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Fix SharePoint Navigation Highlighting the Wrong Menu Item
Question details
The SharePoint site navigation highlights the incorrect topic when a user interacts with a linked web part.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user clicks a link inside a Hero web part that points to a different page located within the same SharePoint site.
- Observed behavior
- SharePoint identifies a different navigation location as active, causing the navigation menu to underline or highlight a different item instead of the expected current menu item.
Before proceeding, make sure you have 'Edit' permissions for the SharePoint site to modify page web parts and verify site navigation settings.
Verify Link Destinations in the Hero Web Part
Check the exact destination of your web part link to understand why SharePoint is highlighting a different section of your site.
In modern SharePoint, the navigation menu automatically highlights the item that corresponds to the active page URL. If your Hero web part targets a page residing under a different navigation heading, the menu will naturally reflect that destination rather than the page where the web part is placed.
Navigate to the page containing the Hero web part and click 'Edit' in the top right corner of the screen.
Click on the specific tile or layer in the Hero web part, then click the 'Edit details' (pencil) icon.
Look at the 'Link' field. Compare this destination URL with your site's navigation hierarchy to confirm if the targeted page falls under the highlighted menu item.
Reorganize the Site Navigation Menu
Adjust your site's navigation hierarchy so the linked destination page aligns with the menu item you want highlighted.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does SharePoint highlight the destination page's menu item instead of the page I clicked from?
Modern SharePoint automatically manages the active state of its navigation menu based on the current URL in your browser. When you click a link that takes you to a new page, the system updates the menu highlight to accurately reflect your new location within the site hierarchy.
Can I force a specific SharePoint menu item to stay highlighted regardless of the page?
Out of the box, modern SharePoint does not support manually forcing an active state on a specific navigation node. The highlighted item will always correspond to the actual page URL and its placement in the navigation settings.
Does this highlighting issue occur with web parts other than the Hero web part?
Yes. This behavior is tied to SharePoint's routing, not the web part itself. You will experience the same result when using Quick Links, Call to Action buttons, or Text hyperlinks if they point to a page grouped under a different menu item.
