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Use short_name from web manifest for installed PWA's name in Start Menu (Windows) #3491

@xmha97

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@xmha97

Hi, and thank you for your great work on Edge.

I apologize if this issue does not belong here — I couldn't find a dedicated GitHub repository for Microsoft Edge itself, so I decided to submit it here in the edge-developer docs repo. Please feel free to redirect me if there is a more appropriate place for feature suggestions like this.

Now, to the main point:

In the past, when installing a PWA on Android, it would simply create a shortcut on the home screen. Nowadays, however, PWAs are installed as WebAPKs — proper packages. These apps use the short_name property from the web manifest as their display name, which is helpful in keeping app labels concise in the app drawer.

I noticed that Microsoft Edge on Windows is now also installing PWAs as packaged apps, not just desktop shortcuts — which is a great improvement.

Since Windows app packages can have both a full name and a display name (just like name and short_name in the manifest), I’d like to suggest aligning this behavior with Android:

  • Use name for installation dialogs, app details, etc.
  • But in the Start Menu, use short_name if available — to avoid overly long app names.

For example:
When installing music.youtube.com, the installed app could still be called YouTube Music, but the Start Menu label could show YT Music (as specified in the manifest's short_name).

This would make the user experience more polished and consistent across platforms.

Thanks again!

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