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Installing Buddies on the Green - PWA Guide

Learn how to install Buddies on the Green as a Progressive Web App (PWA) on your mobile device for the best experience.

What is a PWA?

A Progressive Web App allows you to install Buddies on the Green on your phone like a native app, giving you:

  • Home screen icon - Quick access from your home screen
  • Full-screen experience - No browser UI, just the app
  • Offline scoring - Enter scores without internet connection
  • Push notifications - Get notified about buddy activity and messages
  • Faster loading - Improved performance and instant loading

Installing on iPhone (iOS)

Requirements

  • iPhone with iOS 11.3 or later to install the app (iOS 16.4+ is required for push notifications)
  • Safari browser (Chrome and Firefox don't support PWA installation on iOS)

Installation Steps

  1. Open Safari and go to buddiesonthegreen.com
  2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow pointing up) at the bottom of the screen
  3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
  4. Edit the name if desired (default: "Buddies on the Green")
  5. Tap "Add" in the top right corner
  6. Find the app icon on your home screen

Opening the PWA

  • Tap the app icon from your home screen
  • App opens in full-screen mode (no Safari UI)
  • Works just like a native app!

Installing on Android

Requirements

  • Android device with Chrome browser
  • Chrome version 72 or later

Installation Steps

Method 1: Install Banner (Automatic)

  1. Visit buddiesonthegreen.com in Chrome
  2. Browse a few pages (the app will prompt you after engagement)
  3. Look for "Install Buddies on the Green" banner at the bottom
  4. Tap "Install"
  5. Confirm installation in the popup
  6. App icon added to home screen automatically!

Method 2: Manual Installation

  1. Open Chrome and go to buddiesonthegreen.com
  2. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right
  3. Tap "Add to Home screen" or "Install app"
  4. Edit the name if desired
  5. Tap "Add"
  6. App icon appears on home screen

Opening the PWA

  • Tap the app icon from your home screen or app drawer
  • App opens in full-screen mode
  • Completely separate from Chrome browser

Troubleshooting

iPhone Issues

"Add to Home Screen" Option is Missing

Problem: Can't find the "Add to Home Screen" option in Safari.

Solutions:

  • Use Safari: Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers don't support PWA installation on iOS - you must use Safari
  • Update iOS: Make sure you're running iOS 11.3 or later
  • Check Share Menu: The option is in the Share menu (square with up arrow), not the ⋯ menu

iCloud Private Relay Blocking Access

Problem: App won't load or shows "Site is blocked" message.

Why This Happens: iCloud Private Relay (a privacy feature that masks your IP address) can interfere with Firebase Authentication and real-time database connections.

Solution 1 - Disable Private Relay (Recommended):

  1. Open iPhone Settings
  2. Tap your name at the top
  3. Tap iCloud
  4. Tap Private Relay
  5. Toggle OFF Private Relay
    • OR tap "Turn Off for This Network" (affects only current WiFi)
  6. Return to Safari and reload the app

Solution 2 - Use Different Browser:

  • iCloud Private Relay only affects Safari
  • Install Chrome or Firefox from the App Store
  • Use Buddies on the Green in that browser
  • The app will work normally without needing to disable Private Relay

Note: This issue only affects iPhone users with iCloud+ who have enabled Private Relay. Most users won't encounter this problem.

Screen Still Dims During Rounds

Problem: Screen locks/dims even though Wake Lock should keep it on.

Causes:

  • Wake Lock requires iOS 16.4 or later
  • Low Power Mode may override Wake Lock
  • App must be in focus/foreground

Solutions:

  • Update to iOS 16.4 or later
  • Disable Low Power Mode during rounds
  • Keep the app in foreground (don't switch to other apps)
  • As backup: Increase screen auto-lock time in Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock

Android Issues

Install Prompt Doesn't Appear

Problem: No "Add to Home screen" option or install banner.

Solutions:

  • Use Chrome: Other browsers may not support PWA installation
  • Visit Multiple Times: Chrome shows the prompt after you've engaged with the site
  • Clear Browser Data: Settings → Apps → Chrome → Storage → Clear Cache
  • Check Chrome Version: Update to Chrome 72 or later

Offline Scoring Not Working

Problem: Can't enter scores when offline.

Check:

  1. Make sure you installed as PWA (not just using in browser)
  2. Check that you gave Storage permission when prompted
  3. Verify you have some available storage space on device

Solutions:

  • Re-install the PWA: Remove from home screen and install again
  • Clear app data: Long-press app icon → App info → Storage → Clear data
  • Check available storage: Settings → Storage

Location/GPS Issues

Location Permission Request Not Appearing

Problem: App doesn't ask for location permission when starting a round.

Solutions:

  • Check Browser Permissions:
    • iOS: Settings → Safari → Location → While Using the App
    • Android: Settings → Apps → Chrome → Permissions → Location
  • Enable Device GPS: Settings → Privacy (iOS) or Location (Android)
  • Reload the App: Close completely and reopen

Inaccurate GPS Positioning

Problem: Distance measurements seem incorrect.

Causes:

  • GPS works best outdoors with clear sky view
  • Takes 30-60 seconds to acquire accurate position
  • Tall buildings or trees reduce accuracy

Solutions:

  • Wait for GPS to fully acquire signal (watch accuracy indicator)
  • Move to open area with clear sky view
  • Ensure Location Services are set to "High Accuracy" (Android)

Push Notifications Not Working

Not Receiving Notifications

Problem: Missing notifications for buddy requests, messages, or round updates.

Check Permissions:

iOS — two things are required before notifications can work at all:

  1. iOS 16.4 or later. Earlier versions cannot receive web notifications.
  2. The app must be installed to your Home Screen (see the install steps above). Notifications never arrive in a plain Safari tab, no matter what you allow in Settings.

Then: open the installed app, allow notifications when prompted, and check Do Not Disturb is off.

Android:

  1. Settings → Apps → Chrome → Notifications → Enable
  2. Settings → Apps → Buddies on the Green (if installed as PWA) → Notifications → Enable
  3. Check Do Not Disturb is off

Re-enable Notifications:

  1. Open the installed app
  2. Go to Profile → Edit Profile → the Push Notifications section
  3. Toggle notifications off, then back on
  4. Accept the permission prompt again

Uninstalling the PWA

iPhone

  1. Long-press the app icon on home screen
  2. Tap "Remove App"
  3. Select "Delete App"
  4. Confirm deletion

Android

  1. Long-press the app icon
  2. Tap "Uninstall" or drag to "Remove" at top of screen
  3. Confirm uninstallation

Note: You can always reinstall by following the installation steps again. Your account data is stored in the cloud and won't be lost.

Getting Help

If you're still experiencing issues:

  • Check our FAQ: Visit buddiesonthegreen.com/help
  • Contact Support: Email support@buddiesonthegreen.com
  • Use AI Chat: Tap the chat icon in the app for instant help

Why Install as PWA?

Performance Benefits:

  • Faster loading times
  • Smoother animations
  • Instant app launching

Offline Capabilities:

  • Enter scores without internet
  • Auto-sync when connection returns
  • Never lose your data

Native App Experience:

  • Full-screen interface
  • Home screen icon
  • Push notifications
  • Background sync

No App Store Required:

  • No download from App Store/Play Store
  • Instant updates (no manual updating)
  • Same experience on all devices