📲 Install Guide
Get the full coaching experience
on your phone
Installing PacecraftAI as an app gives you push notifications, offline access, and a native feel — for free, no App Store needed.
🔔
Push alerts
Race countdown, pre-run prep
⚡
Instant load
Cached — opens in <1s
📴
Works offline
View plans without internet
🖥️
Full screen
No browser address bar
🔄
Auto-updates
Always latest version
🆓
No App Store
Install directly from browser
✅Prerequisites
Check these before installing
✓
Android version
Android 5.0+
✓
Recommended browser
Chrome 72+
✓
Also works in
Samsung Internet 8+, Edge 79+
✓
Push notifications
Android 8.0+ for best experience
✗
Does NOT work in
Firefox Android (no install prompt)
📲Install on Android (Chrome)
Takes about 30 seconds
1
Open pacecraft.fit in Chrome
Type pacecraft.fit in Chrome's address bar. Make sure you're signed in.
2
Tap the install prompt
Chrome shows a banner at the bottom: "Add PacecraftAI to Home Screen". Tap it.
9:41pacecraft.fit●●●
pacecraft.fit
Add to Home Screen
pacecraft.fit
Add
Install banner appears automatically
3
If no banner — use the menu
Tap the ⋮ (3-dot menu) in the top-right corner of Chrome, then tap "Add to Home Screen".
9:41pacecraft.fit●●●
New tab
New incognito tab
→Add to Home Screen
Share...
Find in page
Settings
Chrome 3-dot menu → Add to Home Screen
4
Tap "Add" in the confirmation dialog
Android shows a dialog with the app name. Leave it as PacecraftAI and tap Add.
5
Open from Home Screen
Find the PacecraftAI icon on your home screen. Tap it — it opens full-screen, like a native app.
🔐Permissions setup
On first open the app walks you through these automatically
🔔 Notifications Required
Needed for race countdown, pre-run reminders, and overtraining alerts. Chrome shows a permission dialog — tap Allow.
🔔
Allow Notifications?
"pacecraft.fit" wants to send you notifications
Don't Allow
Allow
Tap Allow when Chrome asks
📍 Location Optional
Used for weather-adjusted pace targets. Tap Allow only while using the app. The coach still works without it.
📍
Allow Location?
"pacecraft.fit" wants your location for weather-based pace targets
Don't Allow
Allow
Choose 'While using the app'
If you accidentally tapped "Deny" — go to Android Settings → Apps → Chrome → Permissions → Notifications and turn it on. Or tap the 🔒 lock icon in Chrome's address bar → Site settings.
📊 PWA app vs. Browser tab
Why install instead of just bookmarking?
| Feature | 📱 PWA (Installed) | 🌐 Browser tab |
|---|---|---|
| Push notifications | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Race countdown alerts | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Pre-run reminders | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Home screen icon | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Full screen (no URL bar) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Works offline | ✅ Cached | ❌ Needs internet |
| Loads instantly | ✅ <1s | ⚠️ Network dependent |
| Auto-updates | ✅ Silent | ✅ Silent |
| No App Store needed | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (it's a website) |
| Uses device storage | ⚠️ ~5 MB | ✅ None |
🛠️ Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to fix them
🤖 Android
I don't see "Add to Home Screen" in Chrome+
Push notifications aren't arriving+
The install prompt appeared but I dismissed it+
App opens in browser instead of full-screen+
🍎 iPhone / iPad
"Add to Home Screen" is missing in Share sheet+
No notification permission prompt appeared+
I'm on iOS 16.3 — can I get push notifications?+
Notifications stopped working after an iOS update+
I used Chrome on iPhone and can't find Add to Home Screen+
🖥️ Desktop
No install icon appears in the address bar+
Desktop notifications not appearing+
The PWA window disappeared from my taskbar+