Understanding Why Users Abandon Apps

If you plan to build an app as a part of your business strategy, you should be aware of the following statistic:

71% of users will stop using an app within the first 90 days of downloading (Statista).

While this percentage might seem scary, it has good reasons behind it.

To understand them, let's dive into user mentality and see some of the most common issues users face before uninstalling apps.

The first interaction with the app

A long and complicated sign-up process is one of the most common reasons for deleting an app.

One in four users quit after this step, and this statistic has not changed in years.

Users look for apps that promise to save or manage their time completing tasks and challenges. When it takes too long to begin testing the app, it becomes meaningless, so users lose patience and curiosity.

So, helping users achieve their goals from the first use of your app should be one of your priorities. Making the onboarding process unnoticeable will encourage users to finish the registration process.

Create an appealing and intuitive UX design. Be sure the interface is clean, easy to learn, and communicates the app's purpose.

Common mission

Your app is part of your business, so it should have a Unique Selling Proposition. The USP makes your users choose your app over another with the same features.

Find out what makes your app unique and not easy to replace. List the benefits that distinguish your app from the competition.

Start by asking what problem your app solves, in which way, and for whom. Be as specific as possible. A generic app is unlikely to solve any big issue for your users.

Intrusive ads

Ads can make or break your business. Running ads is a popular way to monetize an app. But also a reason for users to abandon it.

To make sure your users have a positive experience with your ads, be careful:

• Where you place the advertisement on the screen and how easy to ditch them.
• The number of ads you run in a specific time to avoid being spammy.
• Who are the advertisers you want to associate with your app.

Low-quality ads that fail to resonate with your brand can damage your reputation.

Stressful notifications

Keeping users updated and asking for feedback is crucial for the growth of your app. But when your app sends too many push notifications, emails, and in-app messages, it can become a source of stress.

Remember, your goal is to solve a problem for your user, not to create another one.

Ensure you provide a way to turn off the notifications from the settings. 

Security concerns

Users do not trust an app that asks for too many permissions.

Imagine you sell a food delivery app and ask for permission to access your photos, contact list, and microphone. It will look suspicious, and for good reasons!

Although permissions grant you control over your data, dangerous data breaches are common, even from big companies. Users feel too exposed when a small app needs so much sensitive information. So, they will search for less intrusive apps if yours requires too many things to function.

To make your app feel safe and trustworthy, incorporate privacy policies.

Too many features

The biggest challenge as a developer is to make people build a habit of using your app.

The problem arises when an app is too complex and takes up too much storage space on the mobile device.

Starting simple and releasing features over time is effective because several features that solve specific problems are unlikely to become overwhelming.

Also, growing your app over time will give users a reason to stay and contribute to changes. Especially if they know you value their feedback.

As you may have noticed, the most common reason users abandon apps is poor user experience.

We can conclude, in the end, that there are two big problems:

• The lack of clarity results from an unintuitive design, an unclear mission, and confusing features.
• The lack of functionality results from useless ads, stressful notifications, and security concerns.

Being transparent and intentional with your app will help you avoid many problems from day one.

Wrap up!

If you dream of gratifying your user experience by building a mobile app, you know it is not easy. But you have more chances to succeed if you research, plan, and make intentional decisions about every aspect of your app from the beginning.