Stop Misusing Toggle Switches

There are times to use toggle switches and times not to. When designers misuse them, it leads to confused and frustrated users. Knowing when to use them requires understanding the different types of toggle states and options.

Contextual States Vs. System States

It’s easy for designers to confuse toggle switches and toggle buttons because they both manage states, but there’s a fundamental difference. Toggle switches are for system states, and toggle buttons are for contextual ones. A contextual state only affects the current screen in focus, while a system state takes effect everywhere on the app.

Many apps misuse toggle switches by using them for contextual states. For example, a common mistake is to use switches for search filters. The filters only apply to the context of search, not to the entire system. Therefore, the proper selection controls to use are checkboxes, not switches.

Users expect switches to render an immediate effect when they toggle it on. However, the search filter settings don’t take effect until after users press the “save” button. If there’s a delayed effect due to a separate button, switches are the wrong controls to use. A switch itself is a “button” that activates state. A separate button for the switch isn’t necessary.