Mastering the Microsoft 365 Admin Center Dashboard: Simplified vs. Dashboard View

The Microsoft 365 Admin Center (admin.microsoft.com) is the central control hub for managing your organization’s services. Knowing how to efficiently navigate and customize the dashboard can save valuable time for administrators.

This guide explores the two main dashboard modes—Simplified and Dashboard View—and shows you how to tailor the interface to your daily administrative tasks.

Accessing the Admin Dashboard

To start, you must log in with an account that has Global Admin privileges:

Open your browser and navigate to admin.microsoft.com [00:10].
Log in using your Global Admin credentials and complete the required multi-factor authentication (MFA) [00:29].
The system will default to displaying your home dashboard.

1. The Simplified View

The Simplified View is the default setting, designed for quick access to the most common tasks.

Key Features of the Simplified View:

Left Navigation Pane: Provides all comprehensive options for administration.
Right Dashboard: Offers a basic, easy-to-read list of core tasks you can perform directly:
- Users: Quickly Add a user or Reset password [01:09].
- Groups: Instantly Add a group.
- Subscription: Manage billing, view licenses, Add more products, and check payment methods/invoices [01:34].
- Upcoming Changes: View announcements from Microsoft regarding service updates [02:01].
- Learn: Access recommended learning resources.
Service Health: You can quickly check the health status of all your Microsoft applications from a dedicated section [03:50].

Additional Navigation Tools:

Use the three-dot icon (⋮) to toggle the interface between dark mode and light mode [02:21].
The Help and support icon provides direct access to submit support tickets or search for help [02:32].
You can install the Admin App on your phone by scanning a QR code available in the menu [03:01].

2. The Dashboard View (Customized Grid)

The Dashboard View switches the interface to a grid layout, allowing for greater customization and a quick glance at various administration areas. This view is particularly useful for organizations with specialized administrators (e.g., Billing Admin, Entra Admin) [08:03].

How to Switch and Customize:

From the Simplified View, look near the top of the dashboard and click the option to switch to Dashboard View [04:47].
The dashboard will initially show default cards like User management and Billing [04:59].
To tailor the view, click the “Customize dashboard” option.
In the customization panel, you can add or remove pre-built cards relevant to your role, such as:
- Service Health
- Message Center (for change announcements)
- Microsoft Entra (for identity management) [05:58]
- Domains
- Role-based access for admins
After selecting your desired cards, refresh the page [06:37]. Your dashboard will now display only the management cards you need for your specific daily tasks [07:07].

By using the Dashboard View, you can create a highly focused workspace, preventing distractions and ensuring you have quick access to the most critical tools for your administrative role.