What's the Best Way to Re-Engage Users Who've Stopped Using My App?

When did you last check how many users downloaded your app versus how many are still actively using it? If you're like most app owners I work with, that number might be a bit shocking. The reality is that roughly 80% of users will abandon an app within the first three months—and getting them back feels like trying to restart a conversation with someone who's already walked away from you.

I've spent years helping businesses tackle this exact problem, and honestly? User re-engagement is one of the trickiest parts of running a successful app. It's not just about sending a few push notifications and hoping for the best. You need a proper strategy that combines smart data analysis, personalised messaging, and the right timing to bring those lost users back into the fold.

But here's the thing—re-engaging dormant users is actually more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. Think about it: these people already know your app exists, they've already gone through the trouble of downloading it, and somewhere along the way, you lost their interest. The good news? That interest can be rekindled if you approach it the right way.

The best retention tactics start with understanding why users left in the first place, not just trying to lure them back with generic offers

What I've learned from working with apps across different industries is that successful user re-engagement isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Your strategy needs to be tailored to your specific audience, your app's purpose, and the reasons why users stopped engaging. Whether it's through targeted email campaigns, smart push notification strategies, or personalised in-app incentives, there are proven methods that work—when executed properly.

Understanding Why Users Stop Using Apps

Right, let's get straight to the heart of it—why do users abandon apps they once downloaded with such enthusiasm? After building hundreds of apps, I can tell you the reasons are usually quite predictable, and honestly, most of them are entirely preventable.

The biggest killer? Poor onboarding. You know that moment when someone opens your app for the first time and they're faced with a confusing interface or forced to jump through endless registration hoops? That's when you lose them. I've seen apps lose 80% of users within the first three days simply because nobody could figure out how to get started.

The Main Reasons Users Disappear

• Slow loading times or frequent crashes
• Too many push notifications (or irrelevant ones)
• Confusing navigation and poor user interface design
• Forced registration before users see any value
• Battery drain or excessive data usage
• Not solving the problem they downloaded it for
• Better alternatives appearing in the market
• Life changes—they simply don't need the app anymore

But here's what really gets me—many app owners assume users leave because of competition or lack of features. That's rarely true. Most users abandon apps because the experience feels like work rather than help. They came looking for a solution and instead found friction.

Performance issues are massive deal-breakers too. If your app takes more than three seconds to load, you've already lost a chunk of users. And crashes? They're basically telling users your app isn't reliable enough for their daily routine.

The good news is that understanding these patterns gives you a roadmap for bringing users back. Once you know why they left, you can craft targeted campaigns that address their specific pain points and show them how things have improved.

Identifying Your Lost Users Through Data

Before you can win back users who've stopped using your app, you need to know who they are and why they left. This is where data becomes your best friend—and honestly, most app owners aren't looking at the right metrics.

The first thing I do when working on user re-engagement is dig into the app analytics. You're looking for patterns in user behaviour that signal someone's about to churn. Maybe they used to open your app daily but now it's been three weeks? Or perhaps they were power users who suddenly stopped engaging with your core features. These are your lost users, and the data will tell you exactly when they started drifting away.

Key Metrics That Matter

Session frequency is huge—if someone goes from daily use to radio silence, that's a clear signal. But you also want to look at session duration; users who start having much shorter sessions are often on their way out. Don't forget about feature usage either. Someone might still be opening your app but avoiding the features that drive real value.

I always segment users based on their last activity date. Anyone who hasn't opened the app in 7-14 days goes into my "at risk" bucket, whilst users dormant for 30+ days are prime candidates for win-back campaigns. The sweet spot for re-engagement is usually catching people in that 14-30 day window—they haven't completely forgotten about you yet.

Set up automated user segments based on inactivity periods. Most analytics platforms let you create dynamic audiences that update in real-time, so you can trigger re-engagement campaigns automatically when users hit certain dormancy thresholds.

Remember, not all churned users are worth winning back. Focus your efforts on users who showed genuine engagement before going quiet—they're the ones most likely to return and stick around.

Email Re-engagement Campaigns That Actually Work

Right, let's talk about email campaigns—because honestly, most of them are terrible. I've seen countless apps blast their dormant users with generic "we miss you" emails that end up in the bin faster than junk mail. But here's the thing; when done properly, email can be your most powerful weapon for bringing users back.

The secret isn't sending more emails, its sending better ones. I always tell my clients to think of email re-engagement like having a conversation with an old mate, not shouting at strangers in the street. Your first email should acknowledge that they've been away without being needy about it. Something like "noticed you haven't been around lately" works much better than "we desperately miss you!"

