Describe the first concrete benefit a new user should experience. Then walk through everything between arrival and that moment. Remove requests that are unnecessary at that stage, explain the necessary ones, and watch someone try the journey. This helps distinguish a setup task from actual value and makes the next improvement easier to choose.
Find the first moment the product helps
Signing up is a step. Receiving something useful is the reason for taking it.
A small example
For a document checklist app, useful progress might be receiving the first requested file in the right place. Choosing an avatar and reading a long tour do not need to come before that.
Keep in mind
Do not remove essential consent, accessibility, or security steps for a shorter funnel. Make them understandable and proportionate.
A note to yourself
Create an account or sign in to keep private notes and saved takas across devices.