Products · Broad category
Mobile apps
Raised as a usability problem by 471 people on Hacker News over 19 years (2008–2026), in 435 threads.
This is a broad category rather than one product, so its issues aren't ranked on the home page.
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Every issue, all time, most people first
Notifications must be turned off in settings of nearly every appUnreviewed
20082026- Notifications stay on by default and push unwanted marketing unless users find settings to disable them2024-10-04
- Spends too much time turning off notifications and permissions for apps2024-09-05
- Must go into settings of nearly every app to turn off unwanted notifications2024-02-29
Dark patterns push people into continued app useUnreviewed
20082026- Companies push apps with revenue-enhancing dark patterns to lock users in2026-04-06
- Self-care apps use streaks, offers and ads as dark patterns pushing users2025-08-20
- Consumer apps use dark patterns to push users into engagement they did not choose2024-12-16
Similar-looking icons make users confuse and struggle to launch appsUnreviewed
20082026- Forcing all app icons into the same shape makes apps hard to find2026-02-10
- Minimal, uniform app icons are so similar that users struggle to find the right app2026-01-18
- App icons look alike, so the user can't tell which app is which2023-10-27
Rarely used apps clutter the phone and force frequent cleanupUnreviewed
20082026- Many apps on a phone are hard to manage without a big screen and keyboard2026-09-10
- Hard to manage many single-use apps on a phone without a keyboard2026-09-09
- Must install an app for infrequently used services, which clutters the phone and interrupts with notifications2026-04-06
Websites push users to install the app instead of using the siteUnreviewed
20082026- Websites intrusively push users to install an app for the same content2025-07-26
- Having to install an app adds friction and deters people from signing up2023-07-10
- Getting users to install an app creates much more friction than a web login2022-07-14
Ads are hard to dismiss without accidentally clicking throughUnreviewed
20082026- Buttons move or get replaced by ads while loading, so taps hit the wrong thing2025-05-06
- Kids accidentally trigger ads and can't easily find how to close them2018-10-30
- Ads repeatedly load while scrolling, making content jump while reading2016-07-08
Controls at the top of the screen are hard to reach one-handedUnreviewed
20082026- Apps can't be used one-handed and everything looks flat2026-04-13
- Controls at the top of the screen are hard to reach one-handed2025-12-19
- Mobile software is designed for right hand and is hard to use when holding the device in the left hand2021-12-12
Many apps have different confusing UIs, so users forget what each doesUnreviewed
20082026- Many apps have different confusing UIs and users forget what each does2025-08-29
- Existing puzzle apps have clunky, confusing interfaces and feel dated2025-08-02
- Apps have confusing UIs and inscrutable error messages users can't understand2019-01-04
Links don't open in the installed app, forcing website useUnreviewed
20082026- Apps hijack website links and then fail, when opening the browser would have worked2026-08-28
- Links don't open in the app; they just open the app store instead2023-03-25
- Clicking links bounces users into an app instead of the web page they wanted2022-12-02
Apps assume fast startup downloads, failing on slow connectionsUnreviewed
20082026- Apps wipe displayed information and show a spinning indicator when connectivity drops2024-11-25
- Apps hang with spinning waiting indicators when there's no data connection2018-09-14
- Apps treat early arrivals as late, and transfer-heavy routes are hard to avoid2016-03-02
Taps land on wrong elements, and press feedback doesn't trigger buttonsUnreviewed
20082026- Touchscreen buttons get hit by mistake; tapping is about 30% wrong and obscures the target2026-03-12
- Can't tell which elements are buttons, so users must trial-and-error tap and swipe2025-10-03
- Tiny awkward button hit boxes are difficult to tap with fingers2024-09-21
Mobile note apps are too sluggish for fast keyboard-driven note captureUnreviewed
20082026- Mobile note apps feel sluggish to a keyboard-oriented user, so they can't capture notes efficiently2022-05-27
- Phone note apps impose a note-taking philosophy and UI clutter on users2020-08-15
- Typing long text on a screen is slow and jotting small notes requires unlocking and opening an app2019-01-12
Features are removed because users can't discover them without a manualUnreviewed
20082026- Features are removed because users can't discover them without a manual2021-03-09
- Modern apps bury features, so users can't discover what tools are available2019-10-25
- Features are hidden, only discoverable by reading articles or random tapping2019-10-25
Text in apps can't be selected, so addresses can't be copiedUnreviewed
20082026- Apps block copying text, so users must resort to screenshots and OCR2026-08-18
- Copy and paste is disabled in some apps that are basically web apps2026-07-14
- Copying text to the clipboard is a hassle on phones and within RDP2026-05-16
Mobile app screens can't be zoomed, unlike web pagesUnreviewed
20082026- Mobile app screens can't be zoomed, unlike web pages2025-03-30
- Small screen and zoomed-in apps leave no room for non-trivial work2021-10-17
- Zooming makes users swipe sideways to read text across the viewport2015-05-27
Each app requires clicking through multiple screens for simple actionsUnreviewed
20082026- Each app requires clicking through multiple screens instead of minimal actions2022-07-03
- Mobile-style apps hide most of their interface behind multiple clicks, limiting functionality2021-09-10
- Apps pop up unrelated nag screens that get in the way of the user's task2013-05-12
Slow-loading apps freeze, so toddlers jump back into the same appUnreviewed
20082026- Apps freeze for 7-10 seconds, too long to task-switch so the user stares at the screen2017-05-24
- Apps show several welcome screens before reaching actual content, slowing access2016-11-03
- Slow-loading apps become unresponsive, so toddlers hit home and jump back into the same app2011-04-11
Custom app UX loses system-wide color and font customizationUnreviewed
20082026- Apps get completely redesigned every couple of years, changing the interface without user control2025-03-03
- Apps use unpredictable custom UX patterns, and users lose system-wide color and font customization2023-03-19
- Apps use custom dialogs and dropdowns instead of uniform OS controls, so they behave unpredictably2019-10-25
Apps repeatedly ask for ratings after users already declinedUnreviewed
20082026- Keeps asking to use the mobile app after being declined many times2025-07-26
- Constantly nags the user to rate the app on the Play Store2021-08-23
- Repeatedly asks users to rate the app, nagging them after they have already declined2009-09-08
Apps force immediate sign-up with no trial, so users leaveUnreviewed
20082026- Free apps demand sign-in to download, nag for updates, and stop working when the OS is out of date2025-07-25
- Cannot skip the free trial, forcing a paid commitment before trying the free version2025-05-27
- Apps force immediate sign-up with no trial, so users leave instead2022-10-07
Apps break visually when large font size is set on small phonesUnreviewed
20082026- Custom-styled apps ignore font size settings and feel slow and out of place2024-06-30
- Apps break visually and functionally when large font size is set on small phones2024-05-20
- Apps lack a global text size setting, so users can't adjust text size throughout the app2013-02-04
Frequent logouts force repeated logins with no biometric optionUnreviewed
20082026- Asks user to log in again almost every day2026-08-28
- Logs user out and forces 2FA re-login after a simple network timeout2026-07-05
- Gets logged out regularly, forcing repeated logins without biometric option2026-04-06
Unreviewed issues were grouped by machine: Claude Haiku labelled each comment as a usability complaint, named what it's about and summed up the problem in a line, and a small model grouped similar problems. Nobody has checked them by hand. Expect mistakes.
