thread Re: Problems with Categories - showing as empty + can't be added to header drop downs? in Payments Troubleshooting

Problems with Categories - showing as empty + can't be added to header drop downs?

MarkTeo1986 — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 11:01:37 GMT

Hi,

We're just starting to build our Square site and I'm running into some issues regarding Categories.

Even after creating and populating the categories under Items > Site Categories, the categories clearly state they have items in them. However when I actually try and view the categories on the site, they're completely empty. What am I doing wrong?

Also, is there any way to link to a category from the header drop-downs? It doesn't actually seem to give me the option to link to categories as an option.

Re: Problems with Categories - showing as empty + can't be added to header drop downs?

Breffni — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:24:42 GMT

Hi @MarkTeo1986 thanks for your post 👋

When you have a moment can you check the steps in this article under Create a New Category and make sure you have followed all of the required steps?

It sounds like you have but just to ensure we go over everything.

After doing so can you head to Site Editor > Select the page > Featured Categories > + featured Categories.

If after doing so they are still not appearing, please send a link to your site here and I can take a closer look, thanks.

Re: Problems with Categories - showing as empty + can't be added to header drop downs?

MarkTeo1986 — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:59:35 GMT

Hi @Breffni , thanks very much for coming back to me.

I think I've made the categories correctly, and they are appearing on the front page - however every category appears empty when I click on it.

The site is at https://parlourdeli.square.site/ - it's very basic at the moment but if you can work out anything from this it would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Problems with Categories - showing as empty + can't be added to header drop downs?

Breffni — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 10:33:08 GMT

Hi @MarkTeo1986 - apologies for the very delayed response and thank you for the link.

Within the site editor can you head to > Featured Categories

> Select that page > You should get a dropdown list on the left-hand side of all your categories > Hover over one and click the pen icon

> From there you should be able to Choose Items

Let me know if this works for you!

Re: Problems with Categories - showing as empty + can't be added to header drop downs?

MarkTeo1986 — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 15:32:25 GMT

Hi @Breffni , thanks again for coming back to me, and no worries about the late response - I've only just had a chance to come back to it myself!

When I actually check the categories as you've described, they do actually seem to be populated with items (at least in some cases - not every category has items in yet!) , but strangely they items still dont' seem to be appearing on the published site.

Please see the screenshots at the links below (sorry, I couldn't work out how to embed them!!) - do you have any further ideas as to why the items aren't appearing correctly?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ynVF1-xQkvFjR7mNsMzNFQiY1i_9HTH/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11xcFFqCEOEV2J9lBPyLj1oF_ZJbgFR4c/view?usp=sharing

Re: Problems with Categories - showing as empty + can't be added to header drop downs?

MarkTeo1986 — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:04:04 GMT

I tried making a category from scratch as a test, but the items still don't seem to be appearing once I publish the site. I have no idea why or what I'm doing wrong at this stage!