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
Every Chipp app is installable as a PWA. There is nothing to turn on.
Open your app and go to Launch > Share.
In the Distribution section, click the Mobile App card. It opens your app URL in a new tab. This is the URL users visit to install the PWA, so copy it and share it with them.
Splash screens are generated for you from your logo, brand color, and display name. They stay current on their own: when you save a change to any of the three, Chipp renders new splash screens in the background, usually within a minute.
To refresh them yourself (for example, right after you replace your logo), click Regenerate splash screens below the Distribution cards in Launch > Share. If the images already match your brand, Chipp tells you so and renders nothing.
User Installation Instructions
Share these instructions with your users:
On iPhone (iOS)
Open your app URL in Safari
Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
Name your app and tap Add
On Android
Open your app URL in Chrome
Tap the menu (three dots)
Tap Add to Home screen or Install app
Follow the prompts to install
On Desktop (Chrome)
Open your app URL in Chrome
Click the install icon in the address bar (or menu > Install)
Click Install in the prompt
PWA Customization
Your PWA automatically uses your app’s branding:
- App icon: Your app’s logo, set in Experience > Design
- 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 Experience > Design and update your logo and brand color.
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
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
- Splash screens only show on iOS when the app is launched from the home screen
- Without a logo, the splash screen uses a placeholder
Splash Screen Shows an Old Logo
- Click Regenerate splash screens in Launch > Share (below the Distribution cards) and wait about a minute
- iOS caches the splash image on the device. Remove the app from the home screen and add it again to see the new one
App Not Updating
PWAs cache content for speed. To see updates:
- Close the app completely
- Reopen - updates load automatically