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How to reduce your mobile app uninstall rate and minimize app abandonments

The growth of the mobile app industry is revolutionary, but it also brings some challenges alongside the benefits and advantages. These challenges can make or mar your online business altogether.

While it has become easier to convert a website to APK, retaining users and preventing app abandonments is a huge test that can be overwhelming at times.

To help you get clearer insights behind the causes of app abandonments, we will discuss this issue to the core in our blog today. We have also compiled the list of strategies that you can implement and prevent the loss of users.

So, explore the blog further and find the causes of app abandonments. Learn the tips to tackle it and grow your rate of mobile app installations and conversions.

Suggested Read: Making users come back: How to enhance app user retention?

In this blog

  1. Mobile app uninstalls and abandonments – A statistical case study
  1. Why do people uninstall or abandon an app – Five reasons
  1. Tips to reduce uninstalls and boost user engagement

Mobile app uninstalls and abandonments – A statistical case study

The concern of mobile app uninstalls, and abandonments is genuine. Millions of apps are downloaded from the app stores every year but very few make it for long term on the users’ devices.

Let us get a detailed statistical insight into the reasons and global trends about the same:

#1: Memory Consumption

Leading the chart, too much space consumption on the users’ phone memory is the primary reason of app uninstalls. In fact, it is arguably the main reason behind app abandonment.

#2: First Experience

24 per cent apps are used only once by the users. It means that often users abandon the app immediately after the first use due to unsatisfactory experience.

#3: Deferred Abandonment

28 per cent apps are uninstalled within 30 days of the download. This implies that 3 in every ten downloaded apps will be abandoned by the user within a month.

#4: Privacy and Permissions

43 per cent users uninstall app if the app requires too many permissions or access to personal information. It can be a big hurdle in user-retention.

#5: App Performance

96 per cent users give importance to app performance when it comes to the decision of keeping an app in the phone. Clearly poor performance can be a problem for retention.

#6: Reinstallations and Re-engagement

Depending upon the industry, app uninstalls can be temporary and you can earn reinstallations with little perseverance and patience.

For instance, the reinstall rate for some common app based industries is as follows – Utility Apps: 75%; Travel Apps: 57%; Gaming Apps: 55%.

Data Source: Top 75+ mobile app statistics – Market size & usageCleverTap; Tune; Statista

Why do people uninstall or abandon an app – Five reasons

Why do people uninstall app

App uninstalls can have severe effects on the success of your business. Primarily, it can lead to the following losses:

  • Poor ranking and visibility on the app stores
  • Loss of potential consumers and loyal users
  • Reduction in earnings and revenue of the business
  • Damage to the brand identity and authority

Some common reasons that provoke or compel people to abandon or uninstall an app are as listed below:

#1: Slow load time

Humans have very short attention span when dealing with the technology. This rate of user-attention is constantly decreasing with upgrades in technology and netizens are looking for faster solutions.

Therefore, your app must comply to the standards of ideal load time i.e., 2 to 6 seconds. An app that takes longer to load and launch will be automatically deleted by the user.

Suggested Read: Reduce app load time and increase speed – Your ultimate guide to a better UX

#2: Poor UI/UX

Even if your app loads screens and contents real fast, but the performance is not up to the mark, then it will be abandoned. Users do not want to invest too much time learning things.

Hence, if your app will have a poor UI/UX (User Interface/User Experience), it will not be endured by the users. Thus, ensuring a high-quality and frictionless app is a must to prevent users from switching.

Suggested Read: Mobile app navigation: Best practices to enhance your UI and UX

#3: Excessive interruptions

If the app algorithm and contents are disturbing, the users will not wait to abandon the app. Too many ads, notifications, prompts and other interruptions can lead to app abandonment as well.

Users like being informed but too many alerts can turn them off and infuriate them. In fact, it is one of the primary causes of app uninstalls that must be dealt smartly.

#4: Multiple updates

It is important that you create your app after ample research and study, and A/B testing for perfection. If you keep updating the app design, interface, etc. very frequently, it may trouble your users.

