Google Chrome

Google Chrome prepares better way to add websites to your homescreen

Ben Schoon | Jan 29 2024 - 9:22 am PT

Google is testing a new option that improves how you’ll add websites to your homescreen on Android through its Chrome browser.

In Chrome today, there are two options for adding a website to your homescreen on Android. You can firstly just generate a shortcut.

On any website, Chrome supports the ability to “add to home screen” via a button in the overflow menu. This option works with literally anything, and just adds a shortcut to the homescreen that opens in Chrome.

The other option only shows up on websites that act as a Progressive Web App. The “install” button appears in place of “add to home screen,” meaning you can only get one or the other.

Progressive Web Apps can, in many cases, feel like native apps on your device. However, they’re installed very differently. Instead of going through a traditional app store, the process is handled by your browser.

As spotted by WindowsReport, Chrome for Android has added a new flag in its Canary builds which has a “unified” UI for installing web apps or just a website shortcut. These both appear under the “add to home screen” option with a small pop-up giving users the choice of what they wish to do. This isn’t fully functional yet, but it shows us Google’s plans and, personally, I’m a fan. The simpler, easier-to-understand workflow here is a step up, and more flexible too, all while better surfacing and explaining websites that have a PWA.