Why people delete apps, and how to design so they don't
Onboarding, thumb-friendly layouts and small touches of feedback that make people keep an app on their phone.
By Nivra Technologies··4 min read
The first few minutes matter most
A lot of people who download an app never come back after the first session. Long sign-up forms, permission requests on the first screen and tutorials you can't skip all push them away.
Keep sign-up short: email or phone number first. Ask for profile details later, when the user actually needs them. Show people how the app works by letting them use it, not with a slideshow.
Design for thumbs
Phones are big, and the top corners are hard to reach with one hand. Put the main actions, tabs and confirm buttons in the bottom half of the screen.
Settings and account details can go in a menu or at the top. They're used less often, so it's fine if they're a stretch.
Show that something happened
When someone taps a button, the app should react straight away: a pressed state, a short animation, a loading indicator. Without it, people tap again or assume the app is broken. It's a small detail, but it's one of the things that makes an app feel solid.
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