This sharepoint customization tutorial will discuss how to customize left navigation or quick launch in SharePoint 2016/2013 or SharePoint Online sites.
Also, I will show you how you can customize SharePoint site top navigation in SharePoint Online or SharePoint 2016/2013. I will show you how you can add/edit/delete links to quick launch also known as left navigation and also how you can add/edit/delete links in top navigation in SharePoint.
Basically, by using the left navigation or top navigation, we can navigate to a particular page quickly from the left navigation of that SharePoint site. So it will be less time-consuming and time-saving in SharePoint to visit different pages.
Customize Quick Launch or Left Navigation in SharePoint (First Approach)
We can add/edit/delete links from left navigation or quick launch in SharePoint. We can customize (Add a Link) quick launch by using these following steps:
Step-1:-
Open your SharePoint Online/2016/2013 site, and click on the “EDIT LINKS” which is present in the left navigation.

Step-2:-
Here we have to click on the “+link” for creating a new link as shown in the given figure.

Step-3:-
An “add a link” will be displayed where we have to give a text to display and the address as an URL and then click on OK.

Step-4:-
Here click on “save” for saving the new link in SharePoint. Then the left or quick launch navigation is added in the left navigation like below.

This way you will be able to add links in left navigation or quick launch in SharePoint Online or SharePoint 2016//2013.
To delete any link from left navigation in SharePoint online. Click on the Cross (X) icon. The menu or link will be deleted.
Customize Quick Launch or Left Navigation in SharePoint (Second Approach)
This is another approach we can follow to add/edit/delete links in left navigation or quick launch in SharePoint Online or SharePoint 2016/2013. We can customize left navigation from Site Settings page.
Step-1:-
Go to the “Site Settings” which is present inside the “settings” icon at the top of the site as given screenshot.

Step-2:-
Click on the “Quick launch” of “Look and Feel” which is present inside the “Site settings”.

Step-3:-
Click on the “New Heading” which is present inside the “Quick Launch” as below figure.

Step-4:-
In the “New Heading”, we have to give the “web address” and “type the description” and then click on ok.

Step-5:-
Here it will show that a launch navigation is customized in the quick launch.

Step-6:-
Here go to the “New Navigation Link” to create a new navigation in the quick launch.

Step-7:-
In this, give the Web address as an URL and “type the description” and then click on ok as shown below.

Step-8:-
Here a New Navigation Link is created which named as “About Us” which we can see in the “Quick Launch” as like below screenshot.

Step-9:-
Click on “Change Order” for changing the order of left navigation links or quick launch navigation menu links in SharePoint Online or SharePoint 2016/2013.

Step-10:-
Here we can change the order by selecting the order icon as like below screenshot.

Customize Top Navigation in SharePoint (First Approach)
We can also customize (add/edit/delete links) top navigation of site or site collection in SharePoint 2016/2013 and SharePoint Onlne.
Step-1:-
Click on “EDIT LINKS” which is present on the top navigation in SharePoint site, which I highlighted in the given figure.

Step-2:-
Here we have to click on the “link” for creating a new link as shown in the given figure.

Step-3:-
Here also an “Add a link” will be displayed where we have to give a text to display and the address as an URL and then click on ok.

Step-4:-
Here click on “Save” for saving the new link in top navigation in SharePoint. Then the top navigation will be displayed on the top of the each page.

Customize Top Navigation in SharePoint (Second Approach)
This is another approach, how we can customize top navigation in SharePoint Online or SharePoint 2016/2013. We can also customize top navigation menu in SharePoint from the Site Settings page.
Step-1:-
Go to the “Site Settings” and click on the “Top link bar” of “Look and Feel” for customizing a top link navigation.

Step-2:-
Click on the “New Navigation Link” of “Top link bar” to customize a new navigation.

Step-3:-
Here give the web address as an URL and type the description for customizing a new navigation and then click on ok.

Step-4:-
Finally, the new navigation link (TSinfotech) is customized which is present at the top of the site as shown in the given figure.

This way you can customise SharePoint top navigation menu in SharePoint Online or SharePoint 2016/2013.
Add Links to Quick Launch or Top Navigation using Drag and Drop
From SharePoint 2013 onwards, Microsoft always us to add links to quick launch to top navigation simply using drag and drop features. Click on Edit Links and then drag and drop any link, maybe a list, document library, pages, list item, individual document, etc.
By using drag & drop feature, you can save lots of time.
You may also like the following SharePoint customization tutorials:
- SharePoint Online left navigation and top Navigation branding using CSS
- PowerApps: Create a navigation menu using the Gallery Control
- Create a managed metadata navigation from Term Store in SharePoint Online
- SharePoint Left Navigation or Quick Launch Navigation Menu Customization in SharePoint
- PowerApps show hide fields based on Yes/No column
- SharePoint 2013 Customization and Development Understanding
- How to Set up Alerts in SharePoint Online Modern List using Alert Me Feature
- SharePoint Carousel Example
In this sharepoint left navigation menu customization tutorial I have explained how we can customize lift navigation or quick launch in SharePoint 2013/2016 or SharePoint Online. Also, I explained how we can customize top navigation in SharePoint.
I am Bijay a Microsoft MVP (8 times – My MVP Profile) in SharePoint and have more than 15 years of expertise in SharePoint Online Office 365, SharePoint subscription edition, and SharePoint 2019/2016/2013. Currently working in my own venture TSInfo Technologies a SharePoint development, consulting, and training company. I also run the popular SharePoint website EnjoySharePoint.com