Homepage - Simplify layout
The beta version of the new Xero layout. updated interface feels overly busy and cluttered, which makes navigation more difficult—particularly for clients who manage multiple bank accounts.
I believe users should have the choice to switch to the new layout when they’re ready, rather than being automatically transitioned.
Additionally, clients pay for Xero to streamline their financial management, not to have advertising pushed at them.
The current design detracts from the user experience and makes it harder to find and complete tasks efficiently.
Hi community, thank you for all the engagement and we can see the growing interest in improvements to help simplify your view of information on the new Homepage and navigate important information and insights with more ease.
Right now, our team have a few pieces of work underway intended to help with some of the pain points that have been raised here these include:
- More options for the sizing of widgets so you can reduce these frames and better position this information on your screen
- More customisation of information within a widget like being able to remove visuals
- Improving the experience of moving widgets when editing the homepage to make it more obvious when dragging and dropping them to different positions on the page
We’ve also roadmapped further changes for later this year, once everyone is on the new experience. I’ll share more updates as we progress.
-
Vashte Halliday
commented
Please allow us to revert to the old version. It was much cleaner and more concise. This new version is simply terrible being far too busy. I run three entities through Xero. It is a huge disappointment to have this forced on us.
-
Sharon Yu
commented
The new version of the Xero layout feels cluttered and disorganized. The updated interface presents a collection of small boxes that overwhelm the screen, making it visually confusing and even dizzying to navigate. Finding what I need has become a frustrating experience, as I often have to start from scratch and spend extra time searching for things. Overall, the new design is not user-friendly. The old version was much simpler, cleaner, and far more efficient to use.
-
Pauline Sowemimo
commented
Thanks for the update. However despite the fact that one is able to remove widgets, the new look is still cluttered and too busy. The old version was easy on the eye and easy to navigate. Not sure why it was changed????
-
Chris Curlett
commented
Also, the level of Commercially Sensertive inform,ation that is avalable is a real concern. Compeditors would live to know who chstomers are/proft etc.
Come on, XERO - think about your customers and their business rather than just making changes to keep your software people busy.
There are LOTS of requests supported by many, many others that are far more important than something like this!
-
Gary Allen
commented
Just scrap new layout and keep existing one it works fine and does whats needed - its not broke so dont fix it!
-
Mark Devaney
commented
Put the graph back! It is a real pain to visually see our account health now! How can making widgets bigger to show less information be an upgrade?
-
Mark Devaney
commented
How can making widgets bigger to show less information be an upgrade? Put the graph back!
-
Mark Devaney
commented
How can making widgets bigger, to show less information, be an upgrade? Put the graph back!
-
Anna Bazarova
commented
I find the new layout tiring on the eyes.. Finance doesn't need cute bubbles - but practical simplified layout that helps everyday, practical tasks.
-
Claire Jones
commented
Switch back the homepage to the way it was. This new update is cluttered, difficult to ready and information is being lost.
-
Tina Keene
commented
My idea is to not change the Homepage because I think it looks messy and its difficult to read. Please do not change it.
-
Kimberley Ram
commented
@chris Curlett
Will be looking into infusion myself, thank you!!!!
-
Beverley De la Harpe
commented
@chris Curlett @fiona Davidson
Thanks for the info on infusion, yes please keep us posted
-
Fiona Davidson
commented
@ Chris Curlett - Thanks for the info on Infusion am checking it out now - Will post back here on my findings if anyone else is interested.
-
Fiona Davidson
commented
@ Dusteen Barber - Leave now before you get too deep, you cant bulk export any attachments or detailed data. We are almost 11 years in and currently being held ******* by our data.
-
Nereda Pinker
commented
As the others have commented, it's awful! Seems more cluttered and clunky than the old one, and agree the font is awful. I hate the size of the invoices and bills widget but can't do anything about it. At least in the old screen these two widgets are similar size to the others. You have changed the home screen which I think none of us asked for but have the changed the fact that we can only pay 200 invoices at a time?? Something that I raised 4 years ago, along with countless others!
-
DUSTEEN BARBER
commented
Creeping featurism.
As someone just starting to use Xero, I have to say, this kind of change was an *overwhelmingly* bad idea to roll out at the advent of US tax season. Whoever thought making a massive (and objectively inferior) change to the main interface when everyone is going to be rushing to meet deadlines and working on automatic pilot was a good idea should be sacked. Business 102 is "don't "fix" anything while stepping into in the midst of your highest caseload era."
Did you make sure your practice company and tutorials and articles were ready to teach new users/customers using this shiny new interface?
This new homepage is, as many of these comments I've read attest, a nightmare scene of white space and thin boxes. There's no clear division. It looks like it was designed by AI, and not by a person who actually has and uses their eyes. Get a way to at least add some unique background colors...some way to break up the information....something.
It's also a security nightmare. That is a LOT of sensitive data to have up on the home screen at all times by default, which several others have mentioned.
-
Fabio Henriques
commented
i create lots of "draft" emails so i can add multiple items and invoice once a month, can we create a "drafts" widget, or make it easier to get to draft invoices?
-
Tanja Schwindt
commented
I just put the following helpdesk request through
The new homepage is visually overwhelming for me and significantly increases cognitive load. I can currently switch back, but I don’t know how long that option will remain. Is it possible to keep the previous version without being forced onto the new layout?
Maybe if more people request it we might get an option to keep it
-
Tanja Schwindt
commented
I would like to share feedback regarding the new homepage layout.
While I appreciate that updates aim to improve functionality and modernise the interface, I experienced the new layout as visually overwhelming and cognitively heavier than the previous version.
Some specific observations:
Increased visual amplitude
The larger card sizes, expanded whitespace, and increased typography scale make the dashboard feel more dominant and “loud” compared to the previous compact layout.Greater visual emphasis on charts
The taller and more prominent graphs draw strong attention, even when I simply want to access operational data quickly. This shifts the tone from a bookkeeping workspace to a performance dashboard.Reduced spatial familiarity
The previous layout allowed for stable spatial memory. I knew exactly where key information was located. The new arrangement requires relearning navigation patterns, which increases cognitive effort.Scanning effort
The increased spacing between elements requires more eye travel and scanning distance, which can feel fatiguing during daily accounting tasks.Lack of compact mode
It would be highly beneficial to offer:
– A compact or reduced-density view
– A “bookkeeper” or operational mode versus an executive dashboard mode
– Greater control over card size and visual intensityFor users who work in accounting daily, predictability and visual calm are important for efficiency. The new layout may work well for high-level overview, but for operational users it increases cognitive load.
I would strongly encourage the option of a density toggle or minimal mode to improve accessibility for users who are sensitive to visual overstimulation.
Opening it for the first time created a stress response in me.
I got rid of most of it and tried to recreate the previous layout which is possible in a limited capacity.