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Do PWAs work on ChromeOS?
Short answer
Yes, PWAs are first-class citizens on ChromeOS. They can be installed directly from a website’s install prompt or discovered through the Chrome Web Store, after which they appear in the app launcher and shelf just like Android or Linux apps on a Chromebook, with full windowing, notifications and file-system access support.
By InstantPWA engineering·Reviewed July 25, 2026
Installation paths
Directly from the site’s install icon in the omnibox, or via listings in the Chrome Web Store that link to installable PWAs.
OS-level treatment
ChromeOS treats installed PWAs the same as Android apps and Linux apps in its app management settings, including permissions and storage controls.
Why it matters
Because ChromeOS is built on the same Chromium engine, PWAs get full support for the same install criteria and web APIs as desktop Chrome.
Related
Do PWAs work on Windows?
Yes. On Windows, installing a PWA through Chrome or Edge adds it to the Start menu and taskbar, gives it its own window without browser chrome, and lists it in Windows Settings → Apps alongside native applications, where it can be uninstalled the same way. Microsoft also historically indexed some PWAs directly into the Microsoft Store via PWABuilder.
What is a PWA?
A PWA (Progressive Web App) is a regular website that meets three technical criteria — HTTPS, a Web App Manifest and a service worker — so browsers let visitors install it on their home screen. Once installed, it launches like a native app, works offline and can send push notifications.
Does Samsung Internet support PWAs?
Yes. Samsung Internet, the default browser on Samsung Galaxy phones, is built on Chromium and supports installable PWAs — including the manifest, service worker and beforeinstallprompt criteria used by Chrome. Users install via the browser menu’s "Add page to" → "Home screen" option, and Samsung Internet was historically one of the earlier mobile browsers to support Web Push notifications for installed PWAs.
Can a PWA follow the system dark mode setting?
Yes. The CSS media feature prefers-color-scheme lets a PWA detect whether the OS is set to light or dark mode and apply matching styles automatically, with no JavaScript required. Pairing this with multiple <meta name="theme-color" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)"> tags also lets the browser toolbar and installed app title bar switch colour to match.
Can a PWA access the user’s location?
Yes. The Geolocation API, available via navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition() and watchPosition(), lets a PWA request the device’s location on any major browser, but only after the user grants an explicit permission prompt and only over HTTPS. Accuracy depends on the device — GPS on mobile, Wi-Fi/IP triangulation on desktop.