Web App Manifest Explained for Installable Sites
The manifest is what turns a website into an installable app. Learn the required fields and the icon sizes that matter.
What is the Web App Manifest Generator?
A web app manifest gives an installable web app its name, icons, colours and start URL. This generator builds the standard JSON manifest.
How to use it
- Enter name, short name, start URL and colour.
- Click Generate manifest.
- Save as manifest.json and link it from your pages.
Worked example
A name, short name, start URL and theme colour produce a complete manifest.
Does a manifest make my site installable?
A manifest alone does not make an app installable — you also need a service worker and HTTPS. But without a manifest, install prompts never appear.
Frequently asked questions
Where does manifest.json live?
At your site root, linked from pages with <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">.
What icon sizes are needed?
192x192 and 512x512 are the standard pair.