Why Disabled Buttons Hurt UX (and How to Fix Them)
Summary: Disabled buttons often confuse users by appearing clickable but providing no response or feedback. Designers should use them sparingly, ensure they’re accessible, and clearly explain why the button is disabled.
Minor visual changes help users distinguish between 5 different button states: enabled, disabled, hovered, focused, pressed.
Video Author
Huei-Hsin Wang (王彚心) is a User Experience Specialist with Nielsen Norman Group. As a multi-passionate UX researcher with a background in Industrial Design, Huei-Hsin specializes in design visualization, product development, innovation strategy, and storytelling.
