As we use our smartphones and other mobile devices more frequently, we’re using browsing the internet extensively. It’s a common thing to save our favorite websites as bookmarks. However, what if you want to save a website as an icon on your iPhone’s home screen? Well, the good news is that it’s possible, and it’s incredibly easy to do!
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
For your website icon to appear on your iPhone, you’ll need to have the following items:
- Access to the website you want to create an icon for
- A viable iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch)
- Safari – this is the default web browser for iOS devices
- The ability to create a bookmark
What Should I Pay Attention to?
Before creating an icon on your iPhone, there are a few things you should note:
- The icon you create must be saved as a bookmark, so it can only be used to redirect to a website
- It won’t work as a fully functional app unless it was developed as one in the first place.
- Icons you create yourself are not true app icons; they are saved bookmarks with an icon image visible on the home screen.
- Icons can only be saved on Safari; you won’t be able to create icons on other browsers, unlike Safari
Method 1: Bookmarks
Step 1: Firstly, Open the Safari app on your iPhone
Step 2: Visit the website you want to save as an icon
Step 3: Tap the “Share” button at the bottom of the screen
Step 4: Scroll down and select "Add Bookmark"
Step 5: Give the bookmark an appropriate name such as “icon for [website name]”
Step 6: Below the name area, tap “Add to Home Screen”
Step 7: Edit the name that appears with the icon’s bookmark
Step 8: Tap “Add” in the top corner to save your icon on your click “Done”
Pros
- Simple and easy to do
- Works for any website
Cons
- Can’t change the appearance of the icon
- The icon won’t work offline
- The icon can only be used to access the website and cannot launch any functionality
- The process is not the same for other browsers
Method 2: "Add to Home Screen”
Step 1: Open Safari on your iOS device
Step 2: Type the website’s URL into the address bar
Step 3: Tap “Go” to load the web page
Step 4: Tap the “Share” button on the bottom toolbar
Step 5: Tap “Add to Home Screen” from the action menu
Step 6: Choose a name for the icon that will appear on the home screen
Step 7: Tap “Add” in the top-right corner of the screen
Pros
- Easy to follow
- The website’s icon is visible on your home screen
- The icon functions in the same way as a bookmark
Cons
- This method may not work on all webpages
- The icon can’t launch any functionality
- You cannot change the appearance of the icon
Method 3: Semi-Solution
Step 1: Launch the website in Safari
Step 2: Tap the URL of the website and drag it to your home screen intuitively. You will see a placed icon appear.
Step 3: Tap the newly created icon
Step 4: When the website loads in Safari, tap the "Share" button again
Step 5: Tap “Add to Home Screen” from the action menu
Step 6: Customize your website icon’s name and icon and then hit “Add”
Pros
- Capability to personalize your icon
Cons
- This method Requires more steps and time than others
- The icon can’t launch any specific functionality
- The solution is somehow complicated
Why Can’t I Add Website Icon on iPhone?
There might be some reasons why you are having difficulties in adding a website icon to your iPhone. Here are three reasons:
1. The website may not have a favicon or an icon linked to its URL. In this case, the “Add to Home Screen” option won’t be visible.
2. Your Safari may not be up-to-date. Ensure that you’re using the most recent version of Safari available on your device
3. Your iPhone’s screen might be cluttered with apps or widgets. This can make it difficult to use the "Add to Home Screen" option.
Fixes
To solve these problems, do the following:
1. Ensure that the website you intend to create an icon for has a favicon or apple-touch-icon.
2. To use the most recent version of Safari on your device, go to the App Store and check for any pending updates, and update it.
3. Also, try to free up some space on your home screen by organizing your icons or folders properly, and then try creating an icon for your website again.
Final Suggestions
To create an icon for your website in Safari, the easiest method is to follow the steps. However, while creating an icon, always remember that it will only function as a bookmark to the webpage, unlike apps, which run independently.
Although it doesn’t offer the same level of functionality that a dedicated app provides, the website icon is still a valuable item to have on your iPhone’s home screen, as it provides you with easy access to your favorite websites.
FAQs
Q. Can I add website icons to a different web browser?
A.
No. Only Safari allows this kind of customization.
Q. How do I customize the icon of the website?
A.
If the website itself doesn’t offer customization options, you’ll have to use third-party services to modify the image of the icon.
Q. Can I change the icon’s name and color?
A.
Yes, both of them can be changed while creating an icon of your website.
Q. Are there any limitations on the number of website icons I can have on my iPhone’s screen?
A.
There is no limit to the number of website icons that can be added to the home screen.
Q. Do website icons have to be square?
A.
It is preferable that website icons should have square dimensions to avoid the app views from looking weird on your iPhone. However, website icons can also have rectangular or uneven shapes.
Conclusion
Creating an icon for a website in Safari on your iPhone is a convenient and straightforward process, with some limitations that the user must be aware of. Although it might not be a fully functional app, an icon on your iPhone’s home screen still provides you with easy access to your favorite websites without the hassle of having to go through a web search every time you need to visit them.