Enable PWA Integration with Windows Shell in Microsoft Edge

How to Enable PWA Integration with Windows Shell in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft is working to integrate Progressive Web Apps (PWA) with Windows. Edge already allows installing them as regular apps with desktop shortcuts. A new change in Edge Canary provides a deeper integration of web apps by adding them to the 'Uninstall an app' list in Settings, and showing extra options for them, similar to Store apps.

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web apps that use modern web technologies. They can be launched on the Desktop and look like native apps. 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.

We have already covered a special flag in Microsoft Edge, called Web Apps Identity Proxy (#edge-web-apps-identity-proxy). It supposed to make PWAs behave more like native Windows apps. They will get their own names in notifications instead of just "Microsoft Edge", and will also properly named in Edge task manager, and will have individual jump lists.

Microsoft has finally updated Edge Canary to use this flag. Once you enable it in Edge Canary, PWAs you have installed will appear in the list of installed apps. You will also able to change their advanced settings, e.g. to move a PWA to another drive.

Before proceeding, ensure that you have

To Enable PWA Integration with Windows Shell in Microsoft Edge,

1. Open Microsoft Edge Chromium.
2. Type the following text in the address bar: edge://flags/#edge-webapp-identity-proxy
3. Select Enabled from the drop down list next to the Web Apps Identity Proxy
   option to enable this feature.
4. Restart the browser when prompted.

Now, open a web site that provides a PWA. For example, you can use Twitter or Outlook. Open browser's menu (Alt + F) and select Apps > Install Twitter (for Twitter).

After you install the app, it will appear running with no browser frame, like a regular Windows app.

PWA with Windows Shell Integration

If you open Settings > Apps > Apps and features, you will see the PWA you have installed in the list of installed apps. In my case it is Twitter.

As you can see, it is possible to uninstall it from there, or open its advanced options, like for Store apps.

From there, you can allow the PWA to run in the background, terminate or reset it, and more.

Actual Edge Versions

• Stable Channel: 83.0.478.37
• Beta Channel: 83.0.478.37
• Dev Channel: 84.0.516.1
• Canary Channel: 85.0.528.0

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

Microsoft Edge is now a Chromium-based browser with a number of exclusive features like Read Aloud and services tied to Microsoft instead of Google. The browser has already received a few updates, with support for ARM64 devices in Edge Stable 80. Also, Microsoft Edge is still supporting a number of aging Windows versions, including Windows 7, which has recently reached its end of support. Check out Windows Versions Supported by Microsoft Edge Chromium and Edge Chromium latest roadmap. Finally, interested users can download MSI installers for deployment and customization.

For pre-release versions, Microsoft is currently using three channels to deliver updates to Edge Insiders. The Canary channel receives updates daily (except Saturday and Sunday), the Dev channel is getting updates weekly, and the Beta channel is updated every 6 weeks. Microsoft is going to support Edge Chromium on Windows 7, 8.1 and 10, alongside macOS, Linux (coming in the future) and mobile apps on iOS and Android. Windows 7 users will receive updates until July 15, 2021.

You will find many Edge tricks and features covered in the following post:

Hands-on with the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge

Also, see the following updates.

• Translate Pages in Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge
• Enable PWAs App Icon Shortcut Menu in Chrome and Edge
• Enable Quiet Notification Requests in Microsoft Edge
• Add a Profile in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Enable Focus Mode in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Share Page URL via QR Code in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Enable Immersive Reader Mode in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Reset Settings in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Import Data from Edge Legacy to Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Enable Picture Dictionary for Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge
• Create InPrivate Browsing Shortcut for Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Clear Browsing Data in Microsoft Edge
• Keep Cookies for Specific Sites When Close Microsoft Edge
• Set Custom Image as New Tab Page Background in Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Edge Dev 83.0.467.0 Allows Resuming Downloads
• Microsoft Edge is Getting Vertical Tabs, Password Monitor, Smart Copy, and more
• Classic Edge is Now Officially Called ‘Edge Legacy’
• Enable or Disable Site Favicons for Edge Address Bar Suggestions
• Edge Canary Receives Adverb Recognition for Grammar Tools
• Add All Open Tabs to Collection in Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Edge Now Includes a Link to Family Safety in Settings
• Change New Tab Page Search Engine in Microsoft Edge
• Add or Remove Feedback Button in Microsoft Edge
• Enable or Disable Automatic Profile Switching In Microsoft Edge 
• The List of Internal Page URLs in Microsoft Edge
• Enable Picture-in-Picture (PIP) for Global Media Controls in Edge
• Change Font Size and Style in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Edge Chromium Now Allows Making it Default Browser From Settings
• Enable DNS over HTTPS in Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Rolls Out Edge Chromium to Release Preview Insiders
• How to Show Menu Bar in Microsoft Edge
• Add or Remove Share Button in Microsoft Edge
• Enable Lazy Frame Loading in Microsoft Edge
• Enable Lazy Image Loading in Microsoft Edge
• Edge Chromium Receives Extension Syncing
• Microsoft Announces Performance Boost In Edge Chromium Preview
• Edge 80 Stable Features Native ARM64 Support
• Edge DevTools Are Now Available in 11 Languages
• Disable First Run Experience in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Specify Default Profile to Open Links for Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Edge Receives Remove Duplicate Favorites Option
• Disable Hardware Acceleration in Microsoft Edge
• Enable Collections in Microsoft Edge Stable
• Install Google Chrome Themes in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Windows Versions Supported by Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Edge Now Allows Opening Selected Text in Immersive Reader
• Show or Hide Collections Button in Microsoft Edge
• Edge Chromium Won’t Automatically Install For Enterprise Users
• Microsoft Edge Receives New Customization Options for New Tab Page
• Change Default Download Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium
• Make Microsoft Edge Ask Where To Save Downloads
• and more

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