---
title: Add PhotoStructure to Your Home Screen
url: https://photostructure.com/getting-started/add-to-home-screen/
description: Install PhotoStructure as an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device for a full-screen, app-like experience.
date: 2026-03-22
keywords: PWA, installation, reverse-proxy, troubleshooting
---


PhotoStructure works as a [Progressive Web App](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Progressive_web_apps) (PWA). Add it to your home screen and it launches full-screen, just like a native app — no browser chrome, no address bar.

{{< note >}}
**HTTPS required.** Browsers only enable the standalone "install" and "Add to Home Screen" experience on secure origins. `http://localhost:1787` and `http://127.0.0.1:1787` are exempt, but any other address (LAN or remote) needs HTTPS with a valid certificate. See [remote access](/guide/remote-access/#-https-and-basic-auth-via-a-reverse-proxy) to set this up with Caddy, Cloudflare Tunnel, or another reverse proxy.
{{< /note >}}

## iPhone & iPad

1. Open your PhotoStructure library in **Safari**. (Chrome and Firefox on iOS don't support "Add to Home Screen.")

2. Tap the **Share** button (the square with an upward arrow, bottom center on iPhone, top right on iPad).

<!-- {{< figure src="/img/2026/03/ios-share-sheet.png" alt="Safari share sheet showing Add to Home Screen" class="mw5" >}} -->

3. Scroll down and tap **Add to Home Screen**.

<!-- {{< figure src="/img/2026/03/ios-add-to-home-screen.png" alt="Add to Home Screen confirmation dialog" class="mw5" >}} -->

4. Tap **Add**. PhotoStructure now appears on your home screen.

<!-- {{< figure src="/img/2026/03/ios-home-screen-icon.png" alt="PhotoStructure icon on iOS home screen" class="mw4" >}} -->

{{< note >}}
**iOS 26 and later:** Every site added to the home screen opens as a standalone web app by default. You still follow the same steps above.
{{< /note >}}

## Android

1. Open your PhotoStructure library in **Chrome**.

2. Chrome may show an install banner automatically. If not, tap the **three-dot menu** (&#8942;) and select **Add to Home screen** (or **Install app**).

<!-- {{< figure src="/img/2026/03/android-install-prompt.png" alt="Chrome install prompt on Android" class="mw5" >}} -->

3. Tap **Add** (or **Install**). PhotoStructure now appears on your home screen and in your app drawer.

<!-- {{< figure src="/img/2026/03/android-home-screen-icon.png" alt="PhotoStructure icon on Android home screen" class="mw4" >}} -->

## Desktop (Chrome & Edge)

In the address bar, look for the **install icon** (a monitor with a down arrow). Click it and confirm. PhotoStructure opens in its own window, separate from your browser.

If the icon doesn't appear, open the three-dot menu and look for **"Save and share" > "Install page as app..."** (Chrome) or **"Apps" > "Install this site as an app"** (Edge).

## Troubleshooting

### Reverse proxies and Cloudflare Tunnel

If "Add to Home Screen" doesn't offer a standalone app experience, your reverse proxy may be blocking the [web app manifest](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Manifest). Add `crossorigin="use-credentials"` to the manifest `<link>` tag in your proxy's HTML, or verify that your proxy isn't stripping the `Content-Type: application/manifest+json` header.

### EU iOS restrictions

Apple removed standalone PWA support in the EU starting with iOS 17.4. Sites added to the home screen in EU countries open in a Safari tab instead. This is an Apple platform limitation, not a PhotoStructure issue.