Microsoft Edge PWAs are about to look more like native Windows 10 apps

Edge Dev Hero 2020 Newfeature
Edge Dev Hero 2020 Newfeature (Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft Edge will soon support an option to make progressive web apps look like native apps.
  • The feature will allow developers to customize the title bar of progressive web apps.
  • In addition to looking better, the option improves the accessibility of progressive web apps.

The title bar on PWAs takes up space and isn't tremendously functional. Apart from the basics of minimizing, maximizing, or closing a window, it doesn't have much in terms of features. A new feature called Windows Controls Overlay should fix that. The feature will let developers add things like a custom search box, a logo, or navigation controls, according to Baker's statements in the technical document.

Source: Techtsp (Image credit: Source: Techtsp)

Not only will this provide more functionality and look better than the current implementation, it will also improve accessibility. Baker says in the document of the current implementation, "If the user has a visual impairment and increases the zoom level of all content on the screen, this is even more of an issue."

Techtsp notes that it could be weeks or months before we see this feature generally available. It is, however, already available in chrome://flags.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.