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Progressive Web App

Media Viewer can be installed as a Progressive Web App (PWA) on supported devices, providing a native app-like experience.

Benefits

Installing Media Viewer as a PWA provides:

  • Full-screen experience: No browser chrome or address bar
  • Home screen icon: Launch directly from your device
  • Faster loading: Cached resources load quickly
  • Offline thumbnails: Previously viewed thumbnails remain available

Installation

iOS (Safari)

  1. Open Media Viewer in Safari
  2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
  3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
  4. Optionally edit the name
  5. Tap Add

Android (Chrome)

  1. Open Media Viewer in Chrome
  2. Tap the menu button (three dots)
  3. Tap Add to Home Screen or Install App
  4. Confirm the installation

Desktop (Chrome/Edge)

  1. Open Media Viewer in Chrome or Edge
  2. Click the install icon in the address bar (or menu)
  3. Click Install

Using the PWA

Launching

Tap the Media Viewer icon on your home screen or app drawer. The app opens in full-screen mode without browser controls.

  • Use in-app navigation (breadcrumbs, back gestures)
  • The browser back button is not available in PWA mode
  • Press ++escape++ to navigate up or close overlays

Session Management

The PWA maintains your session like the browser version:

  • Sessions expire based on server configuration
  • You'll need to log in again after session expiration
  • Active use keeps the session alive

Limitations

No Browser Controls

In PWA mode, you don't have access to:

  • Browser back/forward buttons (use in-app navigation)
  • Address bar (use search instead)
  • Browser bookmarks (use favorites instead)

Offline Access

The PWA caches:

  • Application code and styles
  • Previously viewed thumbnails

The PWA does not cache:

  • Full-resolution images and videos
  • New content not yet viewed

An internet connection is required to:

  • Log in
  • Browse new content
  • View full-resolution media
  • Make changes (tags, favorites)

Troubleshooting

PWA Not Installing

  • Ensure you're using HTTPS (required for PWA)
  • Try clearing browser cache
  • Check that the browser supports PWA installation

Session Issues

If you're frequently logged out:

  • Check your network connection
  • The server may have a short session duration
  • Contact your administrator to adjust SESSION_DURATION

Clearing PWA Data

To reset the PWA:

  1. Uninstall the PWA from your device
  2. Clear browser data for the Media Viewer site
  3. Reinstall the PWA