Facebook Professional Dashboard: Where It Went and How to Use It

If you've followed an older guide telling you to click 'Professional dashboard' and the button isn't there, this is why. Facebook split the dashboard into two versions, one tailored to creators and one to businesses, and renamed it. The tools inside are mostly the same, and the tools are still there once you know the new name to look for.

Creator Dashboard vs Business Dashboard

Tool	Creator Dashboard	Business Dashboard
Insights, with a 90-day overview	Yes	Included
Content library	Yes	Included
Comments manager	Yes	Included
Education tools	Yes	Included
Monetization eligibility	Yes	Only for some business users
Fan engagement	Yes	Not included

You can switch between the two at any time, so pick the one that fits how you use Facebook. A coach, writer or performer usually wants the creator version for the fan tools. A shop, salon or agency usually wants the business version.

How to find your dashboard

Starting from	What to tap or click
Your Page or pro mode profile	Creator Dashboard or Business Dashboard
Your Feed on a phone	Menu at the top right, then the dashboard
Your Feed on a computer	The dashboard in the left menu

No dashboard at all? You need a Facebook Page, or a personal profile with pro mode switched on. To turn on pro mode, click your profile photo, then your name, then Options below your cover photo, then Turn on pro mode. Facebook says it adds professional tools to your existing profile. It doesn't create a new profile, but it does set Who can follow me to Public.

How to switch between Creator and Business

1. Open your dashboard on your phone.
2. Below Other, near the bottom, tap Settings.
3. On a pro mode profile, tap Dashboards, then For creators or For businesses. On a Page, tap Page setup under Audience and visibility, then Page type, then Creator or Business.
4. Tap Confirm.

Reading your insights: three limits to know

• The overview covers 90 days. The dashboard's Insights summary looks at the last 90 days of content performance.
• Page Insights only go back 2 years. If you want older numbers, you'll need to have saved them yourself.
• Demographics need 100 people. Age, gender and location only appear once there's data for 100 or more people, so a small new Page won't see them yet.

And if your Page is set up as a Community Page, there are no Insights at all. If impressions or reach numbers confuse you, my plain-English guide to what impressions mean on Facebook helps.

What to do in the dashboard each week

1. Check Insights for the posts that did best, and note what they have in common.
2. Open the Comments manager and reply to anything you missed. It shows every comment in one place and lets you search them.
3. Use the Content library to see how older posts are still performing.
4. If you're a creator, look at Fan engagement to spot your most engaged followers.
5. Skim the Education tools when Facebook adds something new.

Fifteen minutes a week here does more for a Page than another hour of posting blind. For the bigger picture, my guide on how the Facebook algorithm works explains what the numbers are telling you.

Pro mode profile or Page: which gets you the better dashboard?

	Pro mode profile	Facebook Page
What you get	Your personal profile with professional tools added	A separate presence for a business, a brand or a well-known person
Friends and family	Unchanged, on the same profile	Kept apart from your Page audience
Followers	Who can follow me is set to Public	People follow the Page
Dashboard	Creator or Business Dashboard	Creator or Business Dashboard
Best for	Creators who want one place for everything	Businesses and anyone who wants work kept separate

If you're a business owner who also posts personally, a Page usually makes more sense. Your customers get a clean business presence, and your holiday photos stay with friends and family. If you're a creator whose personal life is part of the content, pro mode keeps it all in one place.

Dashboard problems and fixes

• No dashboard button. Switch into your Page first, or turn on pro mode on your profile.
• Demographics are blank. You need data for at least 100 people before age, gender and location show.
• No Insights at all. Check your Page isn't set up as a Community Page, which doesn't get Insights.
• Monetization missing. Facebook says that section is only visible to some business users.

Before you turn pro mode off

If you're thinking of switching pro mode off because the dashboard feels like overkill, know what you'll lose. Facebook says your existing content and audience insights won't be available, and you'll lose followers who aren't your friends, because Who can follow me changes to Friends.

My verdict

The professional dashboard hasn't gone, it's been renamed and split in two. Choose Creator Dashboard if you're building an audience, Business Dashboard if you're running a business, and use it weekly for insights and comments. If you can't find it, check you're on your Page or that pro mode is switched on.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the professional dashboard on Facebook?

It's now called Creator Dashboard or Business Dashboard. Find it on your Page or pro mode profile, or in the left menu on a computer.

Why can't I see professional dashboard on Facebook?

Facebook renamed it, and you need a Page or a profile with pro mode on to see it.

How far back do Facebook Page Insights go?

Two years. The dashboard overview covers the last 90 days.

Can I switch from Business Dashboard to Creator Dashboard?

Yes, at any time, from the dashboard's Settings.