Onboarding flows

Onboarding Flows

Overview

Onboarding's only job is time to first value — get the user to the "aha" moment with the least friction. Two workhorse patterns: a stepper wizard for required setup, and a checklist for optional-but-guided tasks. Always allow skip/resume; never trap users behind a wall of forms.

When to use

• First-run setup after signup (workspace, profile, invite team).
• A guided checklist on an otherwise empty dashboard.
• Any multi-step task that benefits from chunking.

Stepper wizard

Keep step state explicit and show progress so users know how much is left:

const steps = ["Workspace", "Invite team", "Connect data"] as const;
const [step, setStep] = React.useState(0);
const progress = ((step + 1) / steps.length) * 100;

<div className="mx-auto max-w-lg">
  <div className="mb-6">
    <div className="mb-2 flex justify-between text-sm text-muted-foreground">
      <span>Step {step + 1} of {steps.length}</span>
      <span>{steps[step]}</span>
    </div>
    <Progress value={progress} />
  </div>

  {step === 0 && <WorkspaceStep onNext={() => setStep(1)} />}
  {step === 1 && <InviteStep onNext={() => setStep(2)} onBack={() => setStep(0)} />}
  {step === 2 && <ConnectStep onFinish={complete} onBack={() => setStep(1)} />}

  <div className="mt-6 flex justify-between">
    <Button variant="ghost" onClick={() => setStep((s) => Math.max(0, s - 1))} disabled={step === 0}>Back</Button>
    <Button variant="link" onClick={skipOnboarding}>Skip for now</Button>
  </div>
</div>

Persist progress server-side (or in the URL) so a refresh or return visit resumes where they left off.

Setup checklist (progressive)

Great on an empty dashboard — shows value and a clear path, dismissible once done:

<Card>
  <CardHeader><CardTitle>Get started</CardTitle>
    <CardDescription>{done}/{total} complete</CardDescription>
    <Progress value={(done / total) * 100} className="mt-2" />
  </CardHeader>
  <CardContent className="space-y-2">
    {tasks.map((t) => (
      <a key={t.id} href={t.href} className="flex items-center gap-3 rounded-md p-2 hover:bg-muted/50">
        <CheckCircle className={cn("h-5 w-5", t.done ? "text-emerald-500" : "text-muted-foreground/40")} aria-hidden />
        <span className={cn("text-sm", t.done && "text-muted-foreground line-through")}>{t.label}</span>
        {!t.done && <ChevronRight className="ml-auto h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" aria-hidden />}
      </a>
    ))}
  </CardContent>
</Card>

Principles

• Progressive disclosure. Ask for the minimum now; defer the rest to settings.
• Show progress. A Progress bar or "Step x of n" reduces drop-off.
• Always skippable. Forced onboarding inflates churn; let users explore.
• Prefill smart defaults. Don't ask what you can infer (timezone, name from email).
• Celebrate completion. A success state + a clear next action.

Pitfalls

• Too many required steps before any value — cut to the essentials.
• No skip/resume — refresh loses progress and frustrates.
• Progress not persisted — returning users restart from zero.
• A 12-field form labeled "Quick setup."
• Dead end at the end — always point to the next meaningful action.

Hand-off

First-run guidance built from forms-and-validation steps and empty-and-loading-states; completion lands users in dashboard-layout.