible-to-translate-custom-sidebar-links-and-sections/299871)
**Author:** [@manuel](https://meta.discourse.org/u/manuel)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2026, 4:52am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/feature-request-make-it-possible-to-translate-custom-sidebar-links-and-sections/299871 "2026-07-22T04:52:55Z")
I have a sidebar with a custom link in the global section (Bienvenido) and an entire custom section (Participa) with various links. Is there a way to translate these links and section headings for a different user locale… --- ## [Create custom links](https://meta.discourse.org/t/create-custom-links/407759)
**Author:** [@Boubou](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Boubou)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2026, 4:44am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/create-custom-links/407759 "2026-07-16T04:44:53Z")
Hi. I would like to create custom links like the ones in the following image; do you know which variable or extension I need to add to Discourse? Thanks. --- ## [Add custom section name and link fields are behaving unexpected](https://meta.discourse.org/t/add-custom-section-name-and-link-fields-are-behaving-unexpected/407235)
**Author:** [@one1](https://meta.discourse.org/u/one1)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2026, 9:00am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/add-custom-section-name-and-link-fields-are-behaving-unexpected/407235 "2026-07-13T09:00:36Z")
Sorry about the bad title, not sure what to call it! When there is text in one of the fields in the add custom section interface, it is impossible to select it. Not only that, but it is impossible to place the cursor an… --- ## [Configure a custom sidebar link to open in a new tab](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-a-custom-sidebar-link-to-open-in-a-new-tab/267004)
**Author:** [@kinetiksoft](https://meta.discourse.org/u/kinetiksoft)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2026, 5:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-a-custom-sidebar-link-to-open-in-a-new-tab/267004 "2026-07-10T05:58:41Z")
Is it possible to make custom section link go \_blank in order to be opened in a new tab? There are many theme components providing this ability too --- ## [Sidebar Theme Toggle](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-theme-toggle/242802)
**Author:** [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2026, 7:24am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-theme-toggle/242802 "2026-06-26T07:24:18Z")
:discourse2: Summary Sidebar Theme Toggle adds a theme selector in the sidebar menu’s footer provided there is more than 1 user selectable theme. This selector works with both logged-on users and anonymous us… --- ## [New Topic button text does not change to New Event in sidebar in events category in Horizon Theme](https://meta.discourse.org/t/new-topic-button-text-does-not-change-to-new-event-in-sidebar-in-events-category-in-horizon-theme/404905)
**Author:** [@nathank](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nathank)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2026, 9:27am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/new-topic-button-text-does-not-change-to-new-event-in-sidebar-in-events-category-in-horizon-theme/404905 "2026-06-10T09:27:08Z")
Just a wee regression missed with the recent (awesome) updates to Discourse Calendar and Events. Looks fine with the sidebar closed (also in mobile): However, the text reverts to New Topic in the sidebar. Fortunatel… --- ## [Possible to nest sidebar links?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/possible-to-nest-sidebar-links/404314)
**Author:** [@haydenjames](https://meta.discourse.org/u/haydenjames)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/possible-to-nest-sidebar-links/404314 "2026-06-02T17:09:12Z")
I want to nest my group links under ‘Groups’ as a collapsible parent item, so the sidebar shows just ‘Groups’ by default and expands to show Arch, Debian, Fedora, and "All Groups: at the end on click/hover instead of lis… --- ## [How to set the same sidebar categories for all the users](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-set-the-same-sidebar-categories-for-all-the-users/402479)
**Author:** [@fzngagan](https://meta.discourse.org/u/fzngagan)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-set-the-same-sidebar-categories-for-all-the-users/402479 "2026-05-14T22:56:55Z")
Sometimes, site admins need to make sure that all users see the same set of categories in their sidebar. Here’s how to do that: Remove all the categories from default navigation menu categories and save. Make sure to a… --- ## [Three bar icon should really be two different icons](https://meta.discourse.org/t/three-bar-icon-should-really-be-two-different-icons/304437)
**Author:** [@jidanni](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jidanni)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2026, 4:30am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/three-bar-icon-should-really-be-two-different-icons/304437 "2026-05-05T04:30:46Z")
You know those three bars in the upper left corner, Well normal users all know that it has two functions, to make the sidebar slide one way, and also make the sidebar slide the other way, all depending on sidebar sta… --- ## [Cannot search for icon by name in custom sidebar section configuration modal](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-search-for-icon-by-name-in-custom-sidebar-section-configuration-modal/400945)
**Author:** [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2026, 9:57am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-search-for-icon-by-name-in-custom-sidebar-section-configuration-modal/400945 "2026-04-20T09:57:51Z")
:lady\_beetle: Overview When configuring custom sidebar sections and choosing an icon from the selector, the search field does not allow typing in the field to search for the icon by name. :person\_walking: Steps to repro… --- ## [Dynamic Sidebar Icon](https://meta.discourse.org/t/dynamic-sidebar-icon/400765)
