Answer

Is an install popup the same as a PWA?

Short answer

No. An install popup is guidance that helps visitors add your website to their home screen. A full PWA uses a web app manifest and service worker so supported browsers can treat it as an installable app, with optional offline caching and push. A popup can be useful without promising every PWA feature.

By InstantPWA engineering·Reviewed October 22, 2026

What the popup does

It tells visitors what to tap, adapts instructions to their device, and reminds them that your site can be saved for quick return visits.

What a full PWA adds

The manifest provides app details such as name and icons. A same-origin service worker can manage network requests, offline pages and push events.

How to choose

If your builder cannot host a service worker, start with clear home-screen guidance. If offline access or web push is essential, choose a setup that supports the full PWA requirements.

Sources

Setup guides for your website

Preview your site Create your popup

Can I add a service worker to a website builder?

Only if the builder lets you serve a JavaScript service worker from the same origin as your site. A script from another domain can add a popup, but it cannot register an outside worker to control your pages. Without that file, offline caching and full PWA behaviour need a different hosting setup.

Why is my Shopify theme code not showing?

Shopify theme code is often missing because you edited an unpublished theme, placed it in a section that is not on every page, are testing checkout, or are looking at a cached page. For a site-wide popup, edit the live theme’s layout/theme.liquid and check the published storefront.

How do I check if a script is installed on my website?

Open the published website, not the editor, then view its source and search for the script address or ID. In developer tools, check Network for the script request and Console for errors. Use the exact domain visitors use; www, subdomains and custom domains can be different sites.

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.

Can a PWA send push notifications on iOS?

Yes. Since iOS 16.4 (March 2023), a PWA can send Web Push notifications on iPhone and iPad — but only after the user installs it to the home screen. Push in a regular Safari tab is not supported, and the user must explicitly grant notification permission from inside the installed PWA.

Do PWAs work offline?

PWAs can work offline, but only for content their service worker has explicitly cached. Registering a service worker does not automatically make a site offline-capable — you decide what to cache (app shell, API responses, images) and what strategy to use (cache-first, network-first, stale-while-revalidate).