1. What Is a PWA?
A PWA (Progressive Web App) is a website that behaves like a native app. It can be installed directly from your browser, bypassing the App Store and Google Play entirely.
TokiQR uses this technology. Once you add it to your home screen, the browser’s address bar disappears and it launches with the same look and feel as any other app. It works offline, and updates are applied automatically whenever the web page is updated.
No app store review process, no registration fee, no annual subscription. This mechanism underpins the zero running cost design that allows TokiStorage to endure for 1,000 years.
If it opens in a browser,
it’s already an app.
2. Installing on Android (Chrome)
On Android smartphones, you can add TokiQR to your home screen using Google Chrome. It takes about 30 seconds.
- Open the TokiQR page in Google Chrome
- Tap the ⋮ (three-dot menu) in the top-right corner
- Select “Add to Home screen” or “Install app”
- Confirm the app name and tap “Add”
- The TokiQR icon appears on your home screen
From now on, just tap the icon on your home screen to launch TokiQR. The browser’s address bar won’t appear — it runs as a full-screen app.
When Chrome prompts you automatically
If you visit the TokiQR page multiple times, Chrome may automatically display a banner at the bottom of the screen saying “Add TokiQR to Home screen.” When this banner appears, a single tap completes the installation.
3. Installing on iPhone / iPad (Safari)
On iPhone and iPad, you must use Safari (the default browser). Chrome and Firefox on iOS cannot install PWAs, so make sure to use Safari.
- Open the TokiQR page in Safari
- Tap the Share button (the square with an upward arrow) at the bottom of the screen
- Scroll through the share menu and tap “Add to Home Screen”
- Confirm the app name and tap “Add” in the top-right corner
- The TokiQR icon appears on your home screen
The key point is that only Safari supports PWA installation on iOS. This is an Apple platform restriction, not a TokiQR limitation.
On iPad
On iPad, the Share button may be located differently — look for it near the address bar at the top of Safari. The steps that follow are identical.
4. Installing on Desktop (Chrome / Edge)
TokiQR can also be installed as a PWA on your computer using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
- Open the TokiQR page in Chrome or Edge
- Click the install icon (a monitor with a download arrow) at the right end of the address bar
- A dialog asking “Install app?” appears
- Click “Install”
- TokiQR launches in its own window, and an icon is added to your taskbar (or Dock)
After installation, you can launch TokiQR directly from a desktop shortcut or your taskbar. It runs in its own window, separate from your browser, with no tabs or address bar.
If the install icon doesn’t appear in Chrome
If you don’t see the install icon at the right end of the address bar, open Chrome’s menu (⋮) and select “Install TokiQR” or “More tools → Create shortcut”.
5. What Changes After Installation
Once installed as a PWA, TokiQR gains the following capabilities:
- Offline access — Pages you’ve loaded once continue to work without an internet connection. The Service Worker caches all necessary resources.
- Full-screen display — The browser’s address bar and toolbar disappear. The entire screen belongs to the app, creating an immersive experience.
- Home screen launch — Just like any other app, tap the icon and it opens. No need to open a browser and type a URL.
- Automatic updates — When TokiQR is updated, the Service Worker fetches the latest version in the background the next time you launch. No manual app store updates required.
What you installed isn’t an “app.”
It’s the Web itself, freed from the browser frame.
6. Why No App Store
“Why isn’t TokiQR on the App Store or Google Play?” — There is a clear design philosophy behind this decision.
Publishing on the Apple App Store costs $99 per year. Google Play charges a one-time $25 fee. The issue isn’t the amount. The structure of having to keep paying to keep existing is fundamentally incompatible with a project designed to endure for 1,000 years.
With a PWA, deploying to GitHub Pages is all it takes to reach every platform. No review process, no registration fees, zero maintenance cost. For a deeper discussion, see “Why We Skip the App Store.”
The entry point for TokiQR is not an app store — it’s the QR code itself. A QR code engraved on a headstone, etched into a monument — scan it and the content is there. A distribution model that needs no storefront is precisely why PWA is the optimal choice.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
How much storage space does it use?
TokiQR’s PWA is extremely lightweight. Installation requires only a few megabytes — less than one-hundredth of a typical native app. Storage space is not a concern.
How do I uninstall it?
Android: Long-press the icon on your home screen and select “Uninstall” or “Remove.”
iPhone / iPad: Long-press the icon on your home screen and tap “Delete Bookmark.”
Desktop: Open the app window’s menu (⋮) and select “Uninstall.”
Do I need to update it manually?
No manual updates are needed. Each time you launch TokiQR, the Service Worker checks for the latest version in the background and updates automatically. You’re always on the most current version.
Will I receive notifications?
TokiQR does not use push notifications. It is designed purely for QR code generation and playback, and notification features are intentionally omitted. Being a quiet app is part of the design philosophy.
Can I install it on multiple devices?
There are no restrictions. Smartphone, tablet, computer — you can install TokiQR on all of them simultaneously. No account registration or license is required. However, data is not automatically synced between devices. Each device stores its data locally and independently.
Add it to your home screen.
That single action places a tool for 1,000 years in your hands.