Bring back Trello Classic View

[Pamela O_Connor]

The new Trello Personal Productivity views are completely unusable for our organization’s needs. The changes are significantly disrupting our workflow and reducing the overall usability of the platform.

It is critical that users are given the option to retain the classic view. Forcing a one-size-fits-all layout disregards the diverse ways teams use Trello and undermines the flexibility that made the tool so effective.

We very strongly urge Atlassian to restore access to the classic interface or provide an option to switch between views. Without this, we will need to explore alternative solutions that better support our operational needs.

[Angela Catalfamo · Accepted solution]

Yes! WT heck!? This platform is almost completely useless to me now!? It's doubled my work time because I switch between boards frequently and now have to go searching for my list of boards  every time. NTM The board name lust to the left also served as a reminder/ task list that is now gone. This is a cluster

[Pamela O_Connor]

Sending along more formal feedback that I gave to Atlassian support rep.

I must continue to express just how deeply disruptive the new "Personal Productivity" interface has been for our team.

The removal of the persistent left-hand sidebar and reconfiguration of the board navigation is more than a minor inconvenience, it has fundamentally broken how we use Trello across projects. What once took one click now takes three or more. The process of switching between boards is now circular and cumbersome, especially for team project leads and managers who need to move rapidly between multiple boards throughout the day. Our workspace runs 50+ boards and there is no longer a clear, efficient way to see and access our Workspace boards at a glance.

Collaborating across shared workflows and quickly referencing across project boards simply cannot happen in the new interface. By forcing a single-user, task-centered view, Trello now feels like a personal planner, not a team tool. It is entirely at odds with how real-world teams operate.

To directly address your questions:

• Yes, the left sidebar was essential for navigating between projects efficiently. Without it, we are constantly reloading pages, clicking through menus, and losing context.

• Workspace views, sidebar board visibility, and team-wide overviews are critical. These are not "nice to have" features, they are necessary for working at scale.

• The Inbox and Planner might work well for individuals managing their own to-do lists. But for managers and admins overseeing dozens of project streams, the new layout is limiting, inefficient, and unintuitive.

I understand your comment that maintaining two interfaces is difficult for your team. But removing a deeply embedded, functional workflow feature without an opt-out option is extremely short-sighted. A significant interface overhaul should offer flexibility, not a forced redesign that removes core functionality.

At a minimum, Atlassian/Trello needs to:

1. Restore a way to persistently view and switch between Workspace boards—ideally via the sidebar.

2. Provide a user option to return to the classic navigation experience.

3. Acknowledge that the new design does not suit organizational workflows, and prioritize team-based features over solo-task views.

[jenn]

Atlassian has clearly chosen to focus on the Enterprise level customer, and left the smaller user groups to fend for themselves. 

Reading through the user feedback since the roll out of the 'new' look, Atlassian has advised that Trello is "evolving into an entirely different product" - no longer for project management, and to 'just try Jira'. 

[Michelle Schiffbauer]

Just today I received the new Trello and it is awful!  Completely beings my workflow to a standstill without the Boards on the Side Panel.  We have used Trello for work for many years and we adapted to it.  Now, our entire workflow is impacted.  None of the team members in our company who have been forced into this version are having any positives come from it.  Bring back the Side Panel for Boards!!!

[Daydreamer Mike]

Atlassian would love you to explore Jira 😂

I do know that on the whole, the refresh has been received well, it is a calculated risk and one I know the Trello team hasn't taken lightly.

My opinion is pivoting towards individual productivity is an internal strategy but I don't work for Atlassian so I can say that Trello is a tool for individual productivity, lightweight project and workflow management and team collaboration.  I deal with many clients where Trello is the perfect solution in all those areas and Jira definitely isn't!

Bottom line though, Trello had to reinvent itself or die and unfortunately you fall in the category of collateral in this instance.  

One thing I am 90% sure of is there is no going back now..  

I would urge you to see if you and your team can adapt, not because I am a lover of Trello but because shifting to an entirely different system is not a straightforward endeavour. It has the potential to cause the team more time, cost and pain to do so. 

However, no tool should ever dictate your workflow so if you reach that point, you probably have no choice but to look into alternatives.

Can you tell me what areas of the new Trello are causing you and your team the greatest issue?

[jenn]

@Daydreamer Mike That is the saddest response I've seen, yet. You basically told this user "bye Felicia!" 

[Daydreamer Mike]

Hi @jenn 

I don't work for Atlassian and I have given an honest reply.  From what I have seen, the response to new Trello has been largely positive but it won't fit everyone and that is just the unfortunate reality of it.  You can't please all of the people all of the time and all that...

I think it stings more for those users because those who really dislike the new Trello experience in general were perfectly happy with the old Trello.  This is why the response for those who don't like it is so strong and emotional.  

As a consultant, my advice is never be tied to or held to ransom by any piece of software. You have to do what is right for your business and your team and sometimes that means looking at alternatives. 

[BAMxJustin]

The biggest problem IMO is the fact that quick action buttons have been given an extra click. AFAIK there's not even a hotkey so they introduced an extra step just so their card view can look simpler. Why not allow you to toggle the side panes with powerups and automations like you can with the history?

Yes, software needs to be updated and people don't like change, but purposefully slowing down productivity to look mildly more sleek is asinine.

[Pamela O_Connor]

Just replied on the main thread with the features that are unusable for me and my team.