# Installing the Kiwix JS PWA

Simply visit **_[pwa.kiwix.org](https://pwa.kiwix.org)_** in a modern browser. Read more after the demo:

![Install-PWA demo](Install-PWA_demo.gif)

See also: [ [File handling](Demo-FileHandling.md) ]  [ [Install PWA in Firefox for Android](Install-PWA_Firefox_Android.gif) ]  [ [Install PWA and use OPFS in Chrome for Android](Demo-OPFS_Chrome_Android.gif) ]


## 📌 Alternative Installation Method (for browsers without install prompt)

Some browsers do **not** display the PWA install prompt (Safari, Firefox, Vivaldi, etc.).  
If the “Install App” button does not appear, follow:

**[PWA Fallback Installation Guide](../PWA_FALLBACK_INSTALL.md)**

This explains how to install / Add to Home Screen on iOS, Firefox, Vivaldi, desktop Linux, etc.


## Install in Chrome/Edge, add to Home in Safari, add to taskbar in Firefox

In **Chromium browsers** (e.g. Chrome, Edge), you can install the PWA (Progressive Web App) as an offline-first app as in the demo above:
an "Install" button will show up in Configuration. In Safari (including on iOS devices), you can add the app to your Home screen,
and it will install itself as an offline-first app. In **Firefox** you can add it to the taskbar (Firefox >= 143 for Windows), and it will
gain its own icon and dedicated window. In earlier Firefox, you can bookmark the app and it will still work offline. This should work in
any browser that supports [Service Workers](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Service_Worker_API).

## So why bother installing the app?

Once it is installed, the app will have its own icon and will appear in the All Apps list (e.g. in Windows), or will have a desktop launcher (in Linux). It will run in a separate window from your browser. It also has the advantage that the app can then handle ZIM archives that you launch from the file system (e.g. by double-clicking the archive in File Explorer), as shown in the demo above.

## Accessing your ZIM files

In all browsers, you can simply open an archive using the File Picker on the Configuration page of the app. In all desktop browsers, you can drag-and-drop an archive into the app.
If you have an archive made up of a set of split files (ending `.zimaa`, `.zimab`, `.zimac`, etc.), then you can drag-and-drop the whole set into the app, or, more conveniently
in Chromium and Firefox browsers, you can simply pick a folder that contains your archives (including any split archives). See our [Folder-picking demo](Folder-Picking.md) for more.

## File System Access API and File Handling

In **Chromium browsers**, the app can take advantage of the [File System Access API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/File_System_Access_API), which can remember
your selected archive or folder between app launches. If you install the app, it can also take advantage of the [File Handling API](https://web.dev/file-handling/). Together,
these APIs provide a near-native experience.

When installed, the first time you launch a ZIM archive from the file system, you will be asked for permission to open this type of file (this prompt isn't shown in the demo above).
If you grant this permission permanently (tick the check box), you won't be bothered by future permission prompts when opening a ZIM from anywhere on your PC. For more information,
see our [File Handling demo](Demo-FileHandling.md).

When you open a ZIM archive or folder *from within the app* (from Configuration), you are asked for permission to access the file or the folder containing your ZIM archives. On next
launch, the selected file or folder is remembered. When you click on the archive name, you are given a quick permissions prompt (just once per launch). This is a security feature of
the API and can't currently be avoided.

## Add the PWA to the Edge sidebar

If you are using Microsoft Edge (Chromium), you can now add the PWA to the Edge sidebar. See our demo [Add Kiwix PWA to Edge sidebar](Add-KiwixPWA-to-Edge-sidebar.md).

See also: [ [File handling](Demo-FileHandling.md) ]  [ [Install PWA in Firefox for Android](Install-PWA_Firefox_Android.gif) ]  [ [Install PWA and use OPFS in Chrome for Android](Demo-OPFS_Chrome_Android.gif) ]