Getting Started: Tour of the menus, icons, dashboard and other tabs
Learn how to use the menus, icons, dashboard and other tabs at the top of every screen in Xero. Your user role will determine the menus, icons and tabs available to you.
Menus
Xero has 2 menus to help you set up Xero the way you want, and move between organisations: Name menu and My Xero.
Name menu
Click your name at the top right of the screen to display the menu allowing you to access your Xero profile, account settings, and the logout button.
My Xero
From the header, click the list icon to see the My Xero menu. From here you can view and manage all organisations you have access to.
You can also access the subscription options by clicking Xero Subscription in your General Settings, then clicking Manage in My Xero to show them in a new browser window.
Icons
Xero displays up to 5 icons on the top right of the screen which provide access to some special features: Plus sign, Files, Notifications, Search, and Help.
Plus sign
Click the plus sign to quickly create new transactions via spend money or receive money, transfer money, or create a new invoice, bill, quote, purchase order, contact or manual journal.
Files
From the header, click the file icon to open the file library where you can use and manage your files.
Notifications
Click the notification pop-up or envelope icon to access your notifications.
Search
Click the magnifying glass to start searching in Xero.
Help
From the header, click the question mark icon to see all your options for getting help while you're using Xero.
Dashboard tab
When you've set up your Xero account, the Dashboard screen is like a home page for your organisation. The dashboard provides graphical snapshots of key indicators for your organisation.
Other tabs
The main menu bar has up to 5 tabs, as well as the Dashboard, to help you use Xero for the organisation you are logged in to.
Accounts
Manage the main business functions of your organisation: bank accounts, sales, purchases, inventory items, expense claims, and fixed assets.
Reports
View your data using standard and Xero reports. You can customise many of these reports to suit your organisation’s needs.
Contacts
Add and manage the people and organisations you do business with.
Settings
Change your organisation settings, manage users and find app services.
Organisation
- Organisation Settings
- Tracking
- Conversion Balances
- Tax Rates
- Xero Subscription
- Chart of accounts
- Financial Settings
- Users
- Custom Contact Links
Features
- Invoice Settings
- Currencies (for some Xero pricing plans)
- Pay Items (if you're a payroll admin for pay run)
- Cheque Styles
- Email Settings
Connect
Adviser
If you have been set up with the Adviser user role, this menu will display. Here you can create, edit and save reports and journals.