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Answer
How do you add a PWA to the home screen on Android?
Short answer
On Android, open the site in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, and choose "Install app" (or "Add to Home screen" on some versions). If the site meets installability criteria, Chrome may also show an automatic install banner or mini-infobar without you having to open the menu.
By InstantPWA engineering·Reviewed July 25, 2026
Menu install
Three-dot menu → Install app → Install. The icon appears on the home screen and in the app drawer, just like a native app.
Automatic prompts
Chrome can trigger the beforeinstallprompt event automatically once engagement heuristics are met, but sites can also capture the event and show their own "Install" button.
Other Android browsers
Samsung Internet and Firefox for Android also support install-to-home-screen with similar menu options.
Related
Why is my PWA install prompt not showing?
Chrome shows the install prompt only when the site passes strict installability criteria: HTTPS, a valid manifest with name, icons and start_url, a registered service worker with a fetch handler, and the user has not previously dismissed the prompt. Any one of these missing is enough to block the prompt entirely.
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.
How do you add a PWA to the home screen on iPhone?
On iPhone or iPad, open the site in Safari, tap the Share icon, scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen", then tap "Add". Safari never shows an automatic install banner — the install must always be initiated manually from the Share sheet, and it only works in Safari, not third-party browsers.
What is the app shell architecture?
The app-shell architecture separates a PWA into two parts: a minimal "shell" of static UI (navigation, layout, styles) that a service worker caches and loads instantly on repeat visits, and dynamic content fetched separately from the network. This makes the app feel instant even before data loads.
What is the difference between a PWA and a regular website?
Technically, a PWA is just a regular website that additionally serves over HTTPS, links a Web App Manifest, and registers a service worker. Nothing about the HTML, CSS or JS changes — the difference is entirely in those three additions, which unlock installability, offline caching and push notifications.