Android

PWA Manifest Generator

Build a standards-aligned Web App Manifest (manifest.json) for installable progressive web apps. Set display mode, theme colors, icons (including maskable assets), optional shortcuts, and export valid JSON — everything runs in your browser with no upload.

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Shown under the icon when space is tight (home screen, task switcher).
Stable app identity; useful when start_url changes.
Comma-separated (e.g. for stores and catalogs that read this field).

Icons

Provide at least 192×192 and 512×512 PNGs for install prompts on Chromium-based browsers. Add a maskable icon so adaptive icons look correct on Android.

Shortcuts (optional)

Quick actions shown on long-press / right-click of the installed app icon (where supported).

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What is a web app manifest?

A web app manifest is a JSON document that tells the browser how your PWA should behave when installed: visible name, icon set, launch URL, display mode (standalone vs browser tab), theme colors for the status bar and splash screen, and optional shortcuts. It is part of the W3C Web Application Manifest family of standards. On Android, Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers use it together with HTTPS and a registered service worker to offer “Add to Home screen” and full installability checks.

What this generator does

DroidXP’s PWA Manifest Generator assembles a manifest.json from the fields you fill in. It keeps name and icons as the minimum viable signal for most install UIs, adds theme_color / background_color for splash and system UI tinting, and lets you declare scope so navigation outside your PWA’s URL space can fall back to the browser. You can add maskable icons for safe-area padding on adaptive launcher grids, and shortcuts for deep links from the installed icon — all without sending data to our servers.

  • Live JSON preview with copy and download as manifest.json
  • Icon rows for src, sizes, type, and purpose
  • Optional shortcut entries with name, URL, short name, and description
  • Hints when icons are missing (recommended for real install prompts)

How to use this tool

  1. Step 1: Enter your app name and a short short_name for tight UI surfaces.
  2. Step 2: Set start_url and scope to match how your app is hosted (usually both / for single-origin PWAs).
  3. Step 3: Point icon src paths to real files on your server (export PNGs from your design or use DroidXP’s App Icon Generator).
  4. Step 4: Choose display (typically standalone) and tune theme / background colors.
  5. Step 5: Copy JSON or download manifest.json, then link it from your HTML and register a service worker for offline/install features.

Linking the manifest on your site

Place the file at a stable URL (many teams use /manifest.json or /site.webmanifest) and reference it from every page of your PWA:

<link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json" />

Serve it with a JSON-compatible type (for example application/manifest+json or application/json) and keep icon URLs absolute or root-relative so they resolve correctly from any route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DroidXP upload my manifest or site data?

No. The generator runs entirely in your browser. Values you type never leave your device unless you choose to copy or download the file yourself. For proprietary apps, still follow your company’s security policy on local browsers.

What is the minimum manifest for install prompts?

Browsers generally expect a valid manifest with at least a name (or short_name), a start_url within scope, a display mode such as standalone or fullscreen, and a sufficient icons set — commonly including 192px and 512px bitmaps. Requirements evolve; always test in Chrome DevTools → Application → Manifest for your target channel.

What is the difference between name and short_name?

name is the full application title (splash screen, install dialog). short_name is a shorter label for the home screen and other places with limited space. If short_name is omitted, browsers may truncate name instead.

Why use maskable icons?

Launcher grids on Android apply masks (circles, squircles). A maskable icon includes extra padding in the asset so important content stays inside the “safe zone” when cropped. Pair maskable entries with standard any purpose icons for best results across platforms.

How do scope and start_url interact?

start_url is the page opened when the app is launched from the home screen. scope defines which URLs are part of the installed experience; navigations outside scope may open in a normal browser tab. Both should stay under the same site origin you control.

Is manifest.json enough for a full PWA?

The manifest describes install appearance and launch behavior. For offline support, push, and background sync you also need a service worker and a secure origin (HTTPS, except localhost during development). This tool only produces the manifest file.

What MIME type should I use for manifest.json?

Use application/manifest+json when your server allows it; application/json is widely accepted. Avoid serving HTML error pages at the manifest URL — that breaks installability checks silently.