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How can I change back to classic view? I do not have the switch option under the gear icon.

Forum|Forum|10 months ago
October 2, 2025
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QuickBooks Online

Best answer by katelynner

How do I switch a report back to classic view in QuickBooks Online, and where did the option go?

The reason the "Switch to classic view" option is gone is that QuickBooks Online has moved reporting to Modern view, and the classic view option has been retired for standard reports. Your data and saved reports carried over automatically, so nothing was lost, and everything you relied on in classic reporting is available in modern view. Here's what changed and how to do what you need in the new view.

What happened to classic view

QuickBooks rebuilt reporting on a modern platform so reports load faster, handle more data, and offer clearer insights. As part of that move, standard reports now open in Modern view and the option to switch an individual report back to classic has been retired.

For the full details and the current timeline, see the official transition notice: Transition from Classic to Modern View reports.

Your saved and custom reports are safe

You don't need to recreate anything. Your data, filters, groupings, and saved customizations moved to Modern view automatically, so your reports show the same information, just in the new layout.

How to do familiar tasks in Modern view

Most of what lived in classic is now easier to reach, and you can set everything at once and run the report a single time.

Go to Reports.
Open the report you want. It opens in Modern view.
Use the header controls for the common settings: the reporting period (dates), the Cash vs Accrual toggle, and Display columns by or Compare to.
Open Customization (or Columns and Filter) to choose columns, grouping, and filters, then run the report.

Step-by-step help: Customize reports in QuickBooks Online.

A few nice upgrades in Modern view

Reports like General Ledger and Trial Balance now follow standard accounting order, inactive and zero-balance accounts are hidden by default (you can filter them back in), and you can export to Excel with live formulas intact. Higher-tier plans add extras like color-coded columns and banded rows.

Share your feedback

If modern view is missing something you counted on, tell the team directly so it can help shape what comes next.

Go to the Gear icon, then select Feedback under Profile.
Describe what you need, then select Next to submit.

If there's a specific report or customization you can't reproduce in Modern view, reply with the report name and what you're trying to see, and we'll walk you through it.

J

Jandel_M

QuickBooks Team

Hi there, andacielo.

Before we start, could you please let us know if you are referring to the classic view of the interface? As of October 2023, QuickBooks Online has updated its interface to the new modern design, where previous layout with the black navigation panel is no longer available, as Intuit has standardized the new look and removed legacy versions.

Or are you referring to the classic view when running reports in QuickBooks Online? If so, which report are you trying to access? Note that only certain reports can be switched to classic view.

In the meantime, here’s how you can switch to classic view:

1. Hover over Reports in the left side panel and click Standard reports.

2. Select the specific report you want to view.

3. On the upper part of the screen, click Switch to classic view.

Feel free to leave a reply in the thread below if you have any questions.

H

Hayek_Logic

I believe that I - and my students - are facing the same situation that andacielo is facing:

As of this week, it seems that Intuit has changed our QuickBooks dashboard view from the Classic View to the Modern View. There was no warning about this - no countdown. In typical, poor business-like QuickBooks manner, the change was made without the paid subscriber (customer - me, my students) having any advanced notification.

Up until this point, the option to switch to the Classic View was available on the Gear icon menu. That option is no longer there. Please advise how we can switch back to the Classic View now. Please don't tell me is not possible. Anyone that understands an iota about software development knows that there is still a way to do it. The programming to do it has not been removed, what has been removed is the convenient method (menu option) for doing so.

Please provide us with a method for switching back to the Classic View interface.

Thank you

J

JP1921

I am having the same problem. I have tried downloading desktop view and that doesn't work as well. I can't even figure out how to work the new format. I hate it.

R

Rea_M

Level 10

Adjusting to a new format can definitely be challenging, but reaching out is a great first step, JP1921. Let’s work together to figure out how we can make this new setup easier and smoother for you.

Before we proceed, could you confirm whether you're experiencing issues with the new layout or if you’d prefer to switch back to the old one? This will help us better understand your situation and provide the most effective support.

Please note that all US-based QuickBooks Online (QBO) customers have been permanently upgraded to the new interface, and switching back to the old layout is no longer possible. This also applies to the QBO Desktop app. This update is designed to improve efficiency, offering customizable features that bring all the tools you need together in one place.

To help make this transition smoother and guide you in navigating through the new user interface, here are some helpful resources for you:

On the other hand, your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the new user interface so we can continue improving and making it work better for you. Here's how:

Log in to your QuickBooks Online account.
Go to the Gear icon in the upper right and choose Feedback under Profile.
Type in your recommendation in the Share your feedback field.
Click Next to submit.

If you have any other questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to help.

katelynner

Answer

Community Manager