Web apps support for desktop browser too?
-
Neverendy last edited byOpera has many interesting features and has always been ahead of many technologies we have today, but it’s a shame they still haven’t added support for PWAs. It forces users to rely on Edge/Chrome for this purpose, even though the Chromium engine they use has native support. I hope they wake up someday and eliminate this outdated aspect of the browser.
-
rdiezsj last edited by
PWA support in 2025 should be mandatory, especially on Linux where many applications are only available via PWA.
-
ledream last edited by
Yes for sure we need install or save as app button ... i'm coming from other browser and i don't understand why this feature is disabled, not sure to use this browser longer so sad it look really good 🥲
-
Himmelsheriff last edited byWhenever I try to use Edge, I would install two or three web apps, mainly WhatsApp and Spotify.
But even with Edge I always end up with putting them back from the taskbar to the the sidebar.
So, finally, I don't miss PWA support, really. And this makes me return to Opera. I suppose I'm really used to the "Opera way" with having them in the sidebar. Maybe I don't see so much advantage of PWA over normal webpages, as they're webpages only and I have my browser open anyway.
Nevertheless I wouldn't mind Opera having PWA support, too.
This may be helpful for those who use Linux as there not that so many native apps as on Windows or Mac.
But proof me wrong: Wasn't the introduction of PWA by Google a way to circumvent Apple's app store in the first place? So I get, that it's more something for mobile than on desktop anyway.
And here, to my knowledge, you can build PWA in Opera, easily, at least on Android. -
ledream last edited by
As a developer, I work with multiple web applications simultaneously, often across different tech stacks. Sometimes, I just need to quickly check my emails on Gmail. Using Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) helps me streamline this process by eliminating unnecessary steps.
Instead of:
- Opening Opera
- Clicking on a bookmark
- Waiting for Gmail to load
With a PWA, I can open Gmail instantly, just like a native app. This significantly improves my workflow and makes managing my applications much more efficient and it's way less distractive than having the complete browser with all tools
About other advantages not sure if caching, features, performance, battery consumption are differents ?
-
Neverendy last edited by
Unfortunately, I'll have to go back to Edge. It has native support for translation and PWA.
It might seem useless to many, but these are essential features that should have been there by at least 2022. And since I use GX, the latest useful features that a regular browser would have arrive there. I hope that in 4 years (which is roughly when they'll realize they need to add this), I'll come back to Opera. Until then, nothing makes me stay here. -
ankuankit808 last edited by
@survivor303 yes, i also need this feature , I expect Opera to Take It seriously and release app feature in up-coming version.
-
zakweb3 last edited by
@Opera What is the reason for this? I was simply looking to transition from Brave to Opera, and then I discovered that this fundamental feature is unavailable. You pack the browser with fantastic functionalities like Aria, pin-board, speed-dial, flow, and more. However, there is no native Chromium PWA support for desktop. Does this mean I have to use two browsers? I kindly ask that you consider adding this feature. Thank you!
-
ledream last edited by
After 2 months of usage i drop Opera to switch to Firefox
- No PWA support
- No extension sync with account
I'm really sad because a lot of features are cool... I'm looking forward to future releases
-
A Former User last edited by
I understand the advantage of PWA on mobile but it doesn’t appear to me on desktop. Switching to another on the task bar isn’t more handy than switching to another tab within the browsers.
Wasn‘t it Google‘s attempt to lure users from loading apps from Apple’s app store and to circumvent Cupertino‘s walled garden in the end?
But to each what he needs. -
ledream last edited by
@DerSchlingel It's like a two-level shortcut. Some apps need to be accessible with a single click, without searching through all tabs. When I start my computer, I want to check my email. I should be able to just click on the Gmail web app, instead of opening Opera, reloading all my tabs, and then clicking on Gmail.
Firefox has built full PWA support, which I believe came from extensive user analysis. There's clearly a demand for PWAs, as many users are requesting this feature. This isn't just a coincidence
-
-
orelhassid last edited by
Wth, Opera doesn't support PWA apps? I'm really surprised it's 2025.
Reconsidering moving back to Chrome
-
mindblade last edited by
@zakweb3 said in Web apps support for desktop browser too?:
@ledream
I keep switching back and forth between Brave and Opera!
PWA support and workspace session isolation (with its own set of extensions) that would be awesome!I keep periodically checking Opera to see if they will ever fix the PWA problem cause without PWA it is a full on show stopper for me.
However, Zen browser is a pretty great opera like experience with workspace isolations (great being able to be logged in as 1 user in 1 workspace but another in a different workspace without having to switch browser instances or hop into an incognito mode). That's what I keep using (I don't like that it is Firefox based instead of Chrome based but small price to pay for an Opera that actually works with PWAs). It also has a really nice way to manage PWAs as a whole allowing PWAs to either be completely separate profiles or shared profiles on a PWA basis and a managment of all PWAs type stuff. Like how a link works within the PWA or allowing tabs and such. I didn't realize how powerful PWAs could even be until I saw this and all the options that the Chrome version masks.
It lacks an Android version however, and the 1password desktop integration doesn't appear to work so those are downsides but not show stoppers like a missing PWA is for me.