The newest 50 complaints
- Phones now offer less capability per screen, and launchers never match older webOS focus2026-09-19
- Many apps on a phone are hard to manage without a big screen and keyboard2026-09-10
- Transitions are sluggish and animations get in the way2026-09-10
- Hard to manage many single-use apps on a phone without a keyboard2026-09-09
- Forced update prompt has no dismiss option, blocking urgent ticket purchase2026-09-02
- Has to update the app before doing simple tasks like ordering or parking2026-08-28
- App won't load at all without an internet connection2026-08-28
- Asks user to log in again almost every day2026-08-28
- Apps hijack website links and then fail, when opening the browser would have worked2026-08-28
- Must update the app before doing anything, even ordering food2026-08-28
- Apps block copying text, so users must resort to screenshots and OCR2026-08-18
- Subscriptions force users to cancel immediately to avoid recurring charges, which the commenter calls jumping through hoops2026-08-12
- Copy and paste is disabled in some apps that are basically web apps2026-07-14
- Mobile ordering apps lag badly when interacting with them2026-07-13
- Logs user out and forces 2FA re-login after a simple network timeout2026-07-05
- Clunky and barely usable on a phone for checking answers2026-06-19
- Copying text to the clipboard is a hassle on phones and within RDP2026-05-16
- Apps can't be used one-handed and everything looks flat2026-04-13
- No Ctrl+Enter equivalent on touch keyboards, so sending needs extra tapping2026-04-12
- Some features exist only in the mobile UI, not the web version2026-04-06
- Must install an app for infrequently used services, which clutters the phone and interrupts with notifications2026-04-06
- Gets logged out regularly, forcing repeated logins without biometric option2026-04-06
- At large text sizes, modal dialog buttons go off-screen and can't be pressed2026-04-06
- Text in apps can't be selected, so addresses and phone numbers can't be copied2026-04-06
- Companies push apps with revenue-enhancing dark patterns to lock users in2026-04-06
- AI apps can't read a large shared spreadsheet; they fail or only see 100 rows2026-03-15
- Touchscreen buttons get hit by mistake; tapping is about 30% wrong and obscures the target2026-03-12
- Typing on phone keyboards is infuriating2026-03-05
- Password manager doesn't work in apps, forcing manual copy-paste or character-by-character entry2026-02-26
- Simplified flows split decisions into more steps, making form filling annoying2026-02-23
- Changing channels on phone exposes you to notifications and tempts you into other apps2026-02-23
- Forced to use the mobile app just to log in to the web, with no alternative 2FA2026-02-21
- Security code button hidden on login screen, so users must log out to find it2026-02-17
- Forcing all app icons into the same shape makes apps hard to find2026-02-10
- Page is slow to load before it eventually appears2026-01-22
- Minimal, uniform app icons are so similar that users struggle to find the right app2026-01-18
- Hidden swipe gestures are undiscoverable, and accidental touches make video disappear, pause or flip2026-01-12
- Services push people to install apps for discounts and basic tasks, forcing many app installs2026-01-08
- Controls at the top of the screen are hard to reach one-handed2025-12-19
- Controlling lights and heating via apps requires logins, updates, and password resets2025-12-01
- Log In button stops responding after entering phone number, app stuck indefinitely2025-12-01
- Apps show the cheapest ticket without making clear it restricts where you can travel2025-11-13
- Passengers' dark screens and cracked phones make boarding scans fail, slowing boarding two to three times2025-11-10
- Commenter finds mobile site frustrating for banking and plane ticket booking2025-10-30
- Users cannot hide distracting features or customize apps the way they can in a browser2025-10-13
- Can't tell which elements are buttons, so users must trial-and-error tap and swipe2025-10-03
- Next/submit buttons get hidden behind the keyboard or button bars on some apps2025-10-02
- No visible button on a step, so the user cannot move forward2025-09-30
- On-screen keyboard is frustrating and cramped screen makes simple work agonizing2025-09-28
- Errors only say "something went wrong", so users cannot tell what failed2025-09-16