Can I install Orbit from Chrome on iPhone?

No, Add to Home Screen for push-capable installs is a Safari-only feature on iOS regardless of which browser app you normally use.

Will I lose my sign-in when I switch from a Safari tab to the installed icon?

No, sign-in is tied to your Orbit account, not to the specific browser window you're using.

Does the installed iOS version get automatic updates?

Yes, since it loads Orbit over the network like a website, you always get the current version without a manual update step.

Account & app

Installing Orbit on iOS

Last updated 8 August 2026

iOS doesn't support an automatic install prompt for web apps the way Android does. Instead, you add Orbit to your Home Screen manually through Safari, and this step matters more on iOS than it does on Android since it's required for push notifications to work at all.

Adding to Home Screen

Open Orbit in Safari — this must be Safari, not Chrome or another browser, since only Safari exposes this feature on iOS. Tap the Share icon, then scroll down and choose 'Add to Home Screen', then confirm.

Why Safari specifically

iOS restricts the Add to Home Screen and web-push capabilities to Safari itself, even though other browsers on iOS are technically running Safari's engine underneath. If you normally use Chrome on your iPhone, switch to Safari just for this step.

After installing

Orbit now opens from your Home Screen icon in its own window, without Safari's address bar. Notification permission still needs to be granted separately the first time it's relevant — installing to the Home Screen is a prerequisite for push to work, not a substitute for granting permission.

If notifications still don't work after installing

Confirm you're opening Orbit from the Home Screen icon rather than from a Safari tab or bookmark, since notification support only applies to the installed version. Then check iOS Settings > Notifications for Orbit to make sure permission is actually granted at the system level.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install Orbit from Chrome on iPhone?: No, Add to Home Screen for push-capable installs is a Safari-only feature on iOS regardless of which browser app you normally use.
Will I lose my sign-in when I switch from a Safari tab to the installed icon?: No, sign-in is tied to your Orbit account, not to the specific browser window you're using.
Does the installed iOS version get automatic updates?: Yes, since it loads Orbit over the network like a website, you always get the current version without a manual update step.

Still stuck? Contact support or browse the full Help Center.