Design Authentication Flows
Trust, Privacy & Ethics · authentication
Updated 2026-07-28
- Authentication is a moment of high friction.
- Reduce unnecessary effort:
- Autofill.
- Password managers.
- Magic links.
- Social sign-in when appropriate.
- Never punish users:
- Do not block paste.
- Do not force unnecessary complexity.
- Make failures recoverable:
- Explain the problem.
- Keep progress.
- Offer another path.
- Security and usability are not opposites.
- The best authentication feels effortless while remaining trustworthy.
- Authentication creates friction by nature.
- Clear errors.
- Code paste support.
- Never punish users for using secure tools.
- Security and usability should work together.
Related guides
UX Handbook