Rules for Registration (Sign Up)
Ask only for the most essential information
Long forms asking for your mother's maiden name or your best friend's address are infuriating. To create an account, you only need the user’s email, password, and name. Phone number – maybe, if it’s a store or delivery service and you need to contact the user via SMS. You can collect the rest of the data later.
Separate required and optional fields
Place the required fields at the top of the form. Mark them with an asterisk and a note. Divide required and optional fields into blocks — it will make the form easier to use.
Show password strength, but don’t stop the user
Provide a password strength indicator, but don’t block registration if the password is weak. Chances are, the user will forget the new “strong” password they just invented. Next time they try to log in, they’ll fail — and most likely leave.
Show errors immediately
The worst forms are the ones that show you all the errors only after you’ve filled everything out. Use inline error indicators for each field. If the username already exists or the password is too weak — the user should know right away.
Suggest alternatives if the email already exists
A terrible user experience is getting the message “this email already exists” and having to go find the login or password reset forms yourself. Instead, include direct links to reset password or log in within the message about the existing email.
Rules for Logging In (Sign In)
Password reset should carry over the entered email
Imagine this:
When switching to the password reset form, the email already entered by the user should be saved.
Offer password reset after the 3rd failed attempt
If the user enters the wrong password three times — offer a reset. The reset button should be right there on the same page.
Use on-device authentication in mobile apps
Many devices offer internal login options: fingerprint ID or face ID. If your app runs on a platform that supports this, let users log in using their fingerprint. Don’t make them type in their email and wait for a code when a single tap would do.
Simplify two-factor authentication
The fastest and easiest two-factor method is email + push notification. It works perfectly if the user has two devices — one to log in, one to verify. All they need to do is tap “Yes, it’s me” in the notification.
Learn how to create intuitive and functional interfaces with WAYUP
In the course Web Designer: Your Ticket to Thailand you’ll learn to design clear, functional interfaces — including login and registration forms. We’ll explore sketching and prototyping techniques, UI/UX architecture, and by the end, you’ll create a strong diploma project you’ll be proud to showcase in your portfolio.