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c/android · by user@lemmy.one · 1y

(Solved) How to save URL to homescreen? It doesn't keep the link! Grrr

Hi all, so as per title, when I use browser app to make a pwa or 'add to homescreen' it works, but then opens the home page not the actual link I had created. From memory there was a hack where you would put your phone offline, airplane mode I think' and then it would save the link. But doesn't work anymore. Any1 have any solutions? Tx

Here is the link https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nwXAECO43ND2zjX9jzu5s3QiapGKlHKzs

Solved: see u/DerisionConsulting comments with steps. No need for tinyurl. Ty u all who helped. ❤️

22 points · 13 comments · view on lemmy.world

13 Comments

HarbingerOfTomb@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Firefox, kebab menu, add to homescreen.

user@lemmy.one · -1 pts · 1y

Nope doesn't work. Goes to home PG. Here is the link https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nwXAECO43ND2zjX9jzu5s3QiapGKlHKzs

DerisionConsulting@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 1y (3 replies)

I can't duplicate this error with Firefox.
What browser are you using?
What version of Android?
Which launcher?

user@lemmy.one · 1 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Try it with this link https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nwXAECO43ND2zjX9jzu5s3QiapGKlHKzs

DerisionConsulting@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1y (1 reply)

You didn't answer any of my questions, but you did give me enough information to solve this for you.

Basically, Google is stupid and bad. They won't let you make a link to a specific thing that you open as a link on your homescreen.

The solve:

  1. You go to a url shorting site, like tinyurl, and make a custom link.
  2. you put your phone into airplane mode
  3. put the new url into firefox, and once the page doesn't load (no connection) you add it to your homescreen like normal. This re-direct will stop google from thinking that you opened the link as a homescreen shortcut.
  4. close all browser tabs
  5. turn airplane mode off (so you have connections again)
  6. complete
  7. Optional but recommended: Uninstall Brave
user@lemmy.one · 1 pts · 1y

👏🎉 u did it, u beautiful human. Ty. So the missing step I probably forgot was to relaunch the link after air plane mode was on and after it says can't load add to homescreen and then it works. Yey. Ty 🙏🙏 didn't need to make tinyurl.

rockhstrongo@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y (3 replies)

I recently started using an app called Hermit to address a similar problem. It lets you create "lite apps" from any URL. Maybe it'd work for you?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chimbori.hermitcrab

str82L@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y

Looks cool, trying it out now - thanks!

sanguinepar@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y

Seconding Hermit, it's a really useful tool for websites you visit often enough to wish they had an app.

I mostly use it for a football ⚽ forum I'm on, and it's a better experience than opening my browser and going to the site each time, as there are some degrees of customisation of the experience.

user@lemmy.one · 2 pts · 1y

Tx did solve my problem. But ads on yt music grr. I've just made a bookmark for brave, for no ads on playback and background play . if no other solution presents itself.

Willdrick@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y

For anybody else looking for alternative solutions, there's Native Alpha on IzzyOnDroid

Cris16228@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Make a website icon with this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atolphadev.quikshort And set to open with default (your current browser or yt music) or whatever you want that supports links

user@lemmy.one · 2 pts · 1y

This is an interesting solution. Will have to try it. Have found solution BTW. Tx