The Easiest Way to Run a UX Audit

Running a UX audit doesn't require years of experience or expensive consultants. With the right framework, anyone—founders, product managers, designers, or developers—can systematically evaluate their product and uncover the friction that's holding users back. The key is following a structured process that ensures you don't miss critical issues.

Step 1: Define Your Audit Goal

Don't try to review the entire product at once—pick one clear user flow to focus on:

• Sign-up and onboarding
• Creating a project or item
• Making a purchase
• Editing a profile
• Uploading a file

A clear goal gives your audit structure and helps you prioritize findings.

Step 2: Map the User Journey

List the steps a user must take to complete the task. For a sign-up flow:

1. Landing page
2. Click "Create Account"
3. Choose sign-up method
4. Fill in form
5. Confirm email
6. Enter dashboard

This map helps you compare the expected journey to the actual experience.

Step 3: Heuristic Evaluation

The core of any UX audit is checking each screen against established usability principles:

Questions to Ask at Every Step:

• Is the action clear?
• Is the next step obvious?
• Are labels and messages simple and readable?
• Are interactive elements visible and discoverable?
• Is the page free from unnecessary complexity?
• Does the design match user expectations?

Take detailed notes as you go.

Step 4: Identify Friction Points

As you review each step, look for:

• Confusing or cluttered layouts
• Missing feedback (loading or success states)
• Unclear CTAs
• Forms that feel long or demanding
• Hidden navigation
• Tiny click targets
• Error messages that lack guidance
• Steps that require too much cognitive effort

Don't Forget Microcopy

Review all content carefully:

• Button labels
• Field names
• Empty states
• Error states
• Help text
• Tooltips
• Modal messages
• Confirmation messages

Ask if the language is clear, human, and free of internal terminology.

Step 5: Check Flow Consistency

Look for jumps in the sequence that feel surprising or illogical:

• Asking for advanced settings too early
• Showing complex steps before simple ones
• Switching between layouts unexpectedly
• Presenting too many options at once
• Mixing patterns and styles

A consistent flow helps users feel confident and reduces cognitive load.

Step 6: Prioritize Findings

Use the P0-P1-P2 framework:

• P0 issues - Block the user or break the flow entirely (highest priority)
• P1 issues - Slow users down or reduce clarity significantly
• P2 issues - Nice to fix but don't break the experience

Step 7: Create a Summary

End with a clear summary that explains:

• The overall goal of the flow
• The biggest barriers to success
• The most important issues discovered
• Specific suggestions for improvement

This transforms your findings into a useful roadmap the team can act on immediately.