What is a Web App Manifest?

A Web App Manifest (manifest.json) is a JSON file that tells browsers how to display your web application when installed on a device. It controls the app name, icon, splash-screen color, display mode (standalone vs. fullscreen), and more.

What display mode should I choose?

"standalone" is the most common — the app opens without a browser toolbar, looking like a native app. "fullscreen" hides all OS chrome. "minimal-ui" shows minimal navigation controls. "browser" opens in a normal browser tab.

Which icon sizes are required?

The Web App Manifest spec does not mandate specific sizes, but 192x192 and 512x512 are widely required by Lighthouse and Android. iOS additionally benefits from 180x180. Including 144x144 and 384x384 ensures broad device coverage.

What should the short_name be?

The short_name appears on home screens and app launchers where space is limited. Keep it under 12 characters to avoid truncation on most platforms.

Where do I link the manifest in my HTML?

Add inside the of every HTML page in your app.

Does this tool store any data?

No. All processing is done entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.

Web App Manifest Generator

Fill in your PWA settings and instantly get a ready-to-use manifest.json you can copy or download.

Manifest Settings

App Name *

Short Name (max 12 chars recommended)

Start URL

Scope

Display Mode

Orientation

Theme Color

Background Color

Description (optional)

Language

Icons

Icon paths point to your actual image files. The tool generates the JSON entry — you supply the images.

manifest.json

Add to your HTML

<link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
<meta name="theme-color" content="#0A2540">

Copied!

Summary

The Web App Manifest Generator lets you create a standards-compliant manifest.json file for Progressive Web Apps without writing JSON by hand. Simply fill in your app name, colors, display preferences, and icon sizes, then copy or download the output. The live preview updates instantly as you type, so you can see the exact JSON that will be embedded in your project.

How it works

Enter your app name, short name, and start URL in the form.
Choose a display mode (standalone, fullscreen, minimal-ui, or browser).
Pick theme color and background color using the color pickers.
Select your preferred screen orientation.
Add or remove icon size entries to match your icon assets.
Copy the generated JSON or click Download to save manifest.json.

Use cases

Bootstrap a new PWA project with a valid manifest.json in seconds.
Verify all required fields are present before submitting to a PWA audit.
Quickly prototype different display modes and theme colors.
Generate icon size arrays without memorizing the recommended sizes.
Share a downloadable manifest.json with a client or teammate.
Refresh an outdated manifest from a legacy project.
Validate that your app name and short name fit platform constraints.
Teach web developers the structure of the Web App Manifest spec.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-05-23 · Reviewed by Nham Vu