You can use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to convert a website into an app. Although it works for Window 8 or 7, we are using Windows 10 for creating this blog post. This lets you use your sites as if they were normal apps.
This is for devices running Windows 10, and Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge
How Website Apps Work
Your website looks and works exactly the same in your app as it does in your web browser. The only difference you will see is that there will not be any browser elements in your app window, such as the bookmarks bar, address bar, and other toolbar elements.
If you use Chrome, the website app will be using Chrome in the background. If you use Edge, the browser app will use Microsoft Edge. However, normal browser elements are stripped off so that you get the actual app-like experience. These web apps get their own separate windows, taskbar icons, and desktop shortcuts.
Turn a Website Into an App Using Chrome
You can use Chrome’s main menu to turn any website into a Windows app.
First, open the Start menu. Next, enter “Google Chrome” in the Cortana search box at bottom left-hand corner. Now, click the browser in the results at top left-hand corner. Refer to below image:
Next, open any website that you want to turn into an app. Navigate to the specific web page that you want your app to start with.
When the site has loaded, click its hamburger menu button (the three dots) in the top-right corner of the window and select:
More Tools > Create Shortcut
See below image:
A prompt will appear asking for your new app name. Enter a name for your new app, enable the Open as window checkbox, and click Create. See following image:
A shortcut will be placed on your desktop. You can launch your app from this desktop shortcut. Refer to below image:
Also, Chrome will create the app for your site and add it to the Start menu. You can now search and launch your app using your PC’s Start menu. See below image:
Turn a Website Into an App Using Edge
You can also use Microsoft Edge to make a website into an app. This creates the exact same kind of app that Chrome does. First, open the Start menu. Next, enter “Microsoft Edge” in the Cortana search box at bottom left-hand corner. Now, click the browser in the results at top left-hand corner. See following image:
Navigate to the website that you want to make an app for, then navigate to the specific page that you want to use for the app.
Now, click the menu hamburger button (the three dots) in the top-right corner of the window and select:
Apps > Install this site as an app
Refer to below image:
Type a name for your new app, then click Install. See below image:
You can now launch your newly created app from the Start menu. See following image where TechSavvy.Life (1) is the Chrome version, TechSavvy.Life is the Edge version:
Create a Desktop Shortcut for Your Apps
Your website apps will have their own shortcuts in your Start menu’s All Apps list. You can also create a desktop shortcut for your apps in order to quickly access them on your PC’s desktop, if you like.
If you used Chrome to make your apps, your desktop shortcuts are already created. But if you used Microsoft Edge, you will need to manually add shortcuts to your desktop.
To do this, open the Start menu and search for your newly created app. Right-click your app and select Pin to Start.
You need to do this because Windows does not let you directly make a desktop shortcut for this kind of app in Edge. Refer to below image:
Open the Start menu again, and you will see your app on the right. Drag it over to your desktop and a desktop shortcut for it will be created. See below image:
Create a Taskbar Shortcut for Your Apps
You can also make a taskbar shortcut for your website apps.
To do this, open the Start menu again, search for your app or find your desktop shortcut, right-click your app, click More, and select Pin to taskbar. See following image:
Assign an Icon
By default, Windows uses your website’s favicon as the icon for your app. You can change this icon if you want to give a little makeover to your new app.
You can use an icon file from your computer or one of Windows 10’s built-in icons for your new app.
To change your app’s icon, right-click your app shortcut on your desktop and select Properties. Refer to below image:
In the Properties box, click Shortcut at the top, and then click Change Icon. See below image:
Click Browse in the window that opens and select the icon that you want to use for your app.
If you want to use one of Windows 10’s stock icons, browse to:
C:\Windows\System32 folder
and double-click the imageres.dll file in this folder.
You will see a list of Windows 10’s built-in icons. Select the one that you want to use and click OK. Even though this file is for 32-bit operating system, it will work on a 64-bit system. See following image:
To save your settings, click Apply and then select OK. Refer to below image for my final desktop and taskbar shortcuts:
Quote For the Day
“The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency”.
Bill Gates
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