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 team, we have some updates to share. Before we dive into the details, we want to be clear that while we’re committed to monitoring, learning, and refining the Homepage, we don’t intend to return to the previous Dashboard style or its column-based widget layout.
A few months back, we rolled out several enhancements to the "Edit homepage" capability to give you better control over your layout, including:
- Widgets that remain stationary until they are dropped into a new placement
- A "shadow" preview showing exactly where a widget will be placed during drag-and-drop
- Refined animations for a much smoother visual experience
- Improved on-page guidance regarding how to save multiple layouts across different screen sizes
In addition to the existing size options for Chart of Accounts and Cash In and Out, our team is currently building smaller widget sizes for Invoices Owed to You, Bills to Pay, Chart of Account, Cash in and Out and Recent Invoice payments widgets. This includes customisation of the data within these widgets to best suit your needs, such as removing the charts. We’ll provide a confirmation once these updates are live.
There are also other enhancements that our teams are beginning to explore to further solve needs shared in feedback here, so we’ll continue to keep you updated.
If you need help setting up or editing your homepage, please reach out to the Xero Support team. They can help you design a view that best supports your specific workflows. Thanks
-
Amy Dai
commented
Totally agree with Kelly Ross. The new dashboard looks somewhat overwhelming. The current version is clear and simple to work with. In fact, we do not need so many changes from the Xero development team. Xero is an accounting software—a tool to support our own business operations. We would appreciate being left with a stable interface for a while.
-
Peter Burgess
commented
The new dashboard layout is disappointing. The previous layout is by far my preferred. Simple and easy to access all the information I need. The new layout appears to be a significant step backwards.
Also, usability when moving around and resizing widgets in poor. Just aligning all my bank accounts in a column on the far right is a feat in itself.. each time you drag a widget to the left, an existing widget on the left then pops out to the right. The layout is cluttered and blocky.. maybe delay the rollout until you can improve on what you had before? -
Brandon Shillady, Macc, CPA, EA
commented
Can't you leave things the way they are? Layout wise? Improvements are one thing, and should be added when available. But why do you have to move things around. Just add the new stuff in a new spot.
-
Jamie Wood
commented
I really dislike the new homepage and to have no choice from the 26th January 2026 is very disappointing.
I have 31 clients and not one of them will be impressed with this change.
Most of them do not need all these bells and whistles.A software that is plain, simple and user friendly has been the biggest selling point for Xero and that is why my clients like and use this software.
Please have the option to use both, new and old layouts.
It would be a really good addition to Xero to have both layouts available, as one layout will not suit all, but having both will. -
[Deleted User]
commented
I like the new navigation and homepage. I do think however, that makes no sense to display name of the selected entity twice. Once in the navigation bar (selector) and again below. This is highly valuable "screen real estate" and should be used differently.
Especially as this additional "bar" isn't part of the interface in the sales, purchases and accounting tabs.
-
Meradene Johnston
commented
I agree the new homepage is way to busy. And the red in the graphs is angry.
As a long term daily user changing the position of things is frustrating. Also have buttons that do the opposite job so close to each other like the files page is time consuming.
-
Tony Linton-Ffrost
commented
The homepage is way too busy !
I understand there are individuals within the Xero organisation who need to justify their position/salary and develop/update your product. However, please don't fix something that is not broken.
You are streets in front of MYOB - don't go backwards.
-
Karen Hughes
commented
I agree with Kamahl Fox on this - far too noisy and not at all useful for a small business with low transactional volume. Also completely inappropriate for the many employees who are only using Xero for one or two specific roles. For example,someone who simply processes invoicing (those that haven't changed vocations since that changed) and bank reconciliations is going to be totally overwhelmed with the barrage of irrelevant boxes full of text and diagrams.
It seems that the concepts for these 'upgrades' are coming from people who don't actually use the software in a day-to-day functional manner. More likely the ideas come from accountants or financial planners who are only interested in the overview of historical transactions.
Feels like an attempt to justify the inflated price structure and make things look like we're getting more than we actually are.
