Chrome simplifies adding progressive web apps

Google Chrome is expected to offer the ability to “Install page as an app” as a Progressive Web App (PWA). The feature, discovered inside the Canary (beta) version of the popular web browser, isn’t new but Google is finally simplifying the process.

The Chrome browser for desktops and laptops will easily install any website as an app. The browser is essentially offering the ability to create a shortcut to a website on users’ home screen or desktop. Regardless, websites are increasingly offering multiple functions and rivaling dedicated apps, and this feature will allow users to run websites as apps.

Google Finally Makes It Easy To Quickly Add Website Shortcuts As PWAs On Desktops

Google has long believed in the idea of PWAs. These aren’t apps in the traditional sense, but instead, have launch shortcuts that quickly take the user to the website. For all practical purposes, these weblinks appear and even behave as natural apps and programs installed on a desktop.

Chrome users have been actively installing PWAs for years. Moreover, websites have been clamoring to be as accessible as possible. Needless to mention, the load times for PWAs are lesser than traditional apps. Additionally, PWAs do not consume disk space. As a bonus, PWAs also reduce the number of apps that need to be updated at regular intervals.

In Chrome Canary now all pages are “installable”, Google has added a new “Install page as app…” item to the Save and share submenu:https://t.co/79NFQQmMf3
.https://t.co/r8AL0zOJWy pic.twitter.com/yorewXO1F2

— Leopeva64 (@Leopeva64) March 7, 2024

How To Add Websites As PWAs In Google Chrome?

Although PWAs have existed for several years, Google has finally made it easy to quickly add a website’s shortcut as a PWA. The latest Chrome Canary build, which is updated daily and is usually a glimpse of an upcoming stable build, offers a straightforward way to install PWAs.

Multiple popular websites including YouTube and Reddit have had their PWAs for quite some time. Moreover, they have been regularly prompting users to install them.

The ability to add PWAs is now included in the easily accessible Save and Share submenu. Moving forward, after opening a website, users will be able to click on “Install page as app…” to place the website’s shortcut on the desktop.

Specifically speaking, Chrome will create a new app for the website. This shortcut will have the icon of the website and a dedicated listing in the user’s app drawer.

Incidentally, Google Chrome already offers the ability to add PWAs. However, the search giant hadn’t activated the setting in the stable release of the web browser.

Nonetheless, users who are interested in activating the setting, have two ways to do so. The experimental flags #web-app-universal-install and #shortcuts-not-apps are available. However, it would be wise to wait for a little while because Google should include the feature in the upcoming stable release of the web browser.