How to Install a Web Game as an App on iPhone and Android

Published · Last updated

You can install many web games as apps without an app store. On iPhone and iPad, open the game in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. On Android, open it in Chrome, tap the ⋮ menu, then Install app. On a computer, use the install icon at the right of the address bar in Chrome or Edge. The game then gets its own icon, opens fullscreen without browser bars, and, if the site supports offline play, runs with no connection at all.

This works for any site built as a progressive web app (PWA), including all eighteen games on NoInternet Arcade. Below are the exact steps for each device, plus how to check that offline play is ready and how to remove the app again.

What installing a web game actually does

A progressive web app is a normal website with two extras: a manifest that tells your device its name and icon, and a service worker that can save its files for offline use. Installing it:

It is still the same website underneath, running in your browser’s sandbox, with the same permissions as any web page.

iPhone and iPad (Safari)

iPhone and iPad do not let websites install themselves, so there is never a pop-up. It always takes a few taps in the browser menu.

iOS 26 and newer:

  1. Open the site in Safari.
  2. Tap the ⋯ menu at the bottom right, then Share.
  3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen. It may be under View More.
  4. Keep Open as Web App switched on and tap Add.

iOS 16 to 18:

  1. Tap the Share button (the square with an arrow) in the Safari toolbar.
  2. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add.

Older iPhones (iOS 12 to 15): the Share button is in the bottom toolbar, or in the top bar when the phone is sideways. On iOS 12, Add to Home Screen sits in the lower row of grey icons; swipe left to find it.

Chrome on iPhone: tap the Share button in the address bar, then Add to Home Screen.

If you opened the site from inside another app, such as TikTok or Instagram, its built-in browser cannot install web apps. Tap its ⋯ menu, choose Open in browser, and install from Safari or Chrome.

Android

Chrome:

  1. Open the site in Chrome.
  2. Tap the ⋮ menu at the top right.
  3. Tap Install app (or Add to Home screen), then confirm.

Chrome sometimes offers the install itself with a banner or a button on the page. On NoInternet Arcade, the Install app button in the footer triggers Chrome’s own install prompt when it is available.

Samsung Internet: tap the ≡ menu at the bottom, then Add page to, then Home screen.

Firefox for Android: tap the ⋮ menu, then Install (or Add to Home screen).

Computers: Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook

Chrome (Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS): click the install icon at the right end of the address bar, or open the ⋮ menu, then Cast, save and share, then Install page as app. On a Chromebook, the app then appears in your launcher like any other app.

Microsoft Edge: click the App available icon in the address bar, or open the ⋯ menu, then Apps, then Install this site as an app.

Safari on Mac (Safari 17 or newer): in the menu bar, choose File, then Add to Dock.

Firefox on desktop cannot install web apps. The games still work offline in Firefox after your first visit; just bookmark the page.

How to check that offline play is ready

Installing gives you the icon; the offline copy is saved by the site’s service worker, usually during your first visit. On NoInternet Arcade, the footer of every page shows the progress:

Then run a quick test: switch on airplane mode, open the app from its icon, and start a round. If it plays, you are ready for a flight or the next Wi-Fi outage.

On older or low-memory phones, the arcade saves a lighter set: every game and the main pages, but not the reading pages such as this blog. The games themselves work exactly the same.

Updates

Installed web apps update themselves. When you open ours while online, it checks for a new version and switches to it, but never in the middle of a run: while a game is open, a small “New version ready” message appears that you can tap, and otherwise the update happens the next time you come back outside a game. This works on older iPhones too, back to iOS 12. The build number at the bottom of every page tells you which version you have.

How to uninstall

Only want to free space? On NoInternet Arcade, the Install app button in the footer opens a small dialog with a Remove offline data option. It deletes the saved copy of the games from that browser; your account and scores are not affected, and the games simply download again next time you visit online.

Troubleshooting

FAQ

Is installing a web app safe?

It is the same website you were already using, with the same browser protections. It can only ask for the permissions any web page can ask for (the only one our games use is motion access for tilt controls on iPhone and iPad), it does not get your contacts, photos or files, and you can remove it at any time like any other app.

How much space does it take?

A few megabytes for all eighteen games, far less than a typical app store game.

Do I need an account?

No. Installing and playing need no account. Signing in is optional and only used for leaderboards, daily quests, rewards and syncing your progress between devices.

Will it work on an iPad or a tablet?

Yes. The steps are the same as on a phone, and every game supports touch controls.

Can I play offline without installing?

Yes. The offline copy is saved by your browser whether or not you install. Installing just adds the icon and the fullscreen window. If you use Firefox on a computer, bookmark the page and open it from there.

For a tour of what you can play once it is installed, read the best browser mini games that work offline.

← All posts