Date First Published: 2nd April 2024
Topic: Computer Systems
Subtopic: Computer Software
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 5/10
Learn about what nagware is in this article.
Nagware is a type of software that frequently interrupts users with popup messages, asking them to register the software, upgrade to the premium version, or take another form of action. For example, when using the free version of software, users may be continuously reminded to upgrade to the premium version with a popup message each time it loads. Software developers use nagware as a marketing tactic to remind users to take advantage of special offers and purchase software. Examples of nagware include WinZip and WinRAR.
The software will nag the user into taking some form of action and the messages will keep appearing until the desired action has been performed. More annoying nagware can even display messages at random times whilst the program is open. Nag messages can appear as windows that obscure part of the screen, or as message boxes that can be quickly closed. Some nagware keeps the message up for a certain period of time, forcing the user to wait to continue using the program. The reminder window that appears on the screen is referred to as the nag screen.
Nagware will not usually lock users out, but the persistent reminders can quickly become annoying and harm the user experience over time. Well-designed software has a checkbox that can be ticked to adjust the frequency of nag screens and prevent them from appearing constantly, giving users more control over when they receive these reminders.
Poorly designed software may display them each time the program loads or at random times whilst is it open with no option to disable them. If this happens, it might lead to users thinking that the current version they are using is inadequate or that the developers are more interested in making sales than providing a good user experience. If there is no way of disabling nag messages and they cause too many distractions, it is recommended to uninstall the software and look for alternatives that do not use such tactics.
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