You can put a website on your iPhone Home Screen as an icon, like an app, so it opens with one tap. It’s handy for sites you visit every day, like a school portal, news site, or web app. This guide covers Safari and Chrome, the newer “Open as Web App” option, custom icons with the Shortcuts app, and how to remove a link you no longer want.
Quick Answer
Open the website in Safari, tap the Share button, scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen, edit the name if you like, and tap Add. The icon appears on your Home Screen.
Add a Website From Safari
- Open Safari and go to the page you want.
- Tap the Share button (square with an up arrow). In newer iOS versions, tap the ⋯ menu first if you don’t see Share.
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
- Edit the name (short names look best under the icon).
- If you see Open as Web App, leave it on to open the site in its own window without Safari’s toolbar, or turn it off to open it as a normal Safari tab.
- Tap Add.
Sites that support it may show their own app-style icon and behave like an app, including notifications if you allow them.
Add a Website From Chrome or Other Browsers
- Open the page in Chrome (or Edge or Firefox).
- Tap the Share icon in the address bar (or the menu, then Share).
- Tap Add to Home Screen and then Add.
This option is available in third-party browsers on iOS 16.4 and later.
Use a Custom Icon With Shortcuts
- Open the Shortcuts app and tap +.
- Add the Open URLs action and enter the web address.
- Tap the shortcut name at the top > Add to Home Screen.
- Tap the icon to choose a photo or glyph, set a name, and tap Add.
This opens the link in your default browser.
Organize and Remove Home Screen Links
- Move: touch and hold the icon, tap Edit Home Screen, and drag it. Drop it onto another icon to create a folder.
- Remove: touch and hold the icon and tap Remove Bookmark (or Delete), then confirm. This doesn’t affect your browser bookmarks.
You can make a one-tap button for a person, too. See how to put the Contacts icon or a contact on your iPhone Home Screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I see Add to Home Screen?
Scroll down in the Share sheet; it may be below the first few options. Tap Edit Actions at the bottom to add it to your favorites. Private browsing tabs may not show it.
Does a Home Screen link use storage?
Very little. Web apps can store some data, like offline content, which you can clear in Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
Can I add a link to the Lock Screen?
Not directly. You can add a Shortcuts widget or control, depending on your iOS version.
Summary
- In Safari, tap Share > Add to Home Screen > Add.
- Chrome and other browsers use the same Share option on iOS 16.4+.
- Use the Shortcuts app for a custom icon.
- Touch and hold an icon to move or remove it.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.