Empty states are displayed when your app can’t show its regular content. An empty list is what a user sees when no alarms are set, a gallery after all photos have been deleted, or an empty device list when the Gear can’t find any Bluetooth device to connect to. To avoid completely blank screens, provide a simple image and text even when there is no content to show.

Basic empty states

Basic empty states display a non-interactive image and a tagline.

Empty states display an image and a tagline that explain the page’s current state.

• Non-interactive images

  An empty state image should look good against the background. Using your app icon or an image that represents your brand identity is recommended.

• Tagline

  Empty states should be presented with a short text that describes the current status of a page. It can either explain that the app doesn’t have any content to display, or that the user doesn’t have any content for the app.

Adding items on empty states

Empty states can allow users to add content when there is no content to display. Any action must be initiated by tapping the empty state image.

• Interactive image

  Use a button-type icon so users can add content. We recommened using images that can suggest adding content (with a + sign for example).

  

  Empty states can include a button-type icon to add more content.

• Tagline

  Provide short text to inform users if and how they can add content.