**Author:** [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/dynamic-sidebar-icon/400765 "2026-04-16T21:19:11Z")
:information\_source: Summary Makes the sidebar toggle icon dynamic and customizable :hammer\_and\_wrench: Repository https://github.com/Lillinator/dynamic-sidebar-icon :eyeglasses: Preview https://discourse.… --- ## [Unexpected Overlay in the Bottom-Left Corner of the Site](https://meta.discourse.org/t/unexpected-overlay-in-the-bottom-left-corner-of-the-site/399977)
**Author:** [@wuyuan](https://meta.discourse.org/u/wuyuan)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2026, 2:47am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/unexpected-overlay-in-the-bottom-left-corner-of-the-site/399977 "2026-04-06T02:47:39Z")
While exploring Discourse, I noticed a recurring overlay appearing in the bottom-left corner of the website. It shows up across different forums and seems to contain some kind of data or debug information. I have been … --- ## [Indented Subcategories](https://meta.discourse.org/t/indented-subcategories/393838)
**Author:** [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/indented-subcategories/393838 "2026-03-19T15:47:19Z")
:information\_source: Summary Automatically indents subcategories in the sidebar :eyeglasses: Preview https://discourse.theme-creator.io/theme/Lilly/discourse-indented-subcategories :hammer\_and\_wrench: Repo… --- ## [How do you force keep open the sidebar?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-do-you-force-keep-open-the-sidebar/396536)
**Author:** [@hipp0](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hipp0)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-do-you-force-keep-open-the-sidebar/396536 "2026-02-20T21:50:03Z")
I want to permanently keep the side bar open, how do I do that? --- ## [Show 'New category' option in sidebar also for moderators allowed to manage categories](https://meta.discourse.org/t/show-new-category-option-in-sidebar-also-for-moderators-allowed-to-manage-categories/395441)
**Author:** [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/show-new-category-option-in-sidebar-also-for-moderators-allowed-to-manage-categories/395441 "2026-02-07T22:44:54Z")
FEATURE: add "New category" action to sidebar for admins by ZogStriP · Pull Request #37082 · discourse/discourse · GitHub added a new menu for easier category creation. I’d like to suggest to also show this for moderato… --- ## [Add link to sidebar category setting to new admin menu in categories section of the sidebar](https://meta.discourse.org/t/add-link-to-sidebar-category-setting-to-new-admin-menu-in-categories-section-of-the-sidebar/393322)
**Author:** [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/add-link-to-sidebar-category-setting-to-new-admin-menu-in-categories-section-of-the-sidebar/393322 "2026-02-07T17:17:43Z")
The change in FEATURE: add "New category" action to sidebar for admins by ZogStriP · Pull Request #37082 · discourse/discourse · GitHub made me think that adding an option to change the global default to that menu too co… --- ## [Sidebar spacing change?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-spacing-change/393188)
**Author:** [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-spacing-change/393188 "2026-02-05T19:48:27Z")
So after latest update, my sidebar margins and padding seem off now on my sites and I feel like I now have to custom re-adjust them because the spacing is cramped. what was the rationale for the recent changes? is ther… --- ## [Sidebar show upcoming events setting description needs an update](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-show-upcoming-events-setting-description-needs-an-update/331443)
**Author:** [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2026, 10:16am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-show-upcoming-events-setting-description-needs-an-update/331443 "2026-01-27T10:16:06Z")
Since FIX: addCommunitySectionLink secondary argument by KrisKotlarek · Pull Request #28135 · discourse/discourse · GitHub, the “Upcoming events” link is no longer displayed under “More” in the sidebar, but is instead di… --- ## [Messages section for sidebar](https://meta.discourse.org/t/messages-section-for-sidebar/389664)
**Author:** [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2026, 3:18am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/messages-section-for-sidebar/389664 "2026-01-22T03:18:00Z")
:information\_source: Summary Adds personal and group message inbox links to the sidebar, including unread message indicators :eyeglasses: Preview Theme Creator :hammer\_and\_wrench: Repository GitHub - moin-… --- ## [Rename Shortcut: My Posts → My Activities](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rename-shortcut-my-posts-my-activities/393415)
**Author:** [@sren-1](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sren-1)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 6:52am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/rename-shortcut-my-posts-my-activities/393415 "2026-01-15T06:52:25Z")
The current label of the shortcut is confusing, particularly for users who are not yet familiar with Discourse: Most obviously, the shortcut leads to a section called Activity, not to something explicitly named My Post… --- ## [Making customizing categories in the sidebar more discoverable](https://meta.discourse.org/t/making-customizing-categories-in-the-sidebar-more-discoverable/297483)
**Author:** [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/making-customizing-categories-in-the-sidebar-more-discoverable/297483 "2026-01-13T14:14:19Z")
I’m finally getting around to figuring out how to customize the navigation on the sidebar. It’s easier and harder than I expected. Searching settings for “sidebar” doesn’t help. Under tags on the sidebar, there is a li… [Next page](https://meta.discourse.org/tag/sidebar/483.md?match_all_tags=true&page=1&tags%5B%5D=sidebar)