How can I change the color of a button on my side nav in Webflow when it is pressed and its landing page is opened?

TL;DR
  • Use a Nav Link or link block in Webflow’s sidebar and assign it a class.  
  • On the linked page, select the button (now in the “Current” state) and style it to change its color for the active page.

To change the color of a sidebar navigation button in Webflow when its associated page is active, you'll need to use Webflow’s built-in Current state styling for links.

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1. Use Webflow’s Nav Link Component

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  • Make sure your button in the side nav is using a Link Block, Nav Link, or is wrapped in a link.
  • Webflow automatically applies the Current state to nav links that point to the currently active page.

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2. Add a Class to the Nav Link Button

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  • Select the button or link block in your side nav.
  • Add a class to it (e.g., Side Nav Button).

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3. Style the "Current" State

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  • While on the page the link points to, select the nav button again.
  • You should now see a Current label next to the class name in the selector (e.g., Side Nav Button Current).
  • Change the color (e.g., background, text, border) to whatever you want for an active link while the current page is open.
  • This style applies only when the link is in the "Current" state.

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4. Preview and Test

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  • Preview the site in Webflow or publish it.
  • Click the nav button to visit its linked page. The button should now display the active color while on that page.

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5. Notes on Custom Interactions

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  • If you’ve created a custom button interaction instead of using nav links, Webflow won’t apply the Current state.
  • In that case, you'll need to manually use page load interactions to set a style based on the current URL, which can get complex and is not recommended unless necessary.

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Summary

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Use Webflow’s Nav Link with the Current state to change the color of a sidebar button when its page is open. Add a class to your button, then edit its “Current” state on the associated page to apply your active style.

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