Documentation

Installing Cryptica as an App

Cryptica is built as a Progressive Web App (PWA), which means you can install it on your device and use it like a native application. This guide explains how to install Cryptica on different devices.

Benefits of Installing as an App

Installing Cryptica as an app offers several advantages: faster access, offline capabilities, dedicated space on your home screen, and a more app-like experience without browser navigation elements.

Installing on Mobile Devices

iOS (iPhone & iPad)

  1. Open Cryptica in Safari browser (other browsers won't work for PWA installation on iOS).
  2. Tap the Share button at the bottom of the screen (the square with an arrow pointing up).
  3. Scroll down and tap 'Add to Home Screen'.
  4. You can rename the app if you wish, then tap 'Add' in the top-right corner.
  5. Cryptica will now appear as an app icon on your home screen.

Note for iOS Users:

On iOS, PWAs have some limitations compared to native apps. For example, they can't send push notifications and may have limited storage.

Android

  1. Open Cryptica in Chrome or another compatible browser.
  2. Look for a banner or prompt saying 'Add Cryptica to Home screen' or similar. If you don't see it:
  3. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
  4. Tap 'Install app' or 'Add to Home screen'.
  5. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

On newer Android versions, PWAs are deeply integrated and can appear in your app drawer, recent apps list, and can send notifications.

Installing on Desktop

Chrome (Windows, Mac, Linux)

  1. Open Cryptica in Chrome.
  2. Look for the install icon (a plus sign in a circle) in the address bar, or:
  3. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
  4. Click 'Install Cryptica...' or 'Install'.
  5. Click 'Install' in the confirmation dialog.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Open Cryptica in Edge.
  2. Look for the install icon (a plus sign) in the address bar, or:
  3. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
  4. Click 'Apps' and then 'Install this site as an app'.
  5. Click 'Install' in the confirmation dialog.

Firefox

Firefox has limited support for installing PWAs as standalone apps. However, you can create a shortcut:

  1. Open Cryptica in Firefox.
  2. Click the three-line menu in the top-right corner.
  3. Click 'More tools' and then 'Create shortcut'.
  4. Name the shortcut and click 'Create'.

Safari (macOS)

Safari on macOS doesn't support installing PWAs as standalone apps. However, you can pin the site to your dock:

  1. Open Cryptica in Safari.
  2. From the menu bar, select File > Add to Dock.
  3. Alternatively, you can drag the URL from the address bar to the Dock.

Using Cryptica Offline

Once installed, Cryptica can work offline with these capabilities:

  • Password Generation: Standard and strength-based generation work offline (AI-assisted requires internet).
  • Encryption & Decryption: All encryption and decryption operations work offline.
  • Password Analysis: The strength analyzer functions fully offline.
  • Local Data Access: Access to your locally stored presets and activity history.
  • Settings Management: Change settings, themes, and preferences offline.

Offline Limitations:

When offline, you won't be able to synchronize data with your database, use AI-assisted password generation, or access any external links in the documentation.

Updates and Maintenance

Cryptica automatically checks for updates when you're online:

  • Update Process: Updates are downloaded in the background and applied the next time you launch the app.
  • Check for Updates: check-updates-desc
  • Clearing Data: If you experience issues, you can clear the app data through your browser's site settings or device settings.

Uninstalling Cryptica

To uninstall Cryptica from your device:

On Mobile Devices:

  • iOS: Press and hold the Cryptica icon until it jiggles, then tap the X button.
  • Android: Press and hold the Cryptica icon, then drag it to the 'Uninstall' area, or go to Settings > Apps > Cryptica > Uninstall.

On Desktop:

  • Windows: Go to Settings > Apps > Cryptica > Uninstall, or right-click the app icon and select Uninstall.
  • macOS: Drag the Cryptica app from the Applications folder to the Trash, or right-click and select Move to Trash.
  • Chrome OS: Right-click the Cryptica icon and select 'Uninstall' or 'Remove from Chrome'.

Note About Your Data:

Uninstalling the app doesn't automatically delete your local data. To completely remove all data, you should clear site data from your browser settings before uninstalling.

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Progressive Web App (PWA)