Although updates are necessary to fix issues and upgrade the experience, it must be controlled and optimized. Also trying to explain users why it is necessary and how it will help them, can change the results. 

#5: Security issues

Apps that seek too many permissions and resource usage get abandoned by users. Your consumers will uninstall the app immediately if the on-boarding process will be too complex or seem threatening.

Do not overwhelm your users and seek too many permissions from the very start. Also ensure that your app does not slow down other apps and functions on the users’ phones.

Suggested Read: Top 21 Mobile App Analytics Tools – A Comprehensive Break Down

Tips to reduce uninstalls and boost user engagement

Follow the tips listed below and deal with the issue of high rate of app uninstalls. Implement the strategies to prevent app abandonment and grow the number of installations and downloads:

#1: Assess your target audience

Knowing what your users want and assessing their activity will give you clear insights for your business. It will help you discover new goals and strategies to keep them hooked to your app.

If will also enable you to give multiple reasons to your users to not abandon the app. Keeping an eye on the progress will also help you identify and reap new opportunities.

#2: Create a user-friendly app

It has been found that Web-View and Hybrid apps can be slow and less user-friendly. Such apps with a complex approach are ought to lose users on a large scale.

Hence, settle only for a robust, smooth, fast, and high performing native app. Ensure that the design and contents of the app are all appealing enough and easy on the users’ senses.

Suggested Read: How to make an app without a single line of code with AppMySite online app maker

#3: Make on-boarding simple

As discussed above, a complex onboarding and functional system can also make users ditch your app without even properly trying it. It means that all your efforts can go in vain just because of a poor on-boarding process.

Thus, ensure that the design, layout, contents, and every other element of the app, all contribute to a unique, smooth, and responsive experience. Make user onboarding process simple and offer multiple options like Email, Phone, Google, and Facebook.

Suggested Read: Zero state: A crucial but overlooked element of mobile app design

#4: Reduce unwanted distractions

Optimize the number of push notifications, prompts, marketing messages, and other such elements related to your app. Try to interfere with the users’ actions as less as possible.

Also try to read the signs of disapproval regarding these messages and act accordingly. Send only those notifications and prompts that are crucial and can be of relevance to the user.

#5: Respond to reviews and feedback

The ratings, reviews and feedback that your app gets, tell a lot about the user-satisfaction and appreciative value of your app. Enhance your listening skills to increase user-retention.

Try to understand what your users expect of you and resolve their issues. If their problems and concerns will be addressed, the users will not switch to another app or abandon yours.

Suggested Read: Know how ratings and reviews can optimize the success of your mobile app

#6: Personalize the experience

If you will show users that you value them and give priority to their needs, your retention rate will grow unprecedently. Offering a personalized experience can work like magic for most apps.

Try to monitor your users’ activities and ensure that the app always holds some usability and value for them. Curate special customized content, offers, deals, discounts, etc., and keep them hooked.

#7: Assure data privacy and security

It is important that you keep investing time, effort and resources in enhancing the app experience. Ensure a satisfactory and safe experience for your users to win their trust.

Be transparent and clear about your privacy policies and security algorithms. Emphasize on data secrecy and privacy and tell them how you are making the app more secure with changing technologies.

#8: Monitor and work on your KPIs

Keep monitoring and auditing the various KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and performance metrics of your app. These metrics help you understand the apps performance and likeability.

The metrics tell you abut the strengths and weaknesses of your app. Keep enhancing your strengths and fixing the loopholes to re-engage lapsed users and prevent new users from abandoning your app.

Suggested Read: Complete guide on mobile app analytics metrics – Measure your app’s success

Offer a rewarding app experience with AppMySite  

This was our elaborate guide to help you overcome the overwhelming issue of app uninstalls. Implement the techniques and be consistent in your efforts to win, earn and re-engage your customers.

However, you can also ensure a satisfying experience and save your app from any kind of user dissatisfaction or wrath. Ditch your incumbent app providers and go for more modern methods of app building.

Sign up for AppMySite and create app online without going through the hassles of coding. Be your own app builder and publish the high-performing native app for Android and iOS users. Get going and seize the opportunity now!

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