QR Puppy Is a Progressive Web App — Here's How to Install It

QR Puppy isn't just a website — it's a Progressive Web App (PWA), which means you can install it on your phone, tablet or computer and use it like a native app that launches instantly and makes and scans QR codes with no internet connection at all.

Most QR code tools live behind a login and a monthly bill. QR Puppy goes the other way: it runs entirely on your device, and it can move onto your device as an installable app — no app store, no account, no tracking, and about a megabyte of space. This guide explains what a PWA is, why it fits QR Puppy's whole philosophy, and exactly how to install it on any platform.

What is a Progressive Web App?

A Progressive Web App is a normal website that also behaves like an installed application. Under the hood, three things make that possible:

• A web app manifest — a small file that tells your device the app's name, icon, colors and how it should launch (in QR Puppy's case, in its own window without browser chrome).
• A service worker — a script the browser keeps around in the background. It caches the app's files so the app opens instantly and keeps working offline.
• HTTPS — a secure connection, which every modern site (including this one) already uses.

Put together, those pieces let a website earn a home-screen icon, a splash screen, and true offline support — the things that used to require building a separate native app for each platform.

Why being a PWA matters for QR Puppy

Installability isn't a gimmick here — it's the natural end of QR Puppy's promise. Because every QR code is generated in your browser rather than on a server, there was never any reason to be online in the first place. The PWA simply makes that explicit:

Your QR code tool shouldn't need the cloud, an account, or a signal. Install it once and it's genuinely yours — even in airplane mode.

This is the same reasoning behind our preference for static over dynamic QR codes and everything in the QR Puppy manifesto: no dependency on someone else's server that can track you, charge you, or disappear.

What you get when you install it

Feature	What it means for you
Home-screen icon	Open QR Puppy in one tap, like any app
Offline support	Create and scan codes with no Wi-Fi or data
Own window	Runs full-screen without browser tabs and bars
Instant launch	Files are cached, so it opens immediately
Tiny footprint	Roughly a megabyte — a fraction of a store app
No account or store	Nothing to sign up for, nothing to update manually

How to install QR Puppy on Android

1. Open QR Puppy in Chrome (or another modern browser).
2. Tap the Install app button on the page, or open the browser menu (⋮) and choose Install app / Add to Home screen.
3. Confirm, and the puppy icon appears on your home screen. That's it. 🐾

How to install QR Puppy on iPhone and iPad

On iOS, installation happens through Safari's Share menu (Apple doesn't offer an automatic install button):

1. Open QR Puppy in Safari.
2. Tap the Share button (the square with an upward arrow).
3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen, then tap Add.

QR Puppy will now open like an app and work offline. Note that the camera scanner needs a one-time permission the first time you use it.

How to install QR Puppy on a computer

Desktop browsers support PWAs too:

• Chrome / Edge: click the install icon in the address bar (a small monitor with a down arrow), or use the menu → Install QR Puppy.
• The app opens in its own window and gets a shortcut in your dock, taskbar or Start menu.

Does the offline mode really work?

Yes. The first time you visit, QR Puppy's service worker quietly caches everything it needs — the page, the styles, the QR encoder and decoder, the fonts and the icons. After that, opening the app pulls from that local cache, so it launches with no network and every generator feature keeps working. Pages you've visited in the library are cached as you read them, too.

Because the encoding math runs on your device, an offline QR code is exactly as valid as an online one — the resulting QR code is just a pattern of light and dark squares, and your phone builds it locally. When you're ready, create a QR code and see for yourself.

Is a PWA safe?

A PWA runs in the same secure browser sandbox as any web page — it can't quietly rummage through your files or run in the background like some installed software. QR Puppy in particular has no servers, no analytics and no accounts, so there's nothing to phone home about. Removing it is as easy as deleting any app icon, and it leaves nothing behind but a little cache you can clear anytime.

Frequently asked questions

Is QR Puppy really installable as an app?

Yes. QR Puppy is a Progressive Web App, so Android, desktop Chrome and Edge can install it directly, and iPhone/iPad can add it via Safari's "Add to Home Screen." It then runs in its own window and works offline.

Do I need the App Store or Google Play?

No. PWAs install straight from the browser, so there's no store, no account and no review process. That also means no store fees, which is part of why QR Puppy can stay completely free.

Will it work without internet?

Yes. After your first visit, a service worker caches the app so it launches and generates and scans QR codes with no connection. Library articles you've opened are cached as you read them.

How much space does it use?

Only about a megabyte — the app's HTML, CSS, JavaScript, fonts and icons. That's a tiny fraction of a typical native app, because there's no bundled framework or media.

How do I uninstall it?

Remove it like any app: long-press the icon and delete it on mobile, or uninstall it from the app's window menu on desktop. It leaves nothing behind but a browser cache you can clear whenever you like.