The Three-Email Rule That Works

After years of testing campaigns across different apps, I've found this sequence gets the best results:

• Email 1 (Day 7 of inactivity): Gentle check-in with a single, clear benefit of returning
• Email 2 (Day 14): Show them what they've missed—new features, content, or user achievements
• Email 3 (Day 21): Last chance email with a genuine incentive (not just a discount, but real value)

The timing matters too. I've found that Tuesday and Thursday afternoons get the highest open rates for re-engagement emails, probably because people are checking personal emails during work breaks.

What Actually Gets People to Open

Your subject line makes or breaks everything. Skip the exclamation marks and "urgent" nonsense. Instead, try curiosity-driven lines like "Your account summary is ready" or "3 things changed while you were away." These feel informational rather than salesy, and people actually want to know what's inside.

Most importantly, make sure your emails work perfectly on mobile. If someone has to pinch and zoom to read your email, you've already lost them.

Push Notification Strategies for Dormant Users

Push notifications get a bad reputation—and honestly, they deserve it most of the time. I've seen apps blast users with generic "We miss you!" messages that feel about as personal as a parking ticket. But here's the thing: when done properly, push notifications can be your most powerful tool for bringing dormant users back to life.

The secret isn't in the frequency or the flashy emojis (though a well-placed 🎉 doesn't hurt). It's all about timing and relevance. When someone hasn't opened your app for two weeks, sending them a notification about a flash sale might work. But wait three months? That same message will likely get them to delete your app entirely.

The 7-Day Rule

I've found that the sweet spot for re-engagement notifications is around the 7-day mark. Users are still somewhat familiar with your app, but they've clearly fallen out of their routine. This is when you want to remind them of value, not bombard them with desperate pleas for attention.

Your message needs to answer one simple question: "What's in it for me right now?" Maybe it's showing them they have unread messages, or that their favourite content category has new updates. The key is making it feel personal and actionable.

The best re-engagement notifications don't feel like marketing—they feel like a helpful friend tapping you on the shoulder

One approach that works particularly well is the "progress reminder" notification. If someone was 80% through completing their profile or had items in their basket, a gentle nudge about finishing what they started often does the trick. Just make sure you're giving them a compelling reason to complete that action, not just nagging them about it.

In-App Incentives and Win-Back Offers

Right, let's talk about the elephant in the room—money talks, and sometimes your users need a little financial nudge to remember why they loved your app in the first place. I've seen this work brilliantly across different industries, but here's the thing: its not about throwing discounts around like confetti. You need to be smart about it.

The most effective win-back offers I've implemented aren't necessarily the biggest ones. They're the most relevant ones. A fitness app offering a free month of premium workouts to someone who stopped tracking their runs? That works. The same app offering a generic 20% discount? Not so much. You want to remind users of the specific value they were getting, not just bribe them back.

Timing Your Incentives Right

I learned this the hard way—timing is absolutely everything with win-back offers. Send them too early and you look desperate; too late and the user has genuinely moved on. The sweet spot tends to be around 14-21 days after their last meaningful interaction. That's when they've had time to miss you but haven't completely forgotten you exist.

One client's e-commerce app saw a 35% re-engagement rate when we offered personalised product recommendations with a modest discount, but only after analysing what categories each dormant user had previously browsed. We weren't just saying "come back"—we were saying "come back, we remember what you liked."

Making Offers Feel Exclusive

Here's what works: make your win-back offers feel like a privilege, not a desperate plea. "We miss you" campaigns perform much better than "HUGE SALE" blasts. I often recommend framing these as exclusive opportunities for valued users rather than blanket promotional offers. Users can smell desperation a mile away, but they respond well to feeling special.

Personalisation and Behavioural Triggers

Right, here's where things get a bit clever—and honestly, this is one of my favourite parts of user re-engagement because it actually works. Personalisation isn't just about slapping someone's name in an email; its about understanding what made them use your app in the first place and recreating that magic moment.

I've seen apps increase their re-engagement rates by 300% just by getting this right. The secret? Stop treating all your dormant users the same way. Someone who stopped using your fitness app after two weeks needs a completely different approach than someone who was a daily user for six months before going quiet.

Understanding User Behaviour Patterns

Your app data tells you everything you need to know. Look at what features they used most, when they were most active, and what their last few sessions looked like. Did they drop off after a particular screen? Were they struggling with a specific feature? This intel is gold for crafting targeted re-engagement campaigns.

Behavioural triggers work because they tap into established habits. If someone always checked your weather app at 7am, that's when you send your "we miss you" push notification. If they used your shopping app every Friday evening, time your win-back offer accordingly. The timing matters just as much as the message.

Create user segments based on their last meaningful action in your app, not just when they last opened it. A user who completed their profile but never made a purchase needs different messaging than one who bought something but hasn't returned.

