Intentional Friction

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Intentional Friction

On occasion, it can be beneficial to intentionally add friction into a process.

Featured in 18 UX Bites

Similar psychology:

Likely impacts:

Complexity & Understanding

Purchases

Last updated: 26/09/2026

How to utilise this in your designs

You could add a cooldown timer before restoring an account, using intentional friction to give users time to recognise that a request might be fraudulent.

Example from

Coinbase

Try placing a short timer before snooze options appear, so the intentional friction gives users a moment to reconsider breaking their focus session.

Focus Session UI shows 19:54 remaining, timeline 3:19-3:39 PM, App Group icons, difficulty Normal. Blue-green "Snooze" button, red "Leave Early" text, countdown "Snooze available in 4".

Example from

Opal

You could experiment with limiting new users to one habit at a time, using intentional friction to stop them taking on too much at once and then failing.

White modal card with padlock icon, "Stay focused on your current habit" header, explanatory text, blue-link "Tell me more," progress circle 0/1 reps, and "Close" button top right.

Example from

Atoms

Consider requiring users to be physically close before silencing an alarm, so the intentional friction nudges them to check the problem before dismissing it.

Example from

Google Nest

You could try forcing breaks between lessons, adding intentional friction that stops users bingeing in one day and may encourage more regular habits.

White card UI on light blue background shows a purple coffee mug illustration and text praising progress, advising to take a break. A lavender "Close" button is below.

Example from

Ahead

Possible impacts

Intentional friction that stops users overcommitting or bingeing early on could reduce churn, as they're less likely to burn out and abandon the product.

As seen in:

Atoms Atom's forced friction

Ahead Forced breaks

Pausing users with intentional friction, e.g., a timer or forced reflection, might increase their attention at key moments, before they act on autopilot.

As seen in:

Gojek How much luggage can you bring?

Pinterest Pinterest's drag and hold menu

Slowing users down with intentional friction may give them the time and capacity to better understand complex or risky actions, e.g., spotting potential fraud.

As seen in:

Coinbase Intentional friction

Adding intentional friction at the right moment might increase purchases, by giving users space to recognise added value or consider a relevant upsell.

As seen in:

12Go Seating previews

Airbnb Why not extend your trip?

Written by Peter Ramsey

Consultant to 100+ companies

Published: 11/08/2023

How to utilise this in your designs

You could add a cooldown timer before restoring an account, using intentional friction to give users time to recognise that a request might be fraudulent.

Example from

Coinbase

Try placing a short timer before snooze options appear, so the intentional friction gives users a moment to reconsider breaking their focus session.

Example from

Opal

You could experiment with limiting new users to one habit at a time, using intentional friction to stop them taking on too much at once and then failing.

Example from

Atoms

Consider requiring users to be physically close before silencing an alarm, so the intentional friction nudges them to check the problem before dismissing it.

Example from

Google Nest

You could try forcing breaks between lessons, adding intentional friction that stops users bingeing in one day and may encourage more regular habits.

Example from

Ahead

Possible impacts

Intentional friction that stops users overcommitting or bingeing early on could reduce churn, as they're less likely to burn out and abandon the product.

As seen in:

Atoms Atom's forced friction

Ahead Forced breaks

Pausing users with intentional friction, e.g., a timer or forced reflection, might increase their attention at key moments, before they act on autopilot.

As seen in:

Gojek How much luggage can you bring?

Pinterest Pinterest's drag and hold menu

Slowing users down with intentional friction may give them the time and capacity to better understand complex or risky actions, e.g., spotting potential fraud.

As seen in:

Coinbase Intentional friction

Adding intentional friction at the right moment might increase purchases, by giving users space to recognise added value or consider a relevant upsell.

As seen in:

12Go Seating previews

Airbnb Why not extend your trip?