← Back to release summary

HTML install element

Category
Capabilities (Fugu)
Type
New or changed feature
Status
Proposed (Chrome Proposed)
Intent stage
None

Summary

Triggers a request for the browser to install a web app, given a manifest URL and optional manifest ID. The <install> element enables cross-origin web app installation without JavaScript and provides a better developer experience than handling beforeinstallprompt events. Enterprises can control this in two ways - (1) Enterprise policy, WebAppInstallByUserEnabled, can disable user web app installs broadly, including installs initiated via navigator.install() and <install>. Or (2) Permissions Policy, web-app-installation, can allow or disallow use of this feature on origins the enterprise controls (for example, internal sites/iframes).

Motivation

The web currently lacks the ability for a site to offer installation of a web app identified by a cross-origin manifest. Limited support exists for eligible same-origin web apps via ambient installation affordances and the beforeinstallprompt event. However, the existent browser-provided entry points are difficult for developers to use and users to discover. This capability lets developers distribute web apps across the web without proprietary protocols or platform-specific stores. It brings web app distribution closer to the reach developers expect from other application models while preserving browser-controlled safeguards and explicit user choice.

Standards & signals

Docs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rGvLhD4SR8Y9M1wVmqgyesPNkbZGU7HOqlttjEFJ5Vo/edit?tab=t.tmx19oox759l#heading=h.j3tt49hqiuck

Samples: https://microsoftedge.github.io/Demos/pwa-install-element https://kbhlee2121.github.io/pwa/web-install-manifest-url/only-elements.html

Explainers: https://aka.ms/installelement

View on chromestatus.com