A progressive web app (PWA) is a website built with web technologies that can be installed and opened like an app. To create one, start with an HTML, CSS, and JavaScript application, describe it with a web app manifest, and publish the production site over HTTPS. A service worker can add offline and intermittent-network support, but it is not required for Microsoft Edge to install a PWA. In Edge, users can install eligible sites from the address bar and manage installed apps through Edge or Windows.
What a progressive web app is
A PWA is an application built using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. One web codebase can serve devices through their browsers, and a supporting browser and operating system can offer installation and app-like launch behavior. When opened in a standalone window, the app can run without the browser’s ordinary interface. Microsoft describes PWAs as a way to bring web apps to devices, including Windows; the exact features available depend on the browser and environment.
For a developer, a PWA commonly combines the web application itself with a web app manifest and, optionally, a service worker. These pieces have different jobs: the application provides the interface and behavior, the manifest supplies app metadata, and the service worker can mediate network requests.
Build the web application and describe it with a manifest
Start with the web app
Use HTML for page structure, CSS for layout and styling, and JavaScript for interactions. You can develop the app locally before publishing it. A PWA does not require a special programming language or a separate native codebase.
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Add a web app manifest
A web app manifest is a JSON file that gives a supporting browser and host operating system information about the app. Microsoft’s getting-started example includes fields for language, app name and short name, description, start URL, background and theme colors, display mode, and an icon. manifest.json is a common filename, not a mandatory one. The manifest is metadata, not the app itself; the values and configuration should suit the particular application.
Choose whether the app needs a service worker
A service worker is a separate JavaScript file that can intercept network requests. Developers can use one to cache resources and support offline use or resilience when connectivity is intermittent. Depending on implementation, service workers can also support background tasks, push messages, and badges. Microsoft’s example uses a cache-first approach, but the appropriate caching strategy depends on the app’s content and how current that content must be.
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For Edge installation, the distinction is important: Microsoft states, “A Progressive Web App (PWA) doesn’t need to have a service worker for Microsoft Edge to be able to install the app.” Add one when offline behavior, caching, or another service-worker capability is part of the product—not simply to make Edge’s install control appear.
Deploy the production app over HTTPS
Publish the production version on a web server reachable through HTTPS. Microsoft’s guide identifies secure delivery as important for service workers and other PWA features. During development and debugging, Edge permits PWA APIs on localhost; that local exception is not a substitute for HTTPS on the deployed site.
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Choose hosting based on what the app needs. A static host can be suitable when the app has no server-side backend. If it needs server-side code or a backend, choose a host that supports that workload. Microsoft names Azure App Service and GitHub Pages as hosting examples; its guide does not present them as a ranking or compare their prices. If a host does not provide HTTPS, Microsoft mentions Let’s Encrypt as an option for obtaining it.
Install a PWA from Microsoft Edge
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Open the PWA’s website in Microsoft Edge.
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When Edge determines that the site is an installable PWA, look for the App available control in the address bar.
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Select App available, then choose Install.
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Launch the installed app from Windows or manage it in Edge at
edge://apps. Depending on the app and Windows environment, installed PWAs can appear in the Start menu and Taskbar and among open apps in Alt+Tab.
Many PWAs are also available through the Microsoft Store. An installed PWA can be configured to start automatically when the user signs in to Windows; auto-start is an optional user setting, not a requirement for building or installing a PWA. Windows app settings also provide a place to manage installed apps.
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What to expect on Windows 10
Microsoft’s cited documentation describes Edge and Windows behavior broadly; it does not provide a feature-by-feature compatibility matrix for Windows 10 versions or builds. The documented Windows integration should therefore not be read as a guarantee that every feature works identically on every Windows 10 installation. If an install control or integration feature is missing, check the installed Edge and Windows versions and the app’s eligibility rather than assuming the operating system supports every current capability.
Microsoft documents a specific limitation for FSLogix environments: an installed PWA may disappear after a user logs out and signs back in. That matters in managed environments where user profiles are handled with FSLogix.
Quick Recap
Microsoft documentation
- Use Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in Microsoft Edge covers end-user installation, management, Windows integration, auto-start, and the FSLogix caveat.
- Get started developing a PWA covers the web app, manifest, service worker, and HTTPS deployment.
- Overview of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) explains the PWA concept and its cross-device framing.
- Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) documentation is Microsoft’s broader documentation map for development and Windows integration topics.
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