Deploy Progressive Web Apps (PWA) with Intune

I – What is Web Applications (PWA)

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) are web applications that use modern web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript … etc, to deliver an experience similar to native apps.

Here are some key features and benefits of PWAs:

• Installable : Users can install PWAs on their devices, adding them to the home screen or taskbar, just like native apps.
• Offline Functionality : PWAs can work offline or with poor network conditions using service workers.
• Push Notifications : They support push notifications to keep users engaged.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility : PWAs run on any device with a web browser, providing a consistent experience across different platforms.
• Secure : They are served over HTTPS, ensuring secure data transmission.
• Discoverable : PWAs can be indexed by search engines, making them easy to find.

II – Web App is more efficient than desktop App :

• WEB App is perfect for better perframce : as you can see in the following screenshot , the difference in memory consumption between desktop App (841 MB) and the Web App (2.7 MB) is gigantic.

III – Deploy Web Apps (PWA) with Intune :

We will take Microsoft Teams as Web App example just to explain the how to.

Now it´s time to deploy Teams app with Intune.

1. Open Intune admin portal : https://intune.microsoft.com/
2. Select Devices
3. Select Configuration Profiles
4. Select Create Profile to create a new Configuration Profile
5. This is a config for Windows 10 and later and the setting exist in the new “Settings catalog” so we use that.
6. Click “Create“

• Give a neme to your configuration Profile

1. Select “Add settings“
2. type “Web Apps” in search bar
3. Select “Microsoft Edge“
4. Select Setting “Configure list of force-installed Web Apps“
5. Enable “Configure list of force-installed Web Apps” buton
6. Add Web App config as the following settings after making changes (custom name , url…etc) :

[
{ "custom_name": "Teams WEB APP",
 "create_desktop_shortcut": true,
 "default_launch_container": "window",
 "url": "https://teams.microsoft.com/" }
]

7. Select “Next“

• Add “All devices” as target, or just select group of device/Users

• Click “Create“

• Here is Web App installed on user device

III – Conclusion :

The article “Deploy Web Apps (PWA) with Intune” explains how progressive web applications (PWAs) can be transformed into native applications using web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Using Intune, these applications can be easily deployed and integrated into the start menu, taskbar and desktop for simplified access. This enhances the user experience by offering the functionality and usability of native applications while using common web technologies.

Thanks

Aymen EL JAZIRI