Common Issues
mobile
My App Won't Install on iPhone Home Screen
You built a web app and want users to be able to add it to their iPhone home screen so it feels like a real app. But when they try, nothing happens, it just opens as a regular browser tab, or the icon looks wrong. You wanted your app to feel like something from the App Store, but it doesn't.
This is about turning your website into a Progressive Web App (PWA) — basically making a website that can be "installed" on a phone without going through the App Store. When done right, it gets its own icon, opens full-screen, and feels like a native app.
Most AI tools don't set this up properly, or they miss key requirements that Apple specifically needs for iOS devices.
Error Messages You Might See
No error message — the option to install just doesn't appear or doesn't work properly
App opens in Safari instead of standalone
Icon shows as a screenshot instead of your logo
Site cannot be installed — no manifest found
Common Causes
- Missing web app manifest — Your app doesn't have a special file that tells the phone what icon, name, and settings to use when installed
- No service worker — A service worker is a background script that Apple requires before it treats your site as an installable app
- Wrong icon sizes — Apple requires specific image sizes for home screen icons. If they're wrong, you get a generic screenshot instead
- Missing Apple-specific tags — iOS doesn't use the same standards as Android. You need special Apple tags in your HTML
- Site not on HTTPS — Both iOS and Android require your site to use HTTPS (secure connection) before it can be installed
How to Fix It
- Add a web app manifest file — Have a developer create a manifest.json file with your app name, icons, colors, and display settings
- Add Apple-specific meta tags — Include tags like apple-mobile-web-app-capable, apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style, and apple-touch-icon in your HTML
- Create proper icons — Generate home screen icons in the required sizes (at least 180x180 pixels for Apple)
- Add a basic service worker — Even a simple service worker file can satisfy the installation requirement
- Make sure HTTPS is working — Verify your site loads with the padlock icon in the browser bar
- Test the installation — On an iPhone, open Safari, tap the share button, and choose "Add to Home Screen" to test
Real developers can help you.
Pratik
SWE with 15+ years of experience building and maintaining web apps and extensive BE infrastructure
Basel Issmail
’m a Senior Full-Stack Developer and Tech Lead with experience designing and building scalable web platforms. I work across the full development lifecycle, from translating business requirements into technical architecture to delivering reliable production systems.
My work focuses on modern web technologies, including TypeScript, Angular, Node.js, and cloud-based architectures. I enjoy solving complex technical problems and helping teams turn product ideas and prototypes into working platforms that can grow and scale.
In addition to development, I often collaborate closely with product managers, business analysts, designers, and QA teams to ensure that solutions align with both technical and business goals.
I enjoy working with startups and product teams where I can contribute both as a hands-on engineer and as a technical partner in designing and delivering impactful software.
hanson1014
Full-stack developer experienced in fixing and deploying AI-generated apps from Lovable, Bolt.new, Cursor, and Replit. I specialize in debugging Supabase integration issues (auth flows, RLS policies, database connections), fixing broken deployments, resolving routing/blank screen problems, and cleaning up messy React/Vite codebases. I also build production apps with the Claude API and have shipped a Mac desktop dev tool (Nexterm from scratch. Based in Hong Kong, fast turnaround.
Taufan
I’m a product-focused engineer and tech leader who builds scalable systems and turns ideas into production-ready platforms.
Over the past years, I’ve worked across startups and fast-moving teams, leading backend architecture, improving system reliability, and shipping products used by thousands of users. My strength is not just writing code — but connecting product vision, technical execution, and business impact.
Stanislav Prigodich
15+ years building iOS and web apps at startups and enterprise companies. I want to use that experience to help builders ship real products - when something breaks, I'm here to fix it.
Rudra Bhikadiya
I build and fix web apps across Next.js, Node.js, and DBs.
Comfortable jumping into messy code, broken APIs, and mysterious bugs.
If your project works in theory but not in reality, I help close that gap.
Costea Adrian
Embedded Engineer specilizing in perception systems. Latest project was a adas camera calibration system.
Alvin Voo
I’ve watched the tech landscape evolve over the last decade—from the structured days of Java Server Pages to the current "wild west" of Agentic-driven development. While AI can "vibe" a frontend into existence, I specialize in the architecture that keeps it from collapsing.
My expertise lies in the critical backend infrastructure: the parts that must be fast, secure, and scalable. I thrive on high-pressure environments, such as when I had only three weeks to architect and launch an Ethereum redemption system with minimal prior crypto knowledge, turning it into a major revenue stream.
What I bring to your project:
Forensic Debugging: I don't just "patch" bugs; I use tools like Datadog and Explain Analyzers to map out bottlenecks and resolve root causes—like significantly reducing memory usage by optimizing complex DB joins.
Full-Stack Context: Deep experience in Node.js and React, ensuring backends play perfectly with mobile and web teams.
Sanity in the Age of AI: I bridge the gap between "best practices" and modern speed, ensuring your project isn't just built fast, but built to last.
David Olverson
Solo dev shipping production apps with AI-assisted development. I specialize in rescuing broken Lovable/Bolt/Cursor builds and taking them to production. 10+ apps shipped including SaaS CRMs, gaming platforms, real estate tools, and Discord bots. Stack: Next.js 16, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Prisma. I use Claude Code with 50+ custom skills for rapid delivery. Average turnaround: 2-4 weeks from broken prototype to production.
Jacek Rozanski
Senior PHP/Symfony developer and DevOps engineer with 20+ years of professional experience, running opcode.pl (web development agency, est. 2004).
Day job: I'm the sole backend developer at merketing company where I own and maintain 11 PHP/Symfony microservices on AWS (ECS Fargate, RDS, S3, CloudFront), handle the full CI/CD pipeline (Bitbucket Pipelines, Docker), and manage monitoring with Sentry and CloudWatch. These services handle high request volumes in production every month.
What I bring to AI-built apps:
- I audit and fix security issues (OWASP methodology), performance bottlenecks, and architectural problems in codebases generated by Cursor, Claude Code, Lovable, Bolt, and v0
- I refactor AI-generated prototypes into production-grade applications with proper error handling, testing, and clean architecture (SOLID, DDD, hexagonal architecture)
- I set up the infrastructure AI tools don't touch: AWS hosting, CI/CD pipelines, automated deployments, database optimization, monitoring, and alerting
- I integrate external services: payment providers, email systems, partner APIs, SSO/auth
Tech stack: PHP 8.x, Symfony, React, Next.js, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Docker, AWS (ECS, RDS, S3, SQS/SNS, CloudFront), Terraform, Supabase. I also use AI tools daily (Claude Code, Cursor) in my own workflow, so I understand both the strengths and the gaps in AI-generated code.
Based in Poland (CET timezone). Available for async work and calls during EU/US business hours.
Describe what's wrong in plain English. No technical knowledge needed.
Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as putting my app in the App Store?
No. This makes your website installable as a 'web app' directly from the browser, without going through the App Store. It's free, doesn't require Apple approval, and works by adding your site to the home screen. It won't appear in the App Store.
Why does it work on Android but not iPhone?
Android (Chrome) and iOS (Safari) have different requirements for installable web apps. iOS requires Apple-specific HTML tags and only works in Safari — not Chrome or other browsers on iPhone. Android is generally more flexible about PWA installation.