During onboarding, it’s crucial to highlight the most important actions users need to take to get started effectively. Not all features require emphasis — focus on those that are essential for users to experience the core value of the product. Tooltips or pop-ups are useful for drawing attention to these key actions, especially when a feature might be unfamiliar or complex.

MyFitnessPal demonstrates effective feature highlighting through its food logging tooltip. The app immediately draws attention to its core functionality with a clear, numbered guide that emphasizes both the what ("Log food fast") and the how ("Search or scan food right from your home screen"). This focused approach helps new users quickly grasp the most essential action for achieving their goals.

Designers should decide which features need tooltips by identifying which steps users are most likely to overlook or struggle with. Features critical to product adoption, such as setting up a profile or connecting an integration, are ideal candidates for tooltips.