How to hide the category manager

In some projects, you may want readers to access only specific articles rather than browse freely through the full category structure. By permanently hiding the category manager and the sidebar toggle, readers can only reach articles via direct URLs, they have no in-site way to discover or navigate to other articles. This approach is useful for gated content, embedded documentation, or scenarios where you want to share individual articles without exposing the full knowledge base structure.

NOTE

This is a project-level implementation. It affects all workspaces within the project.

When to use this

Use this customization when you want to:

• Restrict readers to accessing only articles shared via direct URL, without the ability to browse other categories or articles.
• Embed individual articles in an external product or portal where the category navigation would be irrelevant or distracting.
• Share specific documentation with external audiences without exposing the full knowledge base structure.

Before you begin

• You need access to Settings (
  ) > Knowledge base site > Site customization > Custom CSS & JavaScript in the Knowledge base portal.
• This is a project-level change that affects all workspaces within the project. It cannot be scoped to a single workspace.
• This CSS permanently hides the category manager and the sidebar toggle button, unlike the "hide by default" approach; readers cannot show the panel by clicking a toggle. The only way to navigate to an article is by its exact URL.

How to permanently hide the category manager

1. Navigate to Settings (

   ) > Knowledge base site > Site customization > Custom CSS & JavaScript in the Knowledge base portal.

   

2. In the CSS tab, paste the following snippet.

site-docs-left-panel-container{
  display:none !important;
}

3. Click Save.

   

Outcome

Before

The category manager is visible in the left panel, allowing readers to browse the full article structure.

After

The category manager and the sidebar toggle are both hidden. Readers can only access articles via their direct URLs.

Best practices

• Understand the difference between this and "hide by default." The previous approach (How to hide the left navigation bar) hides the panel but leaves the toggle visible; readers can still show it. This snippet hides both the panel and the toggle, making navigation permanently inaccessible from the site. Choose based on whether you want readers to have the option to navigate.
• Ensure article URLs are accessible to your readers before applying. Once the category manager is hidden, readers have no in-site navigation path. If they lose or forget a URL, they cannot find the article themselves. Share URLs through external channels, product emails, in-app links, or direct shares, before removing the navigation.
• This change affects all workspaces. Because this is a project-level setting, every workspace in the project will have its category manager hidden. Confirm this is the intended scope before saving.
• To revert, delete the snippet. Navigate back to the CSS tab in Custom CSS & JavaScript, remove the snippet, and click Save. The category manager and toggle reappear immediately.