Top 10 Mobile Usability Issues & Problems

We live in a world that is dominated by smartphones, and discovering new ways to interact with users is one of the most prevalent topics right now. Even though a good UI/UX is of extreme importance to the user, the actual usability should be also included. Usability is the capability of the product to be understood, learned, and operated. Usability is also paying attention to the details, having the pop-up appear at the right time, app being more intuitive or not, easily understood and navigated. Typically, the average user tends to decide whether they are going to use the app in the first 3-7 days of using it, but if the usability of the app is not satisfactory, then they might decide even sooner than that.

This blog article explores some of the biggest usability issues that a user might experience while using the app. Let's dive in.

1. Different OS, platform, or resolution

Not everyone uses the same phone brand and model, especially at a time when we have all kinds of different OS versions, and different phone shapes, like flip and foldables, all with various screen resolutions. One of the key things to be aware of is that the app should work as expected on any device with any resolution. In the past, this was a large challenge, however, that is not the case anymore as newer OS support developing an app for multiple platforms. Even if the OS and the version are the same, if the resolution between devices varies, the content can still look significantly different.

2. Restricted display orientations

We users nowadays are somewhat spoiled in the sense that we expect new apps that will be usable in both portrait and landscape mode. Mobile applications need to support both orientations, making sure that everything is accessible and that the content can be easily understood, no matter the orientation. All the content on the app must be visible in the landscape as it is in portrait mode, without any notable issues, such as the need to use side-scrolling to finish reading text or having overlap between the buttons, making some unusable.

3. Poor onboarding process

As mentioned above, users initially decide whether they are going to continue using the app in the first 3-7 days, but, if the onboarding is poorly executed, that might happen even faster. First-time users need to be shown around the app from the beginning so they know how to navigate. There are cases when onboarding for the app is not needed, especially when the app is fairly simple and easy to understand, but in most cases, and with most of the apps that we are using today, onboarding should be implemented.

Following the onboarding issues, the navigation through the app is also one of the biggest issues for mobile users. Users want to have the app simplified. No need for extra buttons, or added content that doesn’t have to be present. Have the most important buttons applied, giving the user the option to go from the home screen to any other part of the app as simply and fast as possible. Even if the user is presented with some kind of problem, the solution should be easy to find somewhere on the page. No need for extra tapping the screen, or having to spend extra time on the app trying to figure out where something is. At the end of the day, having a short learning time for navigating the app will make for a greater user experience.

5. Overly complicated or simplified UI

If you search for "greatest mobile app usability concerns of today" on the internet, you will get two plausible, yet contradictory replies. One side will tell you that app developers frequently overcomplicate their user interfaces by including excessive choices, making users do far too many taps to complete a task. On the other hand, some app developers oversimplify navigation to cut down on taps and touches, which may leave users confused about where they are going and why they are going there. Both situations lead to the same issue: reduced usability. You must carefully strike a balance between giving users only the information they need and facilitating quick and efficient navigation to avoid falling into these pitfalls.

6. Inaccessible content

The content of the app is the most important part. As such, it should be presented in a way in which all of the information is presented to the user, without the need for extra pinching or zooming. Pop-ups, on the other hand, are somewhat of a double-edged sword. They are usually not welcomed by the users because they tend to be overwhelming as they take up the whole screen, but they can also be very helpful if they are placed at the right time and place.

7. Unresponsive buttons

Nothing is more frustrating for a user than buttons not responding when clicked. Every button should have its purpose, and, whenever clicked, it should exercise that purpose. For any other case, the button should not be even present in the app. Furthermore, every button should be responsive when clicked. No user wants to click the same button multiple times, questioning whether they even pressed it in the first place, all in order to be navigated to the part of the app that they intended to visit.

8. Abundance of forms

Apps that do not have the option to store already-filled data are considered to be poor in terms of usability. This is especially important for email addresses, credit card information, or any other personal information. The user should be presented with the choice of whether or not they would like to save this information for future use. Mainly users tend to save the data because they are more inclined to make future purchases, and want to finish with the app in a shorter period without adding the same information all over again. Overall, auto-suggestion is also a powerful tool for a user-friendly experience. It helps users to minimize the data input and get immediate search results.

9. Poor security and user support

To add to the list of data usability issues, the security of the app is also very important for things such as banking, e-commerce, and generally any kind of application where personal information is stored. Users will most definitely opt out of using the app if they believe that their information is not securely stored. Moreover, mobile apps tend to make it more difficult to find help or real-time assistance, as opposed to most web services.

10. Lack of consistency

The behavior of the app during some kind of app interruption, such as locking the phone, receiving a phone call, or backgrounding the app should be consistent every time. For example, if a user receives a phone call while using the app after the phone call is done, the app should be in the same state as it was before the phone call. It would be a very frustrating experience for the user if, for example, they are ordering something, start putting down all the information on the app and after an app interruption they find out they have to go through the whole process all over again.

Key takeaways

Users typically decide whether to continue using an app within the first 3-7 days, and poor usability can lead to even quicker abandonment.
Inconsistencies in UI across platforms can significantly impact usability and user satisfaction.
A well-balanced UI ensures users can navigate efficiently without unnecessary steps, while still providing enough guidance to avoid confusion.

Conclusion

There are many key aspects regarding usability to consider when designing a mobile app. Through it all, it is important to remember that usability testing is not just something to be checked off of the project schedule, but a critical part in ensuring the quality of the user experience. TestDevLab can assist with overcoming the potential issues you may encounter with our testing services, providing you with a wide range of expertise among our team of professionals.

If you’re looking to launch a mobile app that exceeds user expectations, contact us to learn more about our usability testing services and how you can get a custom-tailored solution for your application.