Design Destructive Actions to Prevent Mistakes

Feedback & States · destructive actions

Updated 2026-07-28

Consider replacing confirmation dialogs with a hold-to-confirm interaction for high-risk actions. A short press-and-hold, accompanied by a visible progress ring, gives users a moment to reconsider without interrupting their flow. Releasing early should cancel the action.
If you use a confirmation dialog, make the choices explicit. Label buttons with the actual action, such as Delete project and Keep project, instead of generic options like Yes and No.
Keep destructive actions away from primary actions. Users often click familiar button locations out of habit, so avoid placing delete actions where confirmation or primary buttons typically appear.
Reserve red for destructive actions only. Overusing red reduces its meaning and makes genuinely dangerous actions feel routine.
Group destructive actions in a dedicated danger section. Place them at the end of the page, clearly separated and labeled, so users understand they're entering a high-risk area.
For irreversible or high-impact actions, consider adding a recovery period. Instead of deleting immediately, schedule the deletion and allow users to cancel within a defined timeframe.
Build a consistent design language for destructive actions. Placement, color, labels, interaction patterns, and recovery options should all work together to prevent accidental mistakes while keeping intentional actions straightforward.