diff --git a/docs/framework_utils.rst b/docs/framework_utils.rst
index 3ec698114..946ad9c80 100644
--- a/docs/framework_utils.rst
+++ b/docs/framework_utils.rst
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Embed Helpers
     :members:
     :exclude-members: randomize_color
 
-Reaction Menus
+Menus
 ==============
 
 .. automodule:: redbot.core.utils.menus
diff --git a/redbot/core/bot.py b/redbot/core/bot.py
index 3bfafaf35..03e336693 100644
--- a/redbot/core/bot.py
+++ b/redbot/core/bot.py
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ class Red(
             schema_version=0,
             datarequests__allow_user_requests=True,
             datarequests__user_requests_are_strict=True,
+            use_buttons=False,
         )
 
         self._config.register_guild(
@@ -1351,6 +1352,17 @@ class Red(
         global_setting = await self._config.embeds()
         return global_setting
 
+    async def use_buttons(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        Determines whether the bot owner has enabled use of buttons instead of
+        reactions for basic menus.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        bool
+        """
+        return await self._config.use_buttons()
+
     async def is_owner(self, user: Union[discord.User, discord.Member], /) -> bool:
         """
         Determines if the user should be considered a bot owner.
diff --git a/redbot/core/core_commands.py b/redbot/core/core_commands.py
index 263d680d3..ee39dde4a 100644
--- a/redbot/core/core_commands.py
+++ b/redbot/core/core_commands.py
@@ -3621,6 +3621,31 @@ class Core(commands.commands._RuleDropper, commands.Cog, CoreLogic):
         else:
             await ctx.send(_("Server prefixes set."))
 
+    @_set.command(name="usebuttons")
+    async def use_buttons(self, ctx: commands.Context, use_buttons: bool = None):
+        """
+        Set a global bot variable for using buttons in menus.
+
+        When enabled, all usage of cores menus API will use buttons instead of reactions.
+
+        This defaults to False.
+        Using this without a setting will toggle.
+
+         **Examples:**
+            - `[p]set usebuttons True` - Enables using buttons.
+            - `[p]helpset usebuttons` - Toggles the value.
+
+        **Arguments:**
+            - `[use_buttons]` - Whether to use buttons. Leave blank to toggle.
+        """
+        if use_buttons is None:
+            use_buttons = not await ctx.bot._config.use_buttons()
+        await ctx.bot._config.use_buttons.set(use_buttons)
+        if use_buttons:
+            await ctx.send(_("I will use buttons on basic menus."))
+        else:
+            await ctx.send(_("I will not use buttons on basic menus."))
+
     @commands.group()
     @checks.is_owner()
     async def helpset(self, ctx: commands.Context):
diff --git a/redbot/core/utils/menus.py b/redbot/core/utils/menus.py
index a78e9633f..693681c4d 100644
--- a/redbot/core/utils/menus.py
+++ b/redbot/core/utils/menus.py
@@ -6,18 +6,43 @@ import asyncio
 import contextlib
 import functools
 from types import MappingProxyType
-from typing import Callable, Iterable, List, Mapping, Optional, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import Callable, Dict, Iterable, List, Mapping, Optional, TypeVar, Union
 
 import discord
 
 from .. import commands
 from .predicates import ReactionPredicate
+from .views import SimpleMenu, _SimplePageSource
 
 _T = TypeVar("_T")
 _PageList = TypeVar("_PageList", List[str], List[discord.Embed])
 _ReactableEmoji = Union[str, discord.Emoji]
 _ControlCallable = Callable[[commands.Context, _PageList, discord.Message, int, float, str], _T]
 
+_active_menus: Dict[int, SimpleMenu] = {}
+
+
+class _GenericButton(discord.ui.Button):
+    def __init__(self, emoji: Union[str, discord.PartialEmoji], func):
+        super().__init__(
+            emoji=discord.PartialEmoji.from_str(emoji), style=discord.ButtonStyle.grey
+        )
+        self.func = func
+
+    async def callback(self, interaction: discord.Interaction):
+        ctx = self.view.ctx
+        pages = self.view.source.entries
+        controls = None
+        message = self.view.message
+        page = self.view.current_page
+        timeout = self.view.timeout
+        emoji = self.emoji
+        try:
+            await self.func(ctx, pages, controls, message, page, timeout, emoji)
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        await interaction.response.defer()
+
 
 async def menu(
     ctx: commands.Context,
@@ -64,6 +89,18 @@ async def menu(
     RuntimeError
         If either of the notes above are violated
     """
+    if message is not None and message.id in _active_menus:
+        # prevents the expected callback from going any further
+        # our custom button will always pass the message the view is
+        # attached to, allowing one to send multiple menus on the same
+        # context.
+        view = _active_menus[message.id]
+        if pages != view.source.entries:
+            view._source = _SimplePageSource(pages)
+        new_page = await view.get_page(page)
+        view.current_page = page
+        await view.message.edit(**new_page)
+        return
     if not isinstance(pages[0], (discord.Embed, str)):
         raise RuntimeError("Pages must be of type discord.Embed or str")
     if not all(isinstance(x, discord.Embed) for x in pages) and not all(
@@ -81,6 +118,52 @@ async def menu(
             maybe_coro = value.func
         if not asyncio.iscoroutinefunction(maybe_coro):
             raise RuntimeError("Function must be a coroutine")
+
+    if await ctx.bot.use_buttons() and message is None:
+        # Only send the button version if `message` is None
+        # This is because help deals with this menu in weird ways
+        # where the original message is already sent prior to starting.
+        # This is not normally the way we recommend sending this because
+        # internally we already include the emojis we expect.
+        if controls == DEFAULT_CONTROLS:
+            view = SimpleMenu(pages)
+            await view.start(ctx)
+            await view.wait()
+            return
+        else:
+            view = SimpleMenu(pages)
+            view.remove_item(view.last_button)
+            view.remove_item(view.first_button)
+            has_next = False
+            has_prev = False
+            has_close = False
+            to_add = {}
+            for emoji, func in controls.items():
+                if func == next_page:
+                    has_next = True
+                    if emoji != view.forward_button.emoji:
+                        view.forward_button.emoji = discord.PartialEmoji.from_str(emoji)
+                elif func == prev_page:
+                    has_prev = True
+                    if emoji != view.backward_button.emoji:
+                        view.backward_button.emoji = discord.PartialEmoji.from_str(emoji)
+                elif func == close_menu:
+                    has_close = True
+                else:
+                    to_add[emoji] = func
+            if not has_next:
+                view.remove_item(view.forward_button)
+            if not has_prev:
+                view.remove_item(view.backward_button)
+            if not has_close:
+                view.remove_item(view.stop_button)
+            for emoji, func in to_add.items():
+                view.add_item(_GenericButton(emoji, func))
+            await view.start(ctx)
+            _active_menus[view.message.id] = view
+            await view.wait()
+            del _active_menus[view.message.id]
+            return
     current_page = pages[page]
 
     if not message: