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Why links don't navigate to the correct page — causes and fixes

Learn what to check and how to fix it when a link you've set up doesn't navigate to the expected page in Studio.Design.

If a link you've set up isn't taking you to the expected page, here are four things to check and how to fix them.

1. Check whether an article page has been created

Check this if links from CMS Lists or other Dynamic Lists aren't working.

If an article page hasn't been created as a Dynamic Page for the items in your Dynamic List, there's no destination for the link, so the navigation won't work.

How to check

  1. Open the Design Editor.

  2. Open the Page Panel and check whether a Dynamic Page linked to the same CMS model used in your CMS List exists.

For example, if you're displaying CMS items from the "Posts" model in a CMS List, check the Page Panel to see if a Dynamic Page linked to the "Posts" model has been created.

How to fix

If no article page exists

  1. Add a Dynamic Page.

    For the linked data, select the same CMS model or API data source used by the corresponding Dynamic List.

  2. Set up the layout and content on the new Dynamic Page to create your article page.

    For details on creating an article page, see the following articles:

  3. Use Live Preview to confirm that the link works correctly and the article page displays.

  4. If you're editing a live site, go to the Publish panel and update your site. Changes won't appear on the live site until you do this.

If the article page already exists

If an article page has been created but the link still isn't working correctly, try removing the link and reconnecting it.

  1. In the CMS List, select the box element that has a link set within the list item.

  2. Open the [Settings] tab in the Right Panel. If the panel is closed, open the Right Panel.

  3. Remove the link, then re-add a link to the article page (Dynamic Page) connected to the correct data.

    For steps on linking from a CMS List to a CMS article page, see the following article:

  4. Use Live Preview to confirm that the link works correctly and the article page displays.

  5. If you're editing a live site, go to the Publish panel and update your site. Changes won't appear on the live site until you do this.

2. Check whether the link is set up correctly

Changes to the page path or other settings may have caused the link to become invalid. If the link destination no longer exists, clicking it won't take you to the right page.

How to check

  1. In the Design Editor, select the box element that has a link set.

  2. Open the [Settings] tab in the Right Panel. If the panel is closed, open the Right Panel.

  3. Check the link settings area for the following:

    • Does the link settings area show "Page Not Found"?

    • Is the link chip color gray? If it's gray, the link setting is not active.

How to fix

Try removing the link and reconnecting it.

  1. Open the [Settings] tab in the Right Panel and remove the link from the link settings area.

  2. Re-add the link to the correct destination (a regular page, Dynamic Page, external URL, etc.).

  3. Use Live Preview to confirm that the link works correctly and the article page displays.

  4. If you're editing a live site, go to the Publish panel and update your site. Changes won't appear on the live site until you do this.

3. Check whether the linked page is unpublished

If the linked page's publish setting is set to unpublished, it can't be accessed on the live site, and a 404 page will be shown instead.

How to check and fix

  1. Open the page you want to link to from the Page Panel.

  2. Click outside the screen area, then open the Right Panel.

  3. Open the [Page] tab in the Right Panel. If the panel is closed, open the Right Panel.

  4. In the Page Settings tab, if the "Unpublish page" toggle is turned on, turn it off.

  5. If you're editing a live site, go to the Publish panel and update your site. Changes won't appear on the live site until you do this.

  6. On the live site, confirm that the link correctly navigates to the target page.

4. Check for overlapping boxes

Another box may be placed on top of the box that has the link. If the overlapping box receives the click instead, the link won't work.

How to check and fix

  1. In the Design Editor, select the box element that has the link set.

  2. Open the Layer Panel and check whether any box is overlapping in front of the link box.

  3. If a full-covering box or an animation box is overlapping, change the stacking order, or adjust the size and position so it doesn't block clicks.

  4. After making adjustments, use Live Preview to confirm that the link works correctly and the article page displays.

  5. If you're editing a live site, go to the Publish panel and update your site. Changes won't appear on the live site until you do this.

For more detailed troubleshooting when links or hover animations aren't working, see "How to fix links and hover animations that aren't working."

Still having trouble?

If the issue persists after trying the steps above, contact our support team using the [?] button in the bottom-right corner of the editor. Providing the following information will help us resolve your issue faster:

  • A description of the specific issue you're experiencing

  • The solutions you've already tried

  • The URL of the page where the issue occurs

  • If possible, screenshots or a video showing the problem

not navigating link not working

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