pwa-installability

name	pwa-installability
description	Use when auditing PWA readiness, adding an install prompt, or preparing a web app for submission to Microsoft Store or Google Play via PWA Builder.
metadata	{"category":"html","priority":"low","difficulty":"intermediate","estimatedTime":"30","source":"frontendchecklist.io","url":"https://frontendchecklist.io/en/rules/html/pwa-installability"}

Meet PWA installability criteria

Installable PWAs appear in the browser's address bar install prompt and in app stores, giving users a native-app experience without an app store listing. Studies consistently show that installed PWAs have higher engagement and retention than browser-only equivalents — users who install spend 3× more time in the app on average.

Quick Reference

• Serve the app over HTTPS (required by browsers)
• Link a valid web app manifest with name, icons, start_url, and display
• Provide a 192×192 and 512×512 icon; add a maskable variant for Android
• Register a service worker that responds with 200 when offline

Check

Check whether this site meets the PWA installability criteria: HTTPS, valid manifest, service worker, and appropriate icons.

Fix

Add or fix the web app manifest, ensure a service worker is registered, and provide correctly sized maskable icons.

Explain

Explain what makes a web app installable as a PWA and what the manifest display modes mean for the user experience.

Code Review

Review the manifest.json and icon assets. Flag missing required fields, incorrect icon sizes, absent maskable icons, and any mismatch between start_url and the actual app root.

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For full implementation details, code examples, and framework-specific guidance, see references/rule.md.

Rule page: https://frontendchecklist.io/en/rules/html/pwa-installability