Safari on the iPhone and iPad has a handy hidden feature that can turn any website into a practical web app. This is possible even if the website is not specifically optimized for this. Web apps are applications that can be accessed via a web browser.
Unlike traditional mobile apps, web apps are not installed on the user’s device. They are therefore not dependent on the operating system they run on. Instead, web apps are hosted on a server and accessible over the Internet.
Web apps for all websites
Safari for iPhone and iPad includes a handy hidden feature related to websites you place on the Home screen. Every website you add to the home screen opens as a standalone web app by default, even if the website has not been explicitly optimized for this.
Web apps are applications that can be accessed via a web browser. Unlike traditional mobile applications, web apps are not installed on the user’s device. This means they are not dependent on the operating system they are running on. Instead, web apps are hosted on a server and accessed over the Internet.
Web apps can range from simple pages of information to complex applications with advanced functionality, such as social networks, online games and business applications.
Since iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, all websites that you place on the home screen are opened as a web app, even if it is not optimized for this. In previous software versions, the website was opened in the associated web browser.
Add website to home screen
- Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to the website you want to add
- Tap the three dots (compact view)
- Tap the share button
- Choose ‘Place on home screen’
- Adjust data if necessary
- Select ‘Add’
When placing the website on the home screen, users can choose not to open it as a web app. On a Mac, you can place web apps in the Dock.