Stream-Wiser works entirely in your browser — there's no app store download required. But if you use it regularly, you can add it to your iPhone or Android home screen and it will launch just like a native app: full screen, no browser chrome, with its own icon. This guide shows you exactly how to do it on every major device, and explains why it's worth the 30 seconds it takes.

Why Add It to Your Home Screen?

When you add a web app to your home screen, your phone creates a shortcut that opens the site in standalone mode — meaning there's no address bar, no browser tabs, no navigation controls cluttering the screen. The experience is visually identical to a native app. Stream-Wiser's dark interface fills the entire screen, swipe navigation works naturally, and the app launches directly to your watchlist without any browser overhead.

There's also a practical retention benefit: having Stream-Wiser on your home screen means you're more likely to use it consistently. Updating your watchlist when you finish a show, checking your subscription calendar at the start of each month, and logging new titles you want to watch all become frictionless habits when the app is one tap away.

How to Add Stream-Wiser on iPhone (iOS Safari)

The home screen installation on iPhone requires using Safari — other browsers like Chrome or Firefox on iOS don't support this feature. If you normally use a different browser, open Safari just for this step.

Stream-Wiser now appears on your home screen with its own icon. Tap it to open in fullscreen standalone mode. You can move it to your dock or organise it alongside your other apps like any native app.

How to Add Stream-Wiser on Android (Chrome)

Android's process is slightly different depending on which browser you use, but Chrome is the most common and straightforward:

On Android, Chrome will usually display an "Install" banner at the bottom of the screen automatically after you've visited Stream-Wiser a few times. Tapping that banner is the fastest installation method if it appears. Samsung Internet users can find the equivalent option under the menu icon → "Add page to" → "Home screen".

How to Add Stream-Wiser on Desktop (Chrome or Edge)

On desktop computers, Chrome and Microsoft Edge both support installing web apps directly from the browser. In Chrome, look for the install icon in the address bar — it looks like a monitor with a down arrow. Click it and then click "Install". In Edge, look for a similar icon or go to the three-dot menu → "Apps" → "Install this site as an app". Once installed, Stream-Wiser appears in your taskbar and app drawer like any desktop application.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If "Add to Home Screen" doesn't appear in Safari's share sheet, ensure you're using Safari (not Chrome or Firefox) and that you're on iOS 11.3 or later. If the option is greyed out, try reloading the page and trying again. On Android, if Chrome's three-dot menu doesn't show "Add to Home screen", check that you're on Chrome version 72 or later — older versions have limited PWA support.

The installed app will always open to the latest version of Stream-Wiser — there's no manual updating required, unlike a native app download. When we release new features or improvements, they're available immediately the next time you open the app.

Using Stream-Wiser from Your Home Screen

Once installed, the experience is the same as using Stream-Wiser in a browser — all your saved shows, your subscription calendar, and your preferences sync automatically if you're signed in. The main practical difference is the app-like presentation and faster access. Your watchlist is one tap away, making it easy to add a show the moment you finish it or check your upcoming subscription schedule at the start of a new month.