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One-Handed Usage Design in Mobile UX

May 5, 2025 1 min read 4 People Read

Users operate their smartphones with one hand 75% of the time. Are your designs suitable for this?

Critical design principles for one-handed usage:

  • Bottom Navigation: Use a bottom navigation bar instead of a top menu bar
  • Bottom Sheets: Open new content from bottom sheets rather than full screen
  • Touch Instead of Scroll: Offer category filters instead of scrolling for long lists
  • Reachability: Support iOS's screen lowering feature
  • Easy Return: Place 'Back' buttons in accessible locations

Interfaces optimized for one-handed use can increase user satisfaction by 31% and extend application usage time.

Test your designs in real life - hold your phone with one hand and see how usable your application is.