Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) have gained popularity for their ability to provide a seamless app-like experience through web technologies. While they can be used in various web browsers, this blog post will guide you through creating, updating, and managing PWAs in the Brave Browser and Chromium/Chrome.
Creating a PWA:
Brave Browser:
- Open the Brave Browser and visit the website that offers a PWA.
- Look for the PWA installation prompt in the address bar, typically depicted by a plus sign (+) or a small install icon.
- Click on the prompt, and a dialog box will appear, allowing you to name the PWA and specify where it should be installed (Start Menu, Desktop, or both).
- Click ‚Install,‘ and the PWA will be added to your chosen location.
Chromium/Chrome:
- Launch Chromium or Chrome and go to the website supporting a PWA.
- If the website supports PWA, you will see an installation option in the address bar. It can be a plus sign (+) or a similar app-like symbol.
- Click the installation option, and a pop-up will appear, enabling you to name the PWA and choose where it should be added (Start Menu, Desktop, or both).
- Select ‚Install,‘ and the PWA will be installed.
Updating a PWA:
PWAs are designed to update automatically in the background, ensuring you always have the latest version without any manual intervention. When the website updates its PWA, your installed app will be updated as well.
Managing Installed PWAs:
Brave Browser:
- To manage your installed PWAs in Brave, go to the new tab page.
- You will find a ‚PWA‘ section on the new tab page, where your installed PWAs are listed.
- You can right-click on a PWA icon to access options like uninstall or open in a new tab.
Chromium/Chrome:
- Managing installed PWAs in Chromium/Chrome can be done via the PWA management page. Enter „chrome://apps“ in the address bar and press ‚Enter.‘
- Here, you will see an overview of your installed PWAs. You can right-click on a PWA to uninstall it or pin it to the taskbar.
Benefits of PWAs:
PWAs offer numerous advantages, making them a compelling choice for both users and developers:
- Cross-platform compatibility: PWAs work on multiple platforms and browsers, ensuring a consistent experience.
- Automatic updates: PWAs update in the background, ensuring users always have the latest features and security improvements.
- Reduced storage requirements: PWAs often take up less space compared to traditional mobile apps.
- Offline access: Many PWAs provide offline functionality, making them accessible even without an internet connection.
- Improved performance: PWAs are known for their speed and responsiveness, enhancing user experience.
In conclusion, creating, updating, and managing PWAs in the Brave Browser and Chromium/Chrome is a straightforward process, offering users the convenience of app-like experiences while benefiting from automatic updates and cross-platform compatibility. PWAs continue to grow in popularity as they bridge the gap between web and native apps, providing a versatile solution for both users and developers.
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The PWA usually hide some of the browsers very useful menue like sharing, printing etc. How can I still access these browser menues from within the PWA in Android?
Hi Bo,
Great question! On Android, PWAs run in a standalone window that hides the browser’s native UI – but you can still access most browser functions:
1. Three-dot menu via the title bar
Many PWAs show a small three-dot (⋮) menu in the top-right corner of the title bar. Tapping it gives you options like „Open in Chrome“ (or Brave), which then restores the full browser UI including sharing and printing.
2. „Open in browser“ option
Once you open the page in the full browser, you have access to all native menus (Share, Print, Add to Reading List, etc.).
3. Android Share Sheet
For sharing specifically, you don’t always need the browser menu. You can long-press a link or use your phone’s system share button (if your launcher or nav bar exposes it) to trigger Android’s native share sheet directly from within the PWA.
4. Printing
Unfortunately, printing is one of the harder ones – the browser’s built-in print dialog is usually inaccessible from a PWA. The most reliable workaround is to open the page in the browser first (via the three-dot menu → „Open in Chrome/Brave“), then print from there.
Hope that helps! Let me know if you have further questions.
Best regards,
Johannes