Google must share the ability to install Web Apps in Android

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2024-09-19 10:30:06

TLDR: For 7 years, Google has failed to keep its commitment to share the ability to install Web Apps with third-party browsers on Android, despite public requests from Samsung, Microsoft, Brave & Kiwi browser. With regulatory intervention from the EU, Japan and the UK that may be changing.

In 2015, Google introduced a method on Android to install Web Apps and subsequently replaced it with a better system called "WebAPK minting" in 2017. This system allows Chrome on Android to install Web Apps that integrate well with the operating system. At the time, now more than 7 years ago, Google promised to share this with third-party browser vendors. However, as of today this functionality is still exclusive to Chrome on most Android devices (Note: Samsung has implemented their own version for Samsung Internet on Samsung devices).

QUESTION: I am a developer of another browser on Android, can I have this seamless install process? We are working on it. We are committed to making this available to all browsers on Android and we will have more details soon. Google - On WebAPK minting (7 years ago)