The left navigation bar, also called the category manager, displays the article category tree on the left side of the knowledge base site by default. For some knowledge bases, particularly those with a focused single-article layout or a minimal reading experience, hiding this panel by default can reduce visual clutter and help readers focus on the content. Readers are not locked out of navigation, they can still reveal the panel at any time by clicking the Show category icon next to the article title.
When to use this
Use this customization when you want to:
- Give readers a cleaner, distraction-free reading experience by hiding the category panel on page load.
- Present a minimal single-column layout for documentation that does not rely heavily on category-based navigation.
- Hide the navigation panel by default while still allowing readers to show it on demand.
Before you begin
- You need access to Settings () > Knowledge base site > Site customization > Custom CSS & JavaScript in the Knowledge base portal.
- Hiding the left navigation bar does not remove navigation entirely. Readers can still click the Show category icon adjacent to the article title to reveal the panel.
How to hide the left navigation bar
-
Navigate to Settings (
) > Knowledge base site > Site customization > Custom CSS & JavaScript in the Knowledge base portal.
-
From the left navigation pane, select the CSS tab and paste the following snippet.
site-docs-left-panel-container{
display: none !important;
}
-
Click Save at the top right.
Outcome
Before
The left navigation bar and category manager are visible by default on the knowledge base site.
After
The left navigation bar and category manager are hidden by default. Readers can still click Show category to reveal the panel.
Best practices
- Note the difference between hidden and removed. This CSS hides the panel visually — it is not removed from the page. Readers can still access the navigation by clicking Show category. If you need the panel completely inaccessible, this approach alone is not sufficient.
- Consider your content structure before hiding. For knowledge bases with deeply nested categories or frequent cross-category navigation, hiding the panel by default may make content harder to discover. Test with a sample of your readers before applying site-wide.
- Test after saving. Open your knowledge base site and confirm the panel is hidden on page load, and that clicking Show category correctly reveals it.
- To revert, delete the snippet. Navigate back to the CSS tab in Custom CSS & JavaScript, remove the snippet, and click Save. The left navigation bar reappears immediately.