In this post, you will learn how to install progressive web app in Microsoft Edge Chromium. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are an application to be delivered with the web without installing executables on the device. The progressive enhancements include app-like features, such as installation, offline support, push notifications and provide users with a native experience to customized for their devices.
Desktop PWAs are supported on chromium-based browsers, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. In Microsoft Edge, you can also make a normal website as an application. PWA adds the following advantages to your website.
- Your app is built on a standards-based web platform.
- Enables your users to install your app directly from the browser.
- Enables your users to install your app without a Store-based deployment or registration.
According to Microsoft, here are some of the qualities of a PWA –
- It works offline and in low-network conditions.
- It is installed on the user’s device and Pin and launch from the home screen, Start Menu, Taskbar like a native app.
- You can send push notifications, even when the app is not active.
- It’s more responsive, adapts to the user’s screen size.
- It provides a secure environment.
Install PWA in Microsoft Edge from Address Bar
Let’s install Outlook as a Progressive Web App, which can be considered an alternative to the Windows desktop Outlook app or the Windows 10 Mail app.
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Go to the site (For example, http://outlook.live.com/) you want to install an app.
Note – You can follow the same approach to Install Progressive Web App (PWA) or Site as App for website that supports PWA.
- Click on the Install icon in the address bar to install the apps directly; a popup will appear to ask if you want to install the application. Click Install to install it, and It will install the Web App.

- It will just take a moment for Outlook to install, and it will launch on your desktop right away. You can run the app offline and use functions that aren’t available on the web or client app.

Install PWA in Microsoft Edge from Settings menu
- In Microsoft Edge, click on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner.

- To install an app for outlook, from the drop-down menu, select Apps >Install Outlook.

Install PWA from Standard Website – Microsoft Edge
If you want to install a PWA of a website, Microsoft Edge has an exclusive feature to make a standard website as an app.
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Go to the homepage of the website (For Example – https://howtomanagedevices.com/) you want to install it as a PWA.
- Click on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner. Select Apps, click Install this site as an app option.

- A dialog box will appear which will ask that what should be the name of the PWA which will be installed. By default, the name is the title of the webpage, and you can change it by clicking the text box. Then click Install to install the site as a PWA.

- HowToManageDevices Website is successfully installed as a PWA.

Validate PWA Installation
- In Microsoft Edge, click on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner. Click on Apps, and select Manage apps.
- Here you can check the installed apps.

- Once you installed a PWA, a shortcut to the PWA will appear on the app list in the Windows 10 Start menu. You can pin PWAs to your Start menu and your taskbar on Windows 10 for quick access.

Resources
- Progressive Web Apps on Windows overview – Microsoft Docs
- How to Enable or Disable Shopping in Microsoft Edge Chromium
- How to Add Favorites in Microsoft Edge Chromium | Windows 10
- How to Disable First Run Experience in Microsoft Edge Chromium
- How to Enable or Disable Sleeping Tabs in Microsoft Edge Chromium | Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Vertical Tabs in Microsoft Edge Chromium | Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge Chromium
- FIX The code execution cannot proceed because edgegdi.dll was not found in Windows 10
Hello
Is there an unattended installation routine possible?
For example I’m having a lot of Digital Signage Screens with attached Windows 10 Kiosk Mode Clients. Can these PWA deployed without user interactions?
Cheers
Yes you can through Group Policy or Intune configuration profiles
GP: https://admx.help/?Category=EdgeChromium&Policy=Microsoft.Policies.Edge::WebAppInstallForceList
Intune: Config Profile –> Settings Catalog –> Microsoft Edge –> Configure list of force-installed Web Apps