---
title: "Selecting elements in a dropdown menu"
slug: "dropdowns"
description: "Learn how to use Userflow with dropdowns, including triggers for input, clicks, and buttons to enhance user experience and streamline transitions."
updated: 2026-11-09T16:31:51Z
published: 2026-11-09T16:31:51Z
canonical: "help.userflow.com/dropdowns"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.userflow.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Selecting elements in a dropdown menu

When a flow step asks users to pick something from a dropdown menu in your app, you need a way to move the flow on once they've chosen. This page shows three ways to do it, depending on how the dropdown is built.

![A flow tooltip pointing at a dropdown menu in an app](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/dropdown-example.png)

## Which solution should I use?

- The dropdown is a standard HTML `<select>` field: use Solution 1.
- The dropdown is a custom component, not an input field: use Solution 2.
- You're not sure, or neither works: use Solution 3, which works with any dropdown.

If you're not sure how your dropdown is built, ask your developers, or check the element with your browser's Inspect tool. See [Selecting elements](/userflow/docs/tooltip-element-selection).

## Solution 1: Move on when the user fills in the dropdown

If the dropdown is an HTML `<select>` field, add a step trigger with a **User fills in input** condition. The flow moves to the next step as soon as the user picks any value.

![A step trigger with a User fills in input condition on a select field](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/dropdown-user-fills-input.png)

To move on only when the user picks a specific value, use a **Text input value** condition instead.

**Tip:** your developers can teach Userflow.js to treat custom inputs, such as combo boxes or type-ahead fields, like a native select field. See [userflow.registerCustomInput()](https://docs.userflow.com/docs/userflow-js#registercustominput).

## Solution 2: Move on when an option is clicked

If the dropdown isn't an input field, use an **Element is clicked** condition instead.

- To move on when the user picks any option, target the element that contains all the options.
- To move on only for one option, target that option.

You can do this in one step with a trigger, or split it into two steps: one to open the dropdown and one to pick the option.

Turn on **Dynamic text** for the tooltip's target element, since its text changes as the user picks a value.

![A single step with an Element is clicked trigger on the dropdown](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/dropdown-element-clicked.png)

![The same dropdown handled in two steps: one to open it and one to pick an option](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/dropdown-element-clicked-2-step.png)

## Solution 3: Add a button the user clicks after choosing

Add a button to the tooltip, such as **Next**, that moves the flow on after the user picks a value. This works for any dropdown. Turn on **Dynamic text** for the tooltip's target element, since its text changes when the user picks a value.

![A tooltip on a dropdown with a Next button to continue after choosing](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9697557a-eb5d-476f-9b09-062b0f7bdcbd/Images/Documentation/dropdown-button.png)

## Related articles

- [Selecting elements](/userflow/docs/tooltip-element-selection)
- [Selecting elements in a nested menu](/userflow/docs/nested-menus)
- [Flow builder basics](/userflow/docs/flow-builder-basics)