Progressive Web Application (WPA) not possible anymore

[imautohuttraeger]

In former times, I could save a browser shortcut in Android Chrome for Domoticz by saying "save on home screen" and it opens then as Progressive Web Application (WPA) without the frame of the browser around it. The second option "Install as Application" is not offered anymore with Domoticz. I still have such a shortcut on an old tablet and it works. But when I do this now, the shortcut only opens the IP of my Domoticz with the browser frame around.

Would be nice, if this behaviour could be re-established. Or is there a workaround for me without deep developer skills?

[gizmocuz]

There has been made no changes regarding this behavior...

The PWA (Progressive Web App) installation prompt was removed by Google Chrome around 2020-2021 as part of a security
policy change. Chrome now requires HTTPS before it will offer the "Install as Application" option. Since Domoticz is
typically accessed over a local network via a plain http:// address (e.g. http://192.168.1.x:8080), Chrome no longer
considers it installable.

The Domoticz code itself (manifest, service worker, icons) is all still correct and in place — the limitation is
entirely on Chrome's side.

Your old tablet still works because the shortcut was created before Chrome enforced this restriction, and Chrome
doesn't revoke existing shortcuts.

Options to get the install prompt back:

1. Firefox on Android — Firefox still allows "Add to Home Screen" as a shortcut that opens without the browser frame,
even over HTTP. This is the easiest option.
2. Use HTTPS with Domoticz. However, since this uses a self-signed certificate, Chrome will still not offer the install prompt (it requires a trusted certificate).
3. Set up a trusted HTTPS certificate — Use a free service like DuckDNS (a free dynamic DNS) combined with Let's
Encrypt to get a trusted certificate for your local Domoticz instance. This fully restores the PWA install prompt.
This requires some technical setup but there are step-by-step guides on the Domoticz forum.

The simplest immediate workaround is option 1 (Firefox).

Honestly, for a local home automation system like Domoticz, the PWA features provide limited real benefit:

What PWA gives you:
- "Install as App" — opens without browser chrome (address bar etc.)
- Offline fallback page when the server is unreachable
- Slightly faster repeat loads from cache

Why it barely matters for Domoticz:
- Domoticz runs on your local network — if the server is down, you can't control anything anyway, so the offline page
is just a "server unreachable" message
- The caching can actually cause problems — users sometimes see stale UI after an update until the service worker
refreshes
- The "no browser chrome" look can just as easily be achieved by adding a plain home screen bookmark in any browser
- Domoticz is not a content app — you're always live-connected to your server

[imautohuttraeger]

Thank you very much for this detailed feedback. This really enables me to understand the background and maybe use one of the described workarounds.

One reason for me to think about PWA mode is walldisplay and kiosk mode with the new dynamic dashboard like established in latest beta already.

[gizmocuz]

You don’t need PWA mode for this.
Simply open it in your browser and switch to fullscreen.

That said, you can likely get everything working just by using HTTPS as mentioned above. It’s also safer by default, just one extra letter “s” and one shortcut.

It’s best to use a hostname as well. In your Domoticz settings, you can assign a name to your instance (for example, home).
You should then be able to access it at https://home.local

Option 3 above (via NGINX) is also a valid alternative.

[imautohuttraeger]

Well, I could be wrong, but imho on an Android device, it works this way:

A full screen mode (like F11 of Windows) does not exist. However, I can scroll down (swipe up) and the browser appears full screen without address bar etc. But when I scroll up (swipe down) again, the top menu of the browser comes back.

Thus this works for as a static wall display, when there is no interaction with the user or just touch interactions. But as soon as you swipe down, full screen of the browser is gone.

But Gemini now showed me a trick for Android Chrome via bookmarklet:

You can create a special bookmark that forces full-screen mode with a single click:

Create any bookmark in Chrome.

Edit this bookmark and replace the URL with this code:

javascript:(function() { document.documentElement.requestFullscreen(); })();

When you are on a webpage, type the bookmark name into the address bar and select it from the list of suggestions (don't open the bookmark via the browser menu). The page will now switch to full-screen mode.

It really works and seems to be a simple solution for me. This is even eleminating the top status bar of the device.

[waltervl]

Well, I could be wrong, but imho on an Android device, it works this way:

A full screen mode (like F11 of Windows) does not exist. However, I can scroll down (swipe up) and the browser appears full screen without address bar etc. But when I scroll up (swipe down) again, the top menu of the browser comes back.

Thus this works for as a static wall display, when there is no interaction with the user or just touch interactions. But as soon as you swipe down, full screen of the browser is gone.

But Gemini now showed me a trick for Android Chrome via bookmarklet:

You can create a special bookmark that forces full-screen mode with a single click:

Create any bookmark in Chrome.

Edit this bookmark and replace the URL with this code:

javascript:(function() { document.documentElement.requestFullscreen(); })();

When you are on a webpage, type the bookmark name into the address bar and select it from the list of suggestions (don't open the bookmark via the browser menu). The page will now switch to full-screen mode.

It really works and seems to be a simple solution for me. This is even eleminating the top status bar of the device.

Thanks, I will try this too...

[Snowtiger]

Android Chrome bookmark Javascript works, named bookmark Java - open Domoticz site and type Java in URL bar and select the Bookmark - full screen with info bubble how to get out of full screen mode, thx for the tip

[imautohuttraeger]

The only little downside is that the full screen mode is away after the tablet awakes out of stand by mode.