The [Add to home screen] button is a smart web apps feature based on Google’s Progressive Web Apps (PWA) technology. Check that you have met all the requirements to use this feature.
Smart web apps
Smart web apps is a web application service based on Google’s Progressive Web Apps (PWA) technology that allows users to access websites similarly to apps. Users can add an app-like shortcut to their mobile device’s home screen by tapping on the [Add to home screen] button when accessing your store through a mobile web browser. When users tap on the app icon on their mobile device’s home screen, a splash screen will be displayed momentarily before being directed to your store.
- Splash screen: When a web app is launched, a splash screen will be momentarily shown (approximately 2 seconds) before being directed to your store page.
Add to home screen requirements
• Instructions for using the [Add to home screen] feature may differ depending on the web browser used and current support from Google.
1. Check if your website URL begins with “https://”.
The [Add to home screen] feature is only available on websites that use HTTPS.
HTTPS can only be used on domains with SSL certificates. If your domain does not have an SSL certificate, go to your domain settings and install one on your primary domain.
- Settings: Go to [My Store>General>Domain] on your admin page.
If any insecure content (HTTP) is loaded on your store, browsers may recognize this as mixed content and block your website. Open [Smart Themes Editor] in [Themes (Mobile)] and click [Change to https://] to load your website using HTTPS.
- Settings: [Themes (Mobile)>Saved Themes] and click [Edit] on the theme you want to apply to your mobile store.
2. The [Add to home screen] feature is only available on iOS devices through Safari.
The [Add to home screen] feature is not available on other browsers except for Safari when using iOS devices.The [Add to home screen] button will not appear on Safari, and must be accessed through the [Share] button.
3. The [Add to home screen] button will appear to the right of the address bar on Samsung Internet.
If the [Add to home screen] feature is available for the current website, the [Add to home screen] button will appear to the right of the address bar on Samsung Internet.
4. [Add to home screen] button requirements for Google Chrome and Samsung Internet.
-Google Chrome: Website must be visited at least two times, with a minimum five-minute interval between each visit.
- Samsung Internet: Website must be visited at least three times within a two-week period.
• If the [Add to home screen] prompt is closed, the prompt will not appear for up to three months.
5. Check if the current version of your browser supports the [Add to home screen] feature.
Depending on the version of your browser, the [Add to home screen] feature may not be supported.
-Google Chrome62 and above
- Samsung Internet 4.0 and above
- Safari 11.3 and above
- Opera 46 and above
- UC 11.8 and above
- Firefox 58 and above
6. Check if you are already using a third-party Progressive Web Apps (PWA) feature.
If you have already met all the requirements above and the [Add to home screen] button still does not appear, your store may be using a third party PWA feature. If you are using a third party PWA feature, the [Add to home screen] feature will not function properly.
7. The UI design for the [Add to home screen] button and splash screen cannot be changed.
Design features such as size and color cannot be changed if they are not available by default in the [Add to home screen] settings.
The [Add to home screen] button is a smart web apps feature based on Google’s Progressive Web Apps (PWA) technology. Check that you have met all the requirements to use this feature.
Smart web apps
Smart web apps is a web application service based on Google’s Progressive Web Apps (PWA) technology that allows users to access websites similarly to apps. Users can add an app-like shortcut to their mobile device’s home screen by tapping on the [Add to home screen] button when accessing your store through a mobile web browser. When users tap on the app icon on their mobile device’s home screen, a splash screen will be displayed momentarily before being directed to your store.
- Splash screen: When a web app is launched, a splash screen will be momentarily shown (approximately 2 seconds) before being directed to your store page.
Add to home screen requirements
• Instructions for using the [Add to home screen] feature may differ depending on the web browser used and current support from Google.
1. Check if your website URL begins with “https://”.
The [Add to home screen] feature is only available on websites that use HTTPS.
HTTPS can only be used on domains with SSL certificates. If your domain does not have an SSL certificate, go to your domain settings and install one on your primary domain.
- Settings: Go to [My Store>General>Domain] on your admin page.
If any insecure content (HTTP) is loaded on your store, browsers may recognize this as mixed content and block your website. Open [Smart Themes Editor] in [Themes (Mobile)] and click [Change to https://] to load your website using HTTPS.
- Settings: [Themes (Mobile)>Saved Themes] and click [Edit] on the theme you want to apply to your mobile store.
2. The [Add to home screen] feature is only available on iOS devices through Safari.
The [Add to home screen] feature is not available on other browsers except for Safari when using iOS devices.The [Add to home screen] button will not appear on Safari, and must be accessed through the [Share] button.
3. The [Add to home screen] button will appear to the right of the address bar on Samsung Internet.
If the [Add to home screen] feature is available for the current website, the [Add to home screen] button will appear to the right of the address bar on Samsung Internet.
4. [Add to home screen] button requirements for Google Chrome and Samsung Internet.
-Google Chrome: Website must be visited at least two times, with a minimum five-minute interval between each visit.
- Samsung Internet: Website must be visited at least three times within a two-week period.
• If the [Add to home screen] prompt is closed, the prompt will not appear for up to three months.
5. Check if the current version of your browser supports the [Add to home screen] feature.
Depending on the version of your browser, the [Add to home screen] feature may not be supported.
-Google Chrome62 and above
- Samsung Internet 4.0 and above
- Safari 11.3 and above
- Opera 46 and above
- UC 11.8 and above
- Firefox 58 and above
6. Check if you are already using a third-party Progressive Web Apps (PWA) feature.
If you have already met all the requirements above and the [Add to home screen] button still does not appear, your store may be using a third party PWA feature. If you are using a third party PWA feature, the [Add to home screen] feature will not function properly.
7. The UI design for the [Add to home screen] button and splash screen cannot be changed.
Design features such as size and color cannot be changed if they are not available by default in the [Add to home screen] settings.