Mobile App User Onboarding: Convert Installs to Active Users

Onboarding Goals

Onboarding should get users to the "aha moment" as quickly as possible. Identify your core value and guide users to experience it immediately.

Choose from welcome tours, progressive onboarding, personalization flows, or learning by doing. Match the pattern to your app's complexity.

Explain why you need permissions before asking. Show value propositions specific to each permission. Allow users to continue without granting.

Don't overwhelm users with all features at once. Reveal functionality as users need it. Use contextual tips and hints.

New users see empty screens. Turn these into opportunities with helpful guidance and clear calls to action.

Track completion rates, time to value, and early retention. Identify drop-off points and optimize those steps specifically.

Test different onboarding approaches. Even small changes can significantly impact activation rates. Iterate based on data.