# Search as menu item

## Recommended Method

Open up the **Appearence -> Menus** page and make sure the Ajax Search Pro is enabled on the screen options.

<figure><img src="https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2Fuploads%2FvqU9q1rAibeez47fEJlO%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a218b56a-5c0d-4146-b433-04b90687ab30" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Under the **Appearence -> Menus** on the left side there will be an Ajax Search Pro menu group.

<figure><img src="https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2Fuploads%2F0aiD5gXoUppxhmqJ0JLd%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7bf156ba-68aa-46e3-ab48-dd9e65920dda" alt=""><figcaption><p>Ajax Search Pro menu element</p></figcaption></figure>

After clicking the *Add To Menu* button, a new menu item will be added to the menu. In this menu element you can choose which Search instance should be used.

<figure><img src="https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2Fuploads%2FOzGaghOXXbrkRpKoQSXq%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c99b2e7f-7f1e-4484-8a38-31b233f15abb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Menu Attributes

* &#x20;<mark style="background-color:purple;">Search</mark>  (drop-down) - To select which search instance should be used
* &#x20;<mark style="background-color:purple;">Prevent custom script events</mark> (checkbox) - If selected, the plugin will try to prevent custom events attached to the parent menu item. It may help in cases where menu has custom redirection or hover related events attached.

## Legacy Method via shortcode

It is possible to use the search box shortcode in a menu as the title field. The menu item will be automatically replaced with the search bar. This simple guide will help you achieve that.

1\) Under the **Appearence -> Menus** submenu open up (or create) the menu you want to edit.

![](http://i.imgur.com/QqCp0qu.png)

2\) Click on the **Custom Links** item and as the *URL* enter anything (I used the '#' character in this example), and as the *Link Text* paste the search shortcode, then click the **Add to Menu** button.

![](http://i.imgur.com/n1ty3oB.png)

3\) That's it. The menu item is created, now you can move it like any other one.

![](http://i.imgur.com/60g2eJe.png)

4\) **Make sure to save the menu**, and the search should appear as a menu item on the front-end.

![](http://i.imgur.com/8ZlPWoY.png)