How to Install Progressive Web Apps

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1 On PC or Mac

2 On iOS

3 On Android

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Last Updated: March 6, 2023

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are apps that run inside of your browser. They are a great way to add cross-platform apps to your device that would otherwise be incompatible with your current machine. Many popular apps including TikTok and Instagram are available as web apps. This wikiHow will show you how to install web apps on your machine.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

On PC or Mac

1. 
   1
   Use a Chromium-based browser. PWAs are not supported in Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari. PWAs are best supported by Chrome and Microsoft Edge on PCs and Macs.
2. 
   2
   Open the website in question. If the website is available as a PWA, an "install" button will appear in the URL. If not, you can still install the site as an app through the dropdown menu in the top right of the screen.
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3. 
   3
   Click on the install button. This will look different from browser to browser. After clicking it, the app will download straight to your computer.
4. 
   4
   Reopen the site as an app. To do so, while visiting the site with the progressive web app, click on the "open" button on the address bar. The app will now be able to integrate better with your computer and work offline.
5. 
   5
   Remove the app. To do so, locate the app and select "Uninstall". This will remove the app from your device.

   • This will not remove data from the app; this is done by resetting your browser.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

On iOS

1. 
   1
   Open Safari. PWAs are only supported in iOS on Safari, because of technical limitations imposed by Apple on other browsers.
2. 
   2
   Press the share button. This will open the share menu for the web site.
3. 
   3
   Select "Add to Home Screen". This will add the PWA to the home screen of your device.
4. 
   4
   Reopen the site as an app. Tap on the newly downloaded app to do so. The app will now be able to integrate better with your phone or tablet and work offline.
5. 
   5
   Remove the app. To do so, press and hold on the app, then select the minus sign. Accept the prompt to remove the app from the home screen.

   • This will not remove data from the app; this is done by resetting your browser.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

On Android

1. 
   1
   Open your browser. PWAs are supported by almost all browsers on Android, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
2. 
   2
   Open your browser's options. On Microsoft Edge this is the menu on the bottom center of the screen. On Chrome, this is the menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. 
   3
   Select "Add to phone" or "Add to home screen". A prompt will appear to move the app onto the home screen. This will add the PWA to the home screen of your device.
4. 
   4
   Reopen the site as an app. Tap on the newly downloaded app to do so. The app will now be able to integrate better with your phone or tablet and work offline.
5. 
   5
   Remove the app. To do so, press and hold on the app, then select "Remove from home screen". Accept the prompt to remove the app from the home screen.

   • This will not remove data from the app; this is done by resetting your browser.
   • Be careful not to tap "Uninstall" as that might remove your web browser instead.
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