iOS Installation Guide (iPhone & iPad)
Unlike Android, Apple does not allow websites to show an automatic "Install" button. To install your app on an iPhone or iPad, users must use the built-in "Add to Home Screen" feature within the Safari browser. The Jiinubi Managed App Engine is specifically configured to trigger "App Mode" once this step is completed.
Step 1: Open in Safari
For the installation to work, the user must be using the native Safari browser. Installation will not work through the Chrome app, Gmail, or social media "in-app" browsers on iOS.
- Open Safari on your iPhone.
- Navigate to your website URL.
If you use the Jiinubi Integration Snippet, our system will automatically detect iOS users and show a helpful "Install Guide" popup at the bottom of their screen.
Step 2: The "Share" Menu Process
To "install" the app, follow these manual steps:
- Tap the Share icon at the bottom of the screen (the square with an upward arrow).
- Scroll down through the list of options and tap Add to Home Screen.
- The app name and icon will appear. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
If you do not see "Add to Home Screen," ensure you are not in "Private Browsing" mode, as Safari disables this feature in private tabs.
Step 3: Launching the App
Once added, your logo will appear on the user's home screen. When they tap it:
- The app will launch in Standalone Mode (no Safari address bar).
- The status bar will adopt the Theme Color you set in the Jiinubi Dashboard.
- The app will show your custom Splash Screen while loading.
Why the Jiinubi Engine is Required
If a user adds a normal website to their home screen, it just acts as a bookmark. By using the Jiinubi Managed App Engine, your app gains these native-only features on iOS:
- Fullscreen Experience: Hides the browser UI for a true app feel.
- Persistence: The app stays "active" in the task switcher, allowing users to return to where they left off.
- High-Res Icon: Uses the
apple-touch-icongenerated by our engine to ensure your logo isn't just a low-quality screenshot.
To get the best results on iOS, ensure your uploaded icon has a solid background. iOS does not support transparent app icons and will turn transparent areas black.
Summary
Installation on iOS is a manual process via the Safari Share menu. Jiinubi makes this easier by providing an automated detection popup to guide your users and by injecting the necessary meta tags to hide the browser UI once the app is launched.
