Forcing auth before the first useful screen killed 82% of new users in our React Native app.

We deferred authentication until the user tried to do something that required identity (saving a plan).

Day-1 retention went 36% → 71%, Day-7 retention 14% → 28%, account conversion 18% → 38%.

The trick: anonymous local-only state + a promotion path that migrates that state into the new account.

Don't do this for banking, healthcare, or B2B apps where identity is needed from screen one.