A Complete Step-by-Step UX Audit Framework
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:
- Landing page
- Click "Create Account"
- Choose sign-up method
- Fill in form
- Confirm email
- Enter dashboard
This map helps you compare the expected journey to the actual experience.
Krux AI automates this entire framework. Upload a walkthrough video of your flow and receive a complete audit—journey mapping, heuristic evaluation, microcopy analysis, and P0-P2 prioritized findings—in minutes instead of hours.
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.
For a comprehensive list of exactly what to check at each stage, grab our free UX audit checklist covering all 9 essential areas.
If you want to see how AI handles this process automatically, check out our AI UX audit tool walkthrough.
What This Framework Covers
🗺️ Journey Mapping - Define the user flow you're auditing and map every step from start to completion for structured analysis.
🔍 Heuristic Evaluation - Review each screen against established usability principles like clarity, consistency, and user control.
✍️ Microcopy Analysis - Evaluate button labels, error messages, help text, and copy to ensure everything is clear and user-friendly.
📋 Prioritized Action Plan - Classify issues as P0, P1, or P2 so your team knows exactly what to fix first for maximum impact.
Run Complete UX Audits in Minutes, Not Hours
Krux AI automates the entire audit process. Simply record a walkthrough video of your flow, and receive a comprehensive audit with prioritized findings, microcopy improvements, and actionable recommendations—no manual checking required.
- Skip the manual work—get a complete audit from a simple video walkthrough
- Receive P0-P2 prioritized issues with clear explanations and fix recommendations
- Analyze flow logic, microcopy, missing states, and friction points automatically
- Run audits regularly without spending hours on manual reviews