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This guide shows you how to publish the current version of your Bilt app as a Progressive Web App (PWA). A PWA opens from a web URL and can be added to a phone’s home screen. You do not need a hosting account, domain, Apple Developer account, or Google Play account.

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Before you start

You need:
  • A working Bilt app
  • Workspace-owner access to the project
Collaborators can work on the app, but only the workspace owner can publish, cancel, republish, or unpublish it.

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Step 1: Check the current app

Publishing uses the version running in the active preview.
  1. Open the Bilt project
  2. Click through the important screens
  3. Ask Bilt to fix anything unfinished or broken

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Step 2: Choose public or private access

Open Settings → General → Project Visibility.
  • Choose Public if anyone with the URL should be able to open the PWA
  • Choose Private if it should remain available only to you
Making the project public also makes it public inside Bilt. It may appear in browse, search, and your public profile.
The published PWA keeps the visibility used when it was built. If you change visibility later, republish the app.

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Step 3: Open web publishing

  1. Return to the project
  2. Click Deploy & Share
  3. Choose Quick install
  4. The Publish to web dialog opens
The Deploy & Share dialog where you choose Quick install

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Step 4: Start the publish

  1. Read the information in the Publish to web dialog
  2. If the app uses payments, note the banner — in-app purchases don’t work in a PWA
  3. Click Publish
The Publish to web dialog before publishing
Bilt shows the current stage:
  1. Starting build
  2. Building your app
  3. Uploading
  4. Ready
Publishing usually takes about a minute.
The published state: your web URL, a QR code, home-screen install instructions, and Unpublish / Open app / Republish
Behind the scenes, Bilt:
  • Adds the standard PWA setup if the project does not already have it
  • Builds the current app for the web
  • Creates the install information, icons, and service worker
  • Uploads the app
  • Serves it over HTTPS at its own web.bilt.me address

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Step 5: Open the PWA

When the status reaches Ready:
  1. Click Open app
  2. Test the important screens again
  3. Copy the web address if you want to save or share it
The address stays the same when you republish, so people do not need a new URL after each update.

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Share a public PWA

For a public project, the publish dialog shows:
  • The permanent web address
  • A copy button
  • A QR code for phones
  • Instructions for adding the app to a home screen
Anyone with the URL can open the app.

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Open a private PWA on another device

Private PWAs do not have a reusable public link.
  1. Open the publish dialog
  2. Click Get a link & QR to open it elsewhere
  3. Scan the QR code or copy the generated link
  4. Open it directly on the other device
The access link works once and then expires. Click get a fresh one if you need another.
Do not paste a private access link into chat or email before opening it. Some services inspect links automatically and can use the single visit.
To give other people ongoing access, make the project public and republish it.

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Add the PWA to an iPhone

  1. Open the public PWA address in Safari
  2. Tap the Share button
  3. Scroll down
  4. Tap Add to Home Screen
  5. Confirm the name
  6. Tap Add
The PWA appears on the home screen and opens without the normal Safari controls.

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Install the PWA on Android

  1. Open the public PWA address in Chrome
  2. Tap the menu button ⋮
  3. Tap Install app
  4. Confirm the installation
The PWA appears with the other apps on the device.

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Publish an update

  1. Make the changes in Bilt
  2. Wait until the preview shows the finished result
  3. Open Deploy & Share → Quick install
  4. Click Republish
  5. Wait for Ready
If the new build fails, the previous working version stays online.

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Take the PWA offline

  1. Open Deploy & Share → Quick install
  2. Click Unpublish
  3. Confirm by clicking Unpublish again
The address stops serving the app until you publish again.

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Important limitations

  • In-app purchases do not work in PWAs.
  • PWAs can’t be published to the App Store or Google Play.
  • Some device-specific native features may behave differently or be unavailable in a PWA.

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Troubleshooting

Ask the Bilt workspace owner to publish the app. Collaborator access does not include publishing, cancelling, republishing, or unpublishing.
Return to the project and start or reload the preview. Wait until the app appears, then open the publish dialog and try again.
Read the reason shown in the dialog, return to the project, and ask Bilt to fix the build problem. Then click Republish. The previous working version remains online.
Changing project visibility does not change an existing deployment. Open the publish dialog and click Republish.
Make sure you opened the published HTTPS address in Chrome. Browser and Android versions may show Add to Home screen instead of Install app.

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Further reading