---
title: "Display categories in the left panel in PrestaShop 1.6"
description: "Left-hand navigation is fairly standard across the web. Because of this, many visitors will look to the left hand panel of your store for category lists and other information. This quick article will..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/prestashop/display-category-on-left-column/
date: 2014-11-13
modified: 2022-03-31
author: "Scott Mitchell"
categories: ["Prestashop"]
tags: ["Prestashop 1v.6"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Display categories in the left panel in PrestaShop 1.6

Left-hand navigation is fairly standard across the web. Because of this, many visitors will look to the left hand panel of your store for category lists and other information. This quick article will assist you in presenting category information on the left hand panel using the [PrestaShop 1.6](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/prestashop/manual-install-3/) default theme. This way you can make navigation even easier for shoppers visiting your site.

In this article, we’ll show you how you can **display categories in the left panel in PrestaShop 1.6**.

**Note:** This information is specific to the default PrestaShop 1.6 theme. While it may also work for other themes, they have not been tested and the information is not guaranteed to be accurate for them.

## How to display categories in the left hand panel

1. [Log into your PrestaShop 1.6 admin dashboard](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/prestashop/login-prestashop-dashboard/).
2. From the main dashboard, look to the left hand navigation panel and hover over **Preferences** and then click **Themes**.
3. [![](/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/click-advanced-settings.png)](/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/click-advanced-settings.png) The top portion of the page displays your current theme. Find the *Configure your theme* section and click on the **Advanced settings** button.
4. [![](/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/click-index.png)](/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/click-index.png) You are now on the theme editor page. Be sure that the **Default left column** is set to **Yes** (this should already be set by default.)
5. Next, scroll down to the *Appearance of columns* section and ensure the **Category** option is checked for the **Left column**.
6. Scroll down a bit further and ensure the **Index** option is also checked for the **Left column**.

The changes you make in the *Appearance of Columns* section are automatic, so no saving needed. You should now see your categories and other items you had checked on the left hand side panel.

| Before | After |
| --- | --- |
| [![](/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/before.png)](/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/before.png) | [![](/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/after.png)](/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/after.png) |