Install as App (PWA)
Let users install your AI chatbot as an app on their phone or desktop for quick access.
Your Chipp AI chatbot can be installed as a Progressive Web App (PWA), giving users an app-like experience without going through app stores. Users get a home screen icon and a full-screen experience.
What is a PWA?
A Progressive Web App provides:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Home screen icon | Quick launch like a native app |
| Full screen | No browser chrome or URL bar |
| Splash screen | Branded loading screen on launch |
| Fast loading | Cached for instant startup |
| No app store | Install directly from the browser |
Setting Up PWA
1
Open your app and click Share in the navigation.
2
Look for the Deploy as PWA card and click Add Deployment.
3
The dialog shows your app URL that users will visit to install the PWA. You can copy this URL to share with users.
4
Click Refresh in the Splash Screen section to generate branded splash screens. These appear when users launch your PWA from their home screen.
User Installation Instructions
Share these instructions with your users:
On iPhone (iOS)
1
Open your app URL in Safari
2
Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
3
Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
4
Name your app and tap Add
On Android
1
Open your app URL in Chrome
2
Tap the menu (three dots)
3
Tap Add to Home screen or Install app
4
Follow the prompts to install
On Desktop (Chrome)
1
Open your app URL in Chrome
2
Click the install icon in the address bar (or menu > Install)
3
Click Install in the prompt
PWA Customization
Your PWA automatically uses your app’s branding:
- App icon: Set in Build > Customize
- App name: Your app’s name
- Brand color: Your app’s primary color
- Splash screen: Generated from your logo and brand color
To update your PWA appearance:
- Go to Build > Customize
- Update your logo and brand color
- Go to Share > Deploy as PWA
- Click Refresh to regenerate splash screens
Updates
Changes to your app are automatically deployed:
- App name, logo, and brand colors update automatically
- Content and settings sync in real-time
- Users see updates when they reopen the PWA
If you need to force an immediate update, use the Refresh Now button in the PWA deployment dialog to trigger a cache refresh.
Troubleshooting
Install Option Not Appearing
PWA install requires:
- HTTPS: Your app must be served over HTTPS (all Chipp apps use HTTPS)
- Safari on iOS: Other browsers don’t support PWA install on iOS
- Chrome on Android: Use Chrome for the best experience
Splash Screen Not Showing
- Make sure you’ve generated splash screens in the PWA dialog
- Your app needs a logo set for splash screens to generate
- Click Refresh to regenerate after changing your logo
App Not Updating
PWAs cache content for speed. To see updates:
- Close the app completely
- Reopen - updates load automatically
- Or use Refresh Now in the PWA dialog to trigger immediate updates