Feature: Offline support

Our upcoming release has two major features, the first of which we wrote about yesterday: the ability to share apps with others. The other notable feature is that shared apps work even when you don’t have access to the Internet, like on airplanes or in rural areas with poor cellular coverage. Offline support has consistently been one of the most popular requests from our users and we’re happy we’re now able to provide it.

In order to use an app offline, you first need to share it. What this does is that it produces a link you can use to access the app, online or offline. You then need to use the shared app at least once when you’re online, to allow your device to download the app. If you’re using the app on your phone, we suggest adding it to the home screen (where your native apps reside) for easy access, though you can also use your web browser to access the link when you’re offline.

The offline capability should work with the vast majority of mobile devices and web browsers. Recent iPhone, iPad and Android devices should work fine. On the desktop, you need a relatively modern version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge.

If you’re using an iPhone or an iPad, though, keep in mind that it may take up to a minute for your device to make the app available for offline use. The first time you use a shared app, intending to use it offline, we suggest that you keep it open for a minute or so and wait for the message announcing that the app is ready to be used offline. (On Android and on desktop web browsers, a shared app should be ready to be used offline the moment you can start interacting with it.)

« Feature: App sharing Release: Our August, 2016 update is now available »