iPhone & iPad
iOS 16.4+ · requires Safari
1
Open Safari
This only works in Safari — not Chrome or Firefox on iPhone. If you're reading this elsewhere, copy the URL into Safari.
2
Go to extantapp.com
Type it into the Safari address bar and load the page. Sign in if you haven't already.
3
Tap the Share button
At the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or top-right (iPad), tap the Share icon — a box with an arrow pointing up.
4
Tap "Add to Home Screen"
Scroll down in the share sheet until you see Add to Home Screen and tap it.
5
Tap "Add"
Confirm the name (it'll say "Extant") and tap Add in the top right. The icon appears on your home screen.
Important: Always open Extant from the home-screen icon — not from Safari. The icon gives you the full-screen app experience without browser bars.
Android
Android 8+ · Chrome recommended
1
Open Chrome
Chrome works best (Samsung Internet also works). Go to extantapp.com and sign in if you haven't already.
2
Look for the install banner
Chrome may show an "Add Extant to Home screen" banner at the bottom. If you see it, tap Install and you're done.
3
Or: tap the three-dot menu
If no banner appeared, tap the ⋮ menu in the top-right corner of Chrome.
4
Tap "Add to Home screen"
Select Add to Home screen, then confirm with Add on the prompt.
5
Open from your home screen
Tap the Extant icon on your home screen or app drawer. It opens full-screen, just like a native app.
Android tip: The back gesture (swipe from the left edge) works inside the app to close modals and go back — you won't accidentally exit.
Desktop
Chrome / Edge on Mac & Windows
1
Open extantapp.com in Chrome or Edge
You can always just use it in a browser tab — but installing gives it its own window.
2
Click the install icon
Look for the install icon (a monitor with a down-arrow) at the right end of the address bar, or use the ⋮ menu → Install Extant.
3
Launch it like any app
Extant opens in its own window and lands in your Dock / Start menu.
What the installed app gives you
- Full screen — no browser bars
- Lives on your home screen like any app
- Faster to open
- Back gesture works naturally
Troubleshooting
- "Add to Home Screen" isn't showing on iPhone — make sure you're in Safari, not Chrome. Apple only allows installation through Safari.
- No install banner on Android — use the manual method: three-dot menu → Add to Home screen. It always works.
- The app looks like a browser tab — close it and reopen from the home-screen icon, not from inside Chrome.
- Can't find the icon — on Android, check your app drawer (swipe up). On iPhone, swipe down and search "Extant".