Installing KnotWise as a PWA on iPhone and Android

Modified on Tue, 28 Jul at 11:09 PM

On iPhone and Android there is no App Store or Google Play download. KnotWise runs as a Progressive Web App: you add it to your home screen from the browser, and it then opens full-screen like a native app and keeps working without a connection.

Subscription required: the browser and home-screen versions are available during your trial and on the Sync and Share plans. On the Free plan they show an upgrade screen instead of your logbook — the desktop apps and the iPad app continue to work on Free. Compare plans →

On iPad, install the native app instead. KnotWise for iPad is a full app on the App Store and needs iPadOS 16 or later — see Installing the KnotWise iPad app. The route described here is for iPhone and Android.

iPhone (Safari)

Open log.knotwise.app in Safari. Other browsers on iOS cannot add an app to the home screen.
Tap the Share button — the square with the arrow pointing up.
Scroll down and tap «Add to Home Screen».
Confirm the name and tap «Add».

Android (Chrome)

Open log.knotwise.app in Chrome.
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right corner.
Tap «Add to Home Screen» or «Install App».
Confirm with «Add» or «Install».

After installation

Sign in with your KnotWise account — you receive a one-time code by email, so the first sign-in needs a connection. Your logbook then downloads automatically, and once that first sync is done the app runs without a connection. What that covers in detail: Offline mode — how KnotWise works at sea.

No NMEA on the phone: reading a chart plotter or GPS receiver over NMEA requires the desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux). Neither the home-screen app nor the browser can do it. Download the desktop app →

Last updated: 28 July 2026