-
Jessica Jones
commented
The New homepage feels to busy and noisy, for clients who manage multiple bank accounts in multiple currency's need a more simplified View
-
Steph Drane
commented
I'm a dinosaur when it comes to IT, I just want to use the program I've learnt with as little change as possible.
I have also discovered at huge financial cost that updates mean that Xero can't be accessed on 'old" devices (in my case less than 5 years and perfectly fine to run the rest of our business from).
I'd rather you kept the cost down and stopped changing things so I can just get on with doing the accounts.
If you make it so that I can change the homepage I'll never do it, I don't have the time, energy or inclination to faff around with that. I just want to get the accounts done.
I feel like Xero is becoming aimed at tech savvy users who are happy to buy into consumerism and buy a new device every year just to look a different layout. Could there be a dinosaur version for old ***** like me who don't know what 'interface means', don't like things changing and having to relearn, don't care if they're not using the most up to date gadget and just want to run their business as simply, economically , environmentally kind an hassle free as possible please?
-
Tracy Butcher
commented
The new homepage idea is too busy, too much to look at and too chaotic. The clean dashboard currently available with open space and fewer colors and stuff is much nicer to look at. Going into menus to get additional data or reports is much more preferred and easier on the eyes and brain.
-
Sylvia Finn
commented
Totally agree, we should have option to stay with current layout..new one far too cluttered
-
Rob Pennoyer
commented
Disagree. It's easier to remove things that aren't relevant than it is to hunt through a gallery of new items. Seeing them all laid out lets you know what's available.
-
Anna Whitson
commented
Dashboard now looks very cluttered, and provides information that is not necessary at this point. With more than one bank account involved, it seems we would have to scroll down to see this information rather than seeing it easily now. Not a fan
-
[Deleted User]
commented
Change is good so long as it improves the users experience. I have had a reasonable look at the new analytics, it's not something I am likely to use as it's a bit overwhelming for anyone who doesn't know how to use the ratio's etc. I personally prefer to use reports to compile relative data - as this gives me a deeper insight into what is included in these ratio's. Analytics is very slow. The user needs more control over the forecasting - I felt the results from the trial I had completed didn't return a reasonable forecast.I am sure in time, I will get used to the new design, however at first glance, it's very noisy! Without drilling deeper, it's really difficult to give this appropriate feedback - time will tell, but I hope we haven't lost functionality without first consulting with the community who pay for and use Xero.
-
Collin Corso
commented
I actually like the look of the new dashboard, but I'm a data lover.. I can see your point and don't disagree - but I do find the navigation of the new dashboard more logical.
-
Debbie Lynch
commented
I agree, it is cluttered and looks so similar to MYOB Dashboard which is absolutely awful, and part of the reason I moved to Xero!! I love how the current Xero Dashboard view is simple and only shows what I want to see, if I want to view more info then I just select through the Menu options.
Please don't change things unnecessarily the way MYOB did, I am not aware that any users have asked for this (maybe I'm wrong), I think you should focus more on the important requests suggested by your users. -
Patty Arceri
commented
Totally agree. One thing I’d find challenging is the new dashboard layout. It now requires scrolling down to view everything. In the current (existing) layout, I can see all key information in one snapshot without needing to scroll, which makes it quicker and easier to get an overview of my accounts.
For day-to-day use, having everything visible at a glance is far more efficient. The new layout feels less user-friendly in that respect, and I’d really prefer the dashboard to retain the existing “all in one view” style.
-
Andrea Saville
commented
Totally agree, far too busy and should be completely customisable. It is a pity that so much effort has been put in to aestethics rather than addressing issues like being able to see part-supplied purchase orders or being able to customise export details.
-
JoAnn Ortiz
commented
My first thought when opening this up was 'what am I looking at?' I need a simpler interface which is something I have always loved about Xero vs QBO. This is busy and visually overwhelming. I freeze, unable to see what I am looking for even though it's in from of me. My hope is that this will be customizable per user and be granular so as to allow a minimal amount of widgets and colors. The combination of the two for me, makes this home page a nightmare.