Effective Strategies Unveiled in Mobile App Walkthroughs for Feature Introductions
Mobile app developers are constantly seeking ways to make new features visible, understandable, and attractive to users. Here's a comprehensive plan for introducing new functionalities, drawing on expert guidance from Userpilot and best practices from multiple 2025 sources.
Principle 1: Trigger Walkthroughs Based on User Intent, Not Just Screen Navigation
Rather than showing walkthroughs at random, it's crucial to wait until users exhibit intent to engage with a specific feature. This approach ensures that users are receptive and ready to learn about the new functionality.
Principle 2: Focus the Walkthrough on the Feature's Value, Not Just Its Existence
Well-designed walkthroughs transform new features into familiar tools, reducing confusion, improving adoption, and giving users the confidence to explore more. The focus should be on how the feature enhances the user experience or solves a problem, using clear, benefit-focused messaging.
Principle 3: Choose the Right Format for the User's State (New)
Effective strategies for introducing new features involve delivering in-app, timely, and relevant guidance. This can be achieved by making the walkthrough contextual and relevant, using visual aids, including a strong call-to-action, targeting the right audience segment, and employing unobtrusive UI elements.
Principle 4: Always Tie the Walkthrough to an Actionable Button
Walkthroughs should prompt immediate engagement, encouraging users to try the feature. This can be done by incorporating actionable buttons like "Try it now" or "Explore this new feature."
Principle 5: Include a Dismiss Option for Users
It's important to respect user preferences. If a user decides they don't want to learn about a new feature right away, they should have the option to dismiss the walkthrough.
Principle 6: Reinforce the Walkthrough with a Follow-up Later
To ensure that users don't forget about a new feature, a follow-up reminder can be sent later to reinforce the introduction.
Show the Walkthrough at the Right Time
Walkthroughs should appear when they align with user behavior in the moment. For example, Calm introduces features like "Sleep Stories" the first time a user taps that tab, using animations, microcopy, and a smooth tap-through flow.
Avoid Ignoring Existing User Behavior
Notion highlights features like templates or AI tools only when a user triggers a related action. This approach ensures that users are already engaged with the feature's context before being introduced to it.
Limit Information Overload
Effective walkthroughs introduce just one feature at a time, avoiding the temptation to list all new things in a single modal or carousel. This approach helps users to absorb the information more easily.
Think of Walkthroughs as Micro-Conversations
Rather than viewing walkthroughs as tutorials, think of them as conversations that introduce features in context, tied to user intent. This approach makes the learning process more engaging and less overwhelming.
Avoid Showing the Same Walkthrough to Everyone
Showing the same walkthrough to everyone might seem efficient, but it quickly backfires as users tend to ignore generic walkthroughs. Instead, target the right audience segment to maximise adoption.
Avoid Duplicating Efforts
Duolingo introduces new features only after users complete a few core sessions, using short, visual, and action-focused walkthroughs. This approach ensures that users are already familiar with the basics before being introduced to new functionalities.
Timing is Key
Walkthroughs that appear before the user has context or at an inappropriate time are often ignored. Show the walkthrough at a time when users have built familiarity with the app.
In conclusion, by following these principles, mobile app developers can create effective walkthroughs that promote higher adoption and satisfaction among users. This, in turn, can help reduce the high rate of daily active users lost just three days after installation, a common problem in the mobile app industry.
