Answer

Can PWAs use Bluetooth?

Short answer

Partially. The Web Bluetooth API works on Chrome, Edge, Opera (desktop and Android) and Samsung Internet — enough to connect to BLE peripherals like heart-rate monitors, printers and IoT devices. iOS Safari and Firefox do not support it, and Apple has stated no intent to ship it.

By InstantPWA engineering·Reviewed July 22, 2026

What works

navigator.bluetooth.requestDevice() prompts the user to pick a nearby BLE device. Reads and writes to GATT characteristics work identically to native.

What does not

iOS Safari, Firefox, and Chrome on iOS (which uses WebKit) do not support Web Bluetooth. For iOS support you need a native or hybrid app.

Security model

HTTPS + user gesture required for every connection. There is no background access; if the tab closes, the connection drops.

Sources

Can a PWA access the camera?

Yes. A PWA can access the camera, microphone, geolocation and file system through the same Web APIs a regular website uses (getUserMedia, showOpenFilePicker, Geolocation). Every capability requires explicit user permission and works cross-platform, though a few APIs (Bluetooth, USB, NFC) are still Chromium-only.

PWA vs hybrid app — what is the difference?

A PWA is a website users install from the browser — no store, no shell, no native code. A hybrid app (Ionic + Capacitor, Cordova, older React Native WebView apps) wraps the same web code in a native binary submitted to the App Store and Play Store. PWAs are cheaper and faster to ship. Hybrid apps unlock store distribution and deeper hardware APIs.

What is a Web App Manifest?

A Web App Manifest is a JSON file — usually manifest.webmanifest — that declares your app’s name, icons, start URL, theme colour and display mode. Browsers read it to decide whether to offer the install prompt and what icon and name to show on the home screen.

How do you add a PWA to the home screen on Android?

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.

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.