prefer_related_applications

Experimental: This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The prefer_related_applications manifest member is used to provide a hint to browsers whether to prefer installing native applications specified in the related_applications manifest member over your web application.

Syntax

json
/* Boolean values */
"prefer_related_applications": true
"prefer_related_applications": false

Values

A boolean value:

  • If set to true, browsers may prompt users to install one of the applications listed in related_applications instead of your web app.
  • If set to false or omitted, browsers will prefer to install your web app over related native applications.

    Note: For Chromium-based browsers, prefer_related_applications should be set to false or omitted to make your web app installable.

Examples

Specifying preference for installing your web app

Consider a scenario where you have both a web app and native apps for your product available on Google Play Store and Windows Store. If you want to offer related native apps as options but prefer users to install your web app, you can set it up in your manifest file as shown below. Browsers will promote your web app for installation. The native apps will still be available as alternatives.

json
{
  "prefer_related_applications": false,
  "related_applications": [
    {
      "platform": "play",
      "id": "com.example.hiking-app"
    },
    {
      "platform": "windows",
      "url": "https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nqx6sv74srz"
    }
  ]
}

To encourage users to install your native Android hiking app from Google Play Store in preference to the web app, you can configure your web app's manifest file as shown below.

json
{
  "prefer_related_applications": true,
  "related_applications": [
    {
      "platform": "play",
      "id": "com.example.hiking-app"
    }
  ]
}

Specifications

Specification
Web Application Manifest
# prefer_related_applications-member

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also