Intent to Prototype: Web App Origin Migration

[Chromestatus]

Contact emails

m...@chromium.org

Explainer

https://github.com/WICG/manifest-incubations/blob/gh-pages/pwa-migration-explainer.md

Specification

No information provided

Summary

When a user installs a Progressive Web App (PWA), its identity and security context are tightly bound to its web origin (e.g., app.example.com). This presents a significant challenge for developers who need to change their PWA's origin due to rebranding, domain restructuring, or technical re-architecture. Currently, such a change forces users to manually uninstall the old app and reinstall the new one, leading to a disruptive experience and potential user loss. This proposal introduces a mechanism for developers to seamlessly migrate an installed PWA to a new, same-site origin, preserving user trust and permissions.

Blink component

UI>Browser>WebAppInstalls

Web Feature ID

Missing feature

Motivation

Imagine you have the "SocialApp" app installed on your computer from www.example.com/social. One day, the company decides to move the app to its own dedicated home at social.example.com. Without a migration mechanism, the app you have installed would either break or redirect you to the new site in a generic browser window, losing its app-like feel. You would have to figure out that you need to uninstall the old app and install the new one from the new address. You might also lose your settings, like whether you've allowed the app to send notifications. This feature aims to make that transition seamless. Instead of a broken experience, the app would notify you of an available update. With your approval, the app would relaunch from its new home at social.example.com, with your notification settings intact.

Initial public proposal

https://github.com/WICG/manifest-incubations/pull/121

Requires code in //chrome?

True

Tracking bug

https://issues.chromium.org/396504527

Estimated milestones

No milestones specified

Link to entry on the Chrome Platform Status

https://chromestatus.com/feature/5123349239955456?gate=5161507205808128

This intent message was generated by Chrome Platform Status.