.NET MAUI Animations

Common Mistakes

❌ Forgetting to cancel before starting new animations

Running multiple animations on the same property causes visual glitches.

// ❌ If called rapidly, animations queue and overlap
async void OnButtonClicked()
{
    await view.FadeTo(0, 500);
    await view.FadeTo(1, 500);
}

// ✅ Cancel first, then animate
async void OnButtonClicked()
{
    view.CancelAnimations();
    await view.FadeTo(0, 500);
    await view.FadeTo(1, 500);
}

❌ Custom Animation repeat callback misconception

Returning true from a child animation's repeat callback does NOT repeat the parent. Only the repeat callback passed to Commit on the parent controls parent repetition.

// ❌ This does NOT loop the parent animation
parent.Add(0.0, 1.0, new Animation(v => view.Scale = v, 1, 2));
parent.Commit(view, "MyAnim", length: 1000,
    repeat: () => false);  // Parent won't loop

// ✅ Loop the parent by passing repeat to Commit
parent.Commit(view, "MyAnim", length: 1000,
    repeat: () => true);  // This loops the entire animation

❌ AbortAnimation name mismatch

AbortAnimation("name") must match the exact string passed to Commit. A mismatch silently does nothing.

// ❌ Name mismatch — animation keeps running
parent.Commit(view, name: "MyAnimation", length: 1000);
view.AbortAnimation("myAnimation");  // Wrong case!

// ✅ Use a constant for the name
const string AnimName = "MyAnimation";
parent.Commit(view, name: AnimName, length: 1000);
view.AbortAnimation(AnimName);

Accessibility: Respect Reduced Motion

Always check IsAnimationEnabled before running animations. It is false when the OS power-save / reduced-motion mode is active.

// ❌ Ignores user's accessibility preference
await view.FadeTo(1, 500);

// ✅ Respects reduced-motion settings
if (view.IsAnimationEnabled)
    await view.FadeTo(1, 500);
else
    view.Opacity = 1;  // Jump to final state instantly

Performance Tips

• Keep animation callbacks under 16ms — the default rate: 16 in Commit is one frame at 60fps. Complex callbacks cause jank.
• Avoid animating layout-triggering properties (WidthRequest, HeightRequest) — use TranslationX/Y and Scale instead.
• Use Task.WhenAll for parallel animations — sequential await chains are slower.

// ❌ Sequential — takes 1500ms total
await view.FadeTo(1, 500);
await view.ScaleTo(1.5, 500);
await view.RotateTo(360, 500);

// ✅ Parallel — takes 500ms total
await Task.WhenAll(
    view.FadeTo(1, 500),
    view.ScaleTo(1.5, 500),
    view.RotateTo(360, 500));

Easing Selection Guide

| Goal | Easing | Why | |------|--------|-----| | Button feedback | CubicOut | Quick deceleration feels responsive | | Page transitions | CubicInOut | Smooth start and end | | Bouncing elements | BounceOut | Playful, attention-grabbing | | Spring effects | SpringOut | Natural, elastic feel | | Loading indicators | Linear | Constant speed for continuous motion | | Entry/exit | SinIn / SinOut | Subtle, non-distracting |