Remember Chrome Apps, those handy app-like shortcuts to your favorite websites that went bye-bye in 2023? Google‘s replacement is here: Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). PWAs are web apps that blur the line between websites and native apps, offering an app-like experience without needing to download anything from the app store. Now, Chrome Canary takes PWAs a step further by letting you install any website as a desktop app!
One single click on the app icon can now launch the website in its own window
This means you can take any website you visit regularly and turn it into a dedicated app on your desktop. No more hunting for it in your browser tabs – just a single click on the app icon, and the website opens in its own window, ready to use.
Previously, enabling PWA functionality required tinkering with flags. But with the latest Canary update, a new “Install page as app…” option appears in the “Save and share” menu. Clicking it creates a dedicated app window for the website. Existing PWAs like YouTube will even display their name (“Install YouTube”) in the menu.
To try it out, install Chrome Canary and enable these flags:
- chrome://flags/#web-app-universal-install
- chrome://flags/#shortcuts-not-apps
This feature is currently in Chrome Canary (an early version of Chrome 124). The stable Chrome version (122) focuses on AI writing and Read Aloud tools for Android. The upcoming stable release (Chrome 123) brings a built-in PDF reader for Android, an Android-style media player for desktops, and enhanced tab group sharing.
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(Via)
