All

Why Menus Are Disappearing in Modern UX

Philippe H.

July 23, 2025

Have you ever opened a new app or website and thought, “Wait… where’s the menu?” You’re not alone. Many people are noticing that the traditional way we move around digital interfaces, those big, bulky menus is slowly fading. And no, it’s not bad design. It’s evolution.

We’re entering an era where navigation isn’t about giving you a long list of options. It’s about guiding you, gently and intelligently, to exactly what you need before you even realize you need it. Think of it as moving from instruction-based UX to intuition-based UX.

This isn’t just a design trend. It’s a response to how humans actually think, act, and interact with tech today.

The Decline of Static Menus

Let’s start with what’s being left behind: the traditional static menu. You know the type: five to seven clickable tabs at the top of the page, or the infamous hamburger menu in mobile apps (☰). It was once the gold standard of good UI: clean, organized, everything tucked neatly away.

But here’s the problem: users are getting menu fatigue. Having to dig through layers of menus to find what you need feels like mental gymnastics. It interrupts flow, slows you down, and makes the product feel heavy even when it isn’t.

Case Study: Facebook’s mobile app

Remember when Facebook used to have a hamburger menu that housed everything from Marketplace to Groups to Events? Over time, they moved key features out of that menu and into contextual spots, like a bottom tab bar or inline cards because they noticed users weren’t engaging with buried features. The hamburger menu became a graveyard for forgotten features.

This ties into the idea of overchoice, a cognitive overload that happens when we’re presented with too many options. In a usability study by the Nielsen Norman Group, users consistently reported feeling “stuck” or “lost” when faced with overly complex menus. And when users feel overwhelmed, they bounce.

Emerging Navigation Models

So if traditional menus are on their way out, what’s replacing them? The answer: navigation that adapts to you.

1. AI-Generated Navigation Paths

Today’s apps are smarter. They don’t just wait for you to click; they predict what you’ll want next. AI and machine learning can analyze behavior, your past clicks, time spent on features, even time of day and use that to surface the most relevant content.

Example: Netflix

Netflix doesn’t give you a “Menu” with categories first. Instead, it shows you rows of content that are personalized based on what you watched before, when you watched it, and what people like you are watching. Their navigation is powered by algorithms that try to say: “Here’s what you need, just hit play.”

2. Content-First Layouts

Rather than putting navigation in the spotlight, these designs make the content itself the primary way you move around. Instead of asking users to pick a tool or page, the system invites them to start doing something and the UI responds.

Example: Notion

Notion doesn’t force you to go through a dashboard or menu. You’re dropped into a page where you can immediately create, edit, or explore. Menus are minimal, often hidden until you need them. Navigation becomes something that appears as you work, not before.

3. Keyboard-Driven UX (Command Palettes)

Instead of clicking through multiple screens, users can now type what they want to do and the system takes them there instantly. This is popular among power users who crave speed and efficiency.

Example: Superhuman

Superhuman’s email app replaces traditional menus with a “Command Palette,” like the one you see in code editors. Press Cmd+K and you can type “Search for emails from Alice,” or “Mark all as read.” It’s fast, fluid, and removes the need to remember where things are hidden in a menu.

Command palettes are catching on because they combine the power of natural language with instant action and they feel like magic when done well.

Pros and Cons of Predictive Navigation

Let’s pause for a second, it’s not all perfect. Just because something is AI-driven or contextual doesn’t mean it’s better for everyone.

The Pros

• Speed and Efficiency: Users get where they want to go faster, with fewer decisions and clicks.
• Cognitive Ease: No more scanning five menu levels you’re presented with what you likely want.
• Personalization: Feels like the app “knows” you, which builds trust and delight.

The Cons

• Disorientation: When navigation changes based on your behavior, you lose consistency. That can feel jarring.
• Loss of Control: Some users like structure. They want to know, “This feature is always here.”
• Bias Reinforcement: Predictive systems tend to show you more of what you’ve already done which might hide new or underused features.

Example: YouTube

YouTube’s recommendation-driven homepage means users often get stuck in an algorithmic loop. While it’s efficient, it’s also limiting. Discoverability of new content drops significantly if it doesn’t match your viewing history.

So while predictive navigation can feel amazing, it needs balance: systems should feel intuitive, not manipulative.

Design Best Practices

You don’t have to choose between old-school menus and full-on AI navigation. There’s a middle ground, and it’s all about clear communication.

Always Provide Anchors

Even in a predictive or dynamic UI, users should always have a way to “reset.” That could mean a persistent home button, a breadcrumb trail, or even a recent history tab. Give users a sense of place like a compass in a shifting forest.

Include Personalization Settings

Let users choose how much prediction they want. A toggle that says “Show Smart Suggestions” gives them agency. Let people pin tools, rearrange layouts, or disable auto-surfacing features.

Optimize Mobile for Thumb-First Use

Place key actions in the thumb zone usually the lower half of the screen so they’re easy to reach one-handed. Avoid stacking important functions in the top corners where users struggle to tap.

Use Microinteractions for Directional Feedback

When users take an action like swiping, tapping, or hovering. Use microinteractions to confirm that something is happening. This creates a feeling of responsiveness and reduces anxiety.

Reveal Options Gradually (Progressive Disclosure)

Avoid overwhelming users upfront. Show only the most relevant options at first, and reveal more only when needed. This keeps the interface clean while still giving access to complexity when users are ready.

Conclusion: From Instruction to Intuition

The role of navigation is changing. It’s no longer about listing out options, it’s about anticipating needs. We’re moving from user-led searching to system-led guiding.

The most effective products in 2025 will feel like an extension of your thinking. They’ll help you act, not make you choose. But this evolution comes with responsibility: to keep users oriented, in control, and confident.

So here’s the invitation for product teams, designers, and UX thinkers:

Don’t just audit your content tree, audit your user flow. Ask: Are we building paths around our product structure, or around the user’s goals?

Because the future of navigation isn’t about menus, it’s about movement.

Fluid, fast, and human.