Rajeev Pentyala – Microsoft Power Platform

What is a Progressive Web App (PWA):

• PWA at core is a website built using web technologies but that acts and feels like an App.
• Users can install a PWA on any device be it a desktop or mobile from the browser or through app stores.
• Main difference between PWA and Web App is  a web app is designed to run inside of a web browser and cannot be installed on a device. 
• Users can also pin the PWA app directly to the home screen on their mobile device.

Portals as progressive web apps:

• We can enable a Portal as a progressive web app (PWA), with native app–like look and feel, by using Power Apps portals Studio.
• This capability enables external and internal customers to use a portal as an app.

Steps to build a portal as a progressive web app:

• Connect to Power Apps maker portal.
• Select the Portal App and click ‘Edit’

• Portal opens up in In portals Studio.
• Select Progressive web app icon and set ‘Enable PWA’ option.

• Click on ‘Customize PWA’ to modify App’s details.

• Now click on ‘Browse Website’, which opens up Portal application along with ‘App available’ option.

• Click ‘Install’ to install Portal as a Desktop App.

• Post installation, you would get Portal as Desktop App as below. You have options to pin the App to taskbar or to Start.

Manage offline behavior:

• PWA offers support for a smooth navigation experience when the device being used is offline or disconnected from the internet.
• You can choose the pages within your portal that will be available offline (read-only), and a message page for the rest of the portal capabilities that haven’t been enabled for offline access.
• Under ‘Customize PWA’ pane, click on ‘Manage offline pages’.

• Select the Pages that will be available offline.

Refer documentation for more details.

🙂