Dynamic Content That Speaks to Individual Users

The best re-engagement campaigns feel like they were written specifically for that one person. Use their past behaviour to show them relevant content—if they were browsing kitchen gadgets, show them kitchen gadgets, not random products. If they were on level 47 of your game, remind them about their progress, don't start from scratch.

• Reference their specific progress or achievements
• Show content similar to what they previously engaged with
• Use their preferred communication channel and timing
• Acknowledge how long theyve been away (but don't make them feel guilty)
• Offer something that directly relates to their last activity

The thing is, people can smell generic mass marketing from a mile away. But when you show them that you remember what they cared about? That gets their attention. And once you've got their attention, you've got a real chance of bringing them back.

App Updates as Re-engagement Tools

You know what? App updates are probably the most underutilised re-engagement tool I see companies ignore. It's actually a bit mad when you think about it—here you have this built-in reason to reach out to users who've gone quiet, and most developers treat updates like a chore rather than a marketing opportunity.

Here's the thing though; not all updates are created equal when it comes to bringing people back. A bug fix that improves loading times by 0.2 seconds isn't going to get anyone excited. But a new feature that genuinely makes their life easier? That's your golden ticket back into their daily routine.

The trick is being strategic about what you build and how you announce it. I always tell my clients to think about updates in two categories: maintenance updates (the boring but necessary stuff) and engagement updates (the shiny new features that make people remember why they downloaded your app in the first place).

Making Your Updates Count

When you're planning an update specifically for re-engagement, focus on features that address the reasons people left in the first place. If your analytics show users dropping off during onboarding, build a simpler setup process. If they're abandoning shopping carts, introduce one-click purchasing.

But here's what really matters—how you tell people about these changes. Your app store description is just the start. Send targeted emails to dormant users highlighting exactly what's new and why they should care. Use push notifications sparingly but make them count.

1. Plan updates around user pain points identified in your data
2. Create compelling update announcements that focus on user benefits
3. Time your outreach to coincide with the update release
4. Follow up with users who re-engage to keep momentum going

The best part about this approach is that it shows users you're actively improving their experience, which builds trust and increases the likelihood they'll stick around this time.

Social Media and Cross-Channel Approaches

Here's something I've learned after years of running app campaigns—your dormant users aren't just sitting around waiting for your push notifications. They're scrolling through Instagram, checking Facebook, opening emails, and living their digital lives across multiple platforms. That's where cross-channel re-engagement comes in, and honestly, its often more effective than any single-channel approach.

Social media retargeting is where the magic happens. You can create custom audiences of users who haven't opened your app in 30, 60, or 90 days and serve them targeted ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. The beauty is that you're reaching them where they already are, not trying to force them back through a notification they might ignore. I've seen dormant user re-engagement rates jump by 40% when clients add social retargeting to their push notification campaigns.

Building Your Cross-Channel Strategy

Start with your email list—send a "we miss you" campaign that includes social proof like new features or user testimonials. Follow up with social media ads that showcase whats new in your app. The key is consistent messaging across all channels but varied creative formats. What works on Instagram (visual, story-driven) won't work on LinkedIn (professional, benefit-focused).

The most successful re-engagement campaigns I've run use at least three touchpoints across different channels within a two-week period

Don't forget about influencer partnerships either. If you can get relevant creators to mention your app updates or new features, that social proof carries massive weight with dormant users. They might ignore your direct marketing, but they'll pay attention when someone they follow talks about your app organically. Track everything with UTM codes so you know which channels are actually driving re-engagement, not just clicks.

Right, we've covered quite a bit of ground here—from understanding why users drift away to building sophisticated re-engagement campaigns that actually move the needle. But here's the thing I want you to remember above all else: winning back lost users isn't about throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks.

I've seen too many app owners get desperate and blast their dormant users with every tactic at once. Push notifications, emails, in-app pop-ups, the works. It's like shouting louder at someone who's already walked away; you just end up looking a bit mad, and they walk away faster.

The apps that succeed at re-engagement—and I mean really succeed, not just get a temporary spike in opens—they treat their lost users like people they genuinely want to reconnect with. They start small, test carefully, and personalise their approach based on what the data tells them.

Your dormant users left for a reason. Maybe your app was too complicated, maybe it didn't solve their problem, or maybe life just got in the way. Understanding that reason should guide every re-engagement decision you make. Sometimes it means admitting your app needs work before you can honestly ask people to come back.

The good news? Users who return after a proper re-engagement campaign often become more loyal than they were before. They've seen what life is like without your app, and if you've done your job right, they'll appreciate what you offer even more the second time around.

Start with one channel, measure everything, and remember that not every user is worth winning back. Focus on the ones who matter, treat them well, and the rest will follow.