Sign in Subscribe

🪟 Desktop Web Apps (PWAs)

Last updated on 
Screenshot of a Canva DWA

Desktop Web Apps (DWAs) let you run any website as a standalone desktop application, so you can quickly access it on your computer without opening Wavebox.

Features and benefits of Desktop Web Apps include;

  • Open from the dock/taskbar
  • Launch from your OS—Launchpad (mac) Application Launcher (Linux) and Desktop (Windows)
  • App icon appears in your OS switcher (Cmd+Tab, Alt+Tab)
  • Supports Spaces so you can stay signed-in to multiple Desktop Web Apps of the same type.
  • OS unread badges on the icon
  • Separate window with minimal UI - no address bar, tabs, etc
  • Support for all Chrome Web Store extensions
  • More efficient than running Electron apps for each app.
💡
Info! We've taken Chrome's Progressive Web App (PWA) feature (also available in Edge) and given it a little Wavebox boost. Progressive Web Apps are websites that are installed on your computer so they behave more like 'native' apps than browser tabs - the apps are independent from the browser - you don't need to have the browser running - and there is no address bar or tabs to clutter things up.

Install a Desktop Web App

  • Click the ☰Wavebox Menu in the top-right corner and select 'Desktop Web Apps' from list.
  • In the pop-up, click the + icon to open the App Store.
  • Search for an app in the store, or click Add Custom App.
  • Enter your app details:
    • Name: Type a name into the first text field
    • Icon: Use the suggested icon or upload your own
    • Space: Select the correct Space for the app.
    • URL: Check the link is correct.
    • Color: Pick a color for the app.
  • Click 'Next'.
  • The Desktop Web App picker will open in Wavebox, showing your new DWA.
  • Your OS Finder will also open, showing the DWA.
    • On Windows, a pop-up notification will ask you to install the DWA.
    • On macOS, see below for a few extra steps needed.
  • Double-click the icon in either pop-up to launch the new DWA as a separate window on your computer.

Add the DWA Picker Icon to the Toolbar

  • Click on Settings Cog > General Tab > Appearance > Customize Toolbar (it's the first setting, right at the top)
  • Find Desktop Web Apps in the list, and toggle ON.
  • The DWAs icon (grid of 9 dots) will appear in the toolbar top-right, next to the Wavebox Menu (☰)
  • Click X to close the side panel.

Edit & Remove DWAs

  • Manage all apps: Click on the DWAs icon in the toolbar, or go to ☰Wavebox Menu > Desktop Web Apps.
  • Edit an app: Right-click its icon and select Settings. From there you can;
    • Edit the name, app color
    • Change the icon
    • Enable the tabstrip
    • Edit badge and notification settings (see next section).
  • Remove an app: Right-click and choose Remove. This also deletes any desktop shortcut.

🔔 Badges & Notifications

Your can customise the DWA badge and notifications settings.

  • Open the DWA piker and right-click on any icon and select Settings.
  • Go to the Badges & Notifications section
  • Show Unread Count (number, if available) - toggle ON/OFF
  • Show Unread Activity (a dot, if available) - toggle ON/OFF
  • Notification Permissions - opens site settings in a new window:
    • ✅ Allow sites to ask and send notifications - radio button ON/OFF
    • ❎ Don't allow sites to send notifications - radio button ON/OFF
  • Notification Sound - choose a sound from the dropdown or upload your own.

🚀 Launch & Use

  • Windows/Linux: Double-click the shortcut on your Desktop or find it in your application menu.
  • macOS: Click the icon in Launchpad, add it to the dock, or locate it in the Applications folder (if available).
  • In Wavebox: Click the Desktop Web Apps icon (nine squares) in the toolbar to launch your installed DWAs.

When open, DWAs run in a separate window, without the usual address bar or tabs. This keeps the interface clean and focused.

🎨 Advanced Tips

  • Multiple Accounts: Assign different spaces to separate logins (e.g., two Gmail apps).
  • Unread Badges: Many apps show an unread count on their DWA icon. Check your notification settings if you don’t see badges.
  • Custom Icons: Update icons and title bar colors in Settings to help differentiate multiple apps.
  • Tabs in DWAs (Experimental): Enable a tabstrip under the app’s Settings if you want to open multiple tabs in one DWA window. (Windows/macOS only.)

Extra Install Step for macOS Users

You only need to do this one time for each Desktop Web App you install.

'Web App Name" is damaged an can't be opened. You should move it to the Bin.
  • When launching the DWA for the first time, you are prompted with the message: "DWA Name is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Bin."
  • Press the cancel button.
  • Open macOS System Preferences & search for 'Gatekeeper'
  • You should find a section that says 'App name was blocked', press 'Open anyway'.

Why do I need to do this? We are waiting to be blessed by Apple as a trusted browser. 🙏 When that's done, this step won't be necessary.

Troubleshooting

  • Opening PWA on mac shows a warning message.
    Please refer to the section above 👆 'Extra Step for macOS Users' and follow the steps to trust Wavebox as a browser.
  • Opening Google websites show an "Is Broken" warning message
    This appears to be Chromium trying to auto-install a DWA on your machine.
    • Click 'Cancel'
    • Either: Follow the extra steps for macOS 👆
    • Or, go to Wavebox Menu > Desktop Web Apps > Google Website Icon > Remove from Wavebox' and try again.
  • How do I change the icon?
    Open the DWA picker and right-click on the icon and select 'Settings'. From there you can edit the icon, name and color.
  • Can I have tabs in my DWA?
    Yes, however this is experimental at the moment. Right-click on a DWA and select 'Settings'. Under 'Appearance' look for the tabstrip toggle and turn it ON.