Do you have websites that you visit often? Consider adding them as an app. This way you have quick access to them and they function as a fully-fledged Windows program. Opening a website as an app in Windows 10 works as follows.
Converting the website and using it as an app has several advantages. This way you can place the web app in the Start menu, so that you can start it quickly. Similar to a Windows program. You can also add the app to the taskbar, create shortcuts to it and manage the rights at a detailed level.
We use the latest Edge browser for this, based on Chromium. That browser was released in January 2020 and has been rolled out via Windows Update.
We add websites as Progressive Web App, PWA for short. This relatively new technology ensures that the website takes on the character of a fully-fledged app. This can be useful if your favorite service has an app available for Android or iOS, but not for the Windows desktop.
Add app
To add the app, open Edge. Now visit the website you want to add as an app. Once the page has loaded, click the button Settings and more. You can recognize it by the three dots (top right of the window). Or use Alt + F.
Now choose Apps and click on Install this site as an app. Give the site a suitable name and click on to install. The app is created and placed in the Start menu.
You can then make the app available in other places, such as the desktop and the Windows taskbar. Open the Start menu. The app can be found under Recently added. To place the app on the desktop as a shortcut, drag it to the desktop and release the icon above.
You can also add the app to other locations, for example as a tile on the Start menu. Right-click on the app and choose Pin to Start. To pin the app to the taskbar, right-click on it and choose More, Pin to taskbar. You can also find the apps in Edge’s menu. Click again on the button with the three dots (…) and choose Apps. below All apps and Pins you will find an overview.
Permissions
Once you’ve opened an app, you can manage additional permissions for the app. Click on the button with the three dots and choose App info. Here you can read whether the web app has a security certificate and whether trackers and cookies are used. click on Trackers for an overview of the trackers used by the web app. These are blocked by Edge by default.
Also take a look at Site Permissions. In the newly opened window you can indicate at a detailed level which rights the app has. Determine, among other things, whether the location may be shared and whether the camera and microphone may be used.
By default, Edge asks for each action whether it is allowed, but you can also prohibit or allow the action in advance. If you have adjusted permissions, but want to return to the factory settings, then choose Reset permissions.
Uninstall apps
You can also remove the installed apps. Open Edge’s menu and choose Apps, Manage Apps. An overview of apps appears. Click on the cross next to an app to remove it. You can also remove an app from the Start menu: right-click on the app and choose remove.
After all, apps can also be removed via the classic Control Panel: open the Start menu and type Control panel. Choose Delete a program. An overview of installed software appears, which also includes the apps. Click on the app you want to uninstall and choose remove. It’s gone again!
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