
Since users can tap, pinch, swipe, and rotate their mobile screens, the navigation design will differ for a touch-based interface. The way users interact with your app also differentiates the mobile and desktop onboarding experience.

Navigation design differs for mouse-based and touch-based interfaces Instead, you’ll need a scaled-down and minimal design to create a less cluttered flow, hold mobile users' attention for a long, and enable navigation for thumbs over mice. You can combine your in-app onboarding process with exciting visuals, contextual push notifications, and in-the-moment messaging to engage new users and encourage them to complete the process.īut smaller mobile screens create usability constraints, and replicating your desktop interface can overwhelm most users. Given the small(ish) size of a mobile screen, onboarding flows need to be much more immersive. Mobile screens are more immersive but have usability constraints Unlike web apps, a mobile onboarding flow has to be shorter and more engaging to ensure users complete all the steps. Remember, they’re on their phone for a reason and there’s a high chance they’re not at their desk, which means they’re on the go and surrounded by distractions. This means mobile app onboarding is constantly vying for attention against other apps and real-world situations interrupting the user on their phone.

Mobile users tend to juggle five different apps at a time-whether it's scrolling through TikTok or replying to a Slack message.

More scope for distraction on mobile than on desktop Here are four reasons why any onboarding flow has to be designed separately for mobile and web apps. An ideal onboarding flow should engage and educate new users, clarifying how they can benefit from your product, and nudge them toward activation.
