Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web apps that use modern web technologies. They can be launched on the Desktop and look like native apps. Microsoft Edge allows installing them with ease via a special button in the address bar.
While PWAs are hosted on the Internet, the user can create a special shortcut to launch them like a regular app, or install them in Windows 10 using Microsoft Store.
Besides the Microsoft Store app, Windows users can use the certain Chromium-based browsers like Edge and Chrome to install them. When the browser detects a PWA on a web site, it allows installing it right from the main menu.
Also, the browser displays a special button in the address bar for faster access to the setup dialog.
In the latest Edge Canary (see the version list below), Microsoft has changed the design of the button from a circle with a plus to a square icon that matches the "Manage apps" entry icon in the above picture.
Also, the text label now says "App available", while the previous text was "Install app".
Actual Edge Versions
- Stable Channel: 84.0.522.44
- Beta Channel: 85.0.564.18
- Dev Channel: 86.0.587.0
- Canary Channel: 86.0.591.0
Download Microsoft Edge
You can download pre-release Edge version for Insiders from here:
Download Microsoft Edge Insider Preview
The stable version of the browser is available on the following page:
Download Microsoft Edge Stable
Note: Microsoft has started delivering Microsoft Edge to users of Windows via Windows Update. The update is provisioned for users of Windows 10 version 1803 and above, and replaces the classic Edge app once installed. The browser, when delivered with KB4559309, makes it impossible to uninstall it from Settings. Check out the following workaround: Uninstall Microsoft Edge If Uninstall Button is Grayed Out.
Thanks to Leo for the heads-up.
Support us
Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:
hi all stable version now is 522.48
How do I get rid of that annoying space-wasting PWA install button in my Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge address bar? When I search Google all I get is advice on how to uninstall “apps” and not on how to actually remove the install button itself.
7 months along and still no way to get rid of the installation button.
In other words, both Microsoft and Google are pushing bloatware. They should stop wasting storage and screen space with “features” I will never use.