Install on Mobile Device

BookFellows is not yet available as a native app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. However, you can install BookFellows on your phone or tablet to get an app-like experience using your device’s web browser. This guide will show you how to add BookFellows to your home screen for quick access.

Make mobile and web work together for you

You may find that different form factors work better for different tasks. For example, you may find that having a real keyboard and more screen room on your laptop or desktop is better for reading text and answering questions during your personal study time. Alternatively, you may find that a mobile device is better for referring to your answers in a group discussion when you don’t want to lug your laptop around. Everyone is different! so experiment with both modes and see which works best for you. BookFellows always keeps your data current and synced across all devices.

What You’ll Get

Installing BookFellows on your mobile device provides:

• Home screen icon: Launch BookFellows like any other app
• Full-screen experience: No browser address bar or navigation
• Fast access: Open directly from your home screen
• Responsive design: BookFellows shrinks gracefully on mobile devices

Note: BookFellows is a Progressive Web App (PWA), which means it runs in your browser but feels like a native app.

Prerequisites

Requirements:

• An Android device with Chrome browser, or
• An iPhone or iPad with Safari browser
• Internet connection
• A BookFellows account. If you don’t have one, join BookFellows to create your account.

Not supported:

• Other mobile browsers (Firefox, Opera, etc.) may not support installation
• On desktop and laptop computers, use any modern web browser

Install on Android (Chrome)

Follow these steps to add BookFellows to your Android home screen.

Step 1: Open BookFellows in Chrome

1. Open the Chrome browser on your Android device
2. Navigate to app.bookfellows.net
3. Log in to your BookFellows account if needed

Step 2: Access the Install Option

You have two ways to install:

Option A: Chrome Menu

1. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner
2. Look for “Add to Home screen” or “Install app”
3. Tap this option

Option B: Browser Prompt

Chrome may automatically show an “Add BookFellows to Home screen” banner at the bottom of the screen:

1. Tap “Add” or “Install” when prompted
2. Follow the on-screen instructions

Step 3: Confirm Installation

1. A dialog will appear asking to confirm
2. You can edit the app name if desired (default: “BookFellows”)
3. Tap “Add” or “Install”
4. BookFellows will be added to your home screen

Step 4: Launch BookFellows

1. Find the BookFellows icon on your home screen
2. Tap to open
3. BookFellows opens in full-screen mode
4. You’re ready to go!

Android Tips

• Find the icon: The icon appears on your home screen or app drawer
• Move the icon: Long-press and drag to reorganize
• Remove if needed: Long-press the icon and select “Remove” or “Uninstall”
• Still in browser: The app actually runs in Chrome but looks like a native app

Install on iOS (iPhone/iPad)

Follow these steps to add BookFellows to your iOS home screen using Safari.

Step 1: Open BookFellows in Safari

1. Open the Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad
2. Navigate to app.bookfellows.net
3. Log in to your BookFellows account if needed

Important

You must use Safari. Chrome and other browsers on iOS don’t support adding to home screen with app-like features.

Step 2: Access the Share Menu

1. Tap the Share button (square with upward arrow)
   • On iPhone: Located at the bottom of the screen
   • On iPad: Located at the top of the screen near the address bar
2. The share sheet will appear with multiple options

Step 3: Add to Home Screen

1. Scroll down in the share sheet
2. Look for “Add to Home Screen” option
   • It has a plus (+) icon inside a square
3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”

Can’t find it?

• The option may be hidden in the “Edit Actions” section
• Scroll to the bottom of actions and tap “Edit Actions”
• Enable “Add to Home Screen” by tapping the green plus (+) button

Step 4: Confirm Installation

1. A preview screen appears
2. You can edit the name if desired (default: “BookFellows”)
3. Tap “Add” in the top-right corner
4. BookFellows will be added to your home screen

Step 5: Launch BookFellows

1. Find the BookFellows icon on your home screen
2. Tap to open
3. BookFellows opens in full-screen mode
4. You’re ready to study!

iOS Tips

• Find the icon: Check your home screen pages
• Move the icon: Long-press and drag to reorganize (like any iOS app)
• Remove if needed: Long-press the icon and select “Remove App”
• Runs in Safari: The app runs in Safari but looks standalone
• No address bar: You won’t see the Safari navigation when using the app

Using BookFellows as an App

Once installed, BookFellows looks and feels like a native mobile app.

Opening the App

Launch from home screen:

1. Tap the BookFellows icon
2. App opens in full-screen mode
3. No browser chrome or navigation visible

Stay logged in:

• Your login persists between sessions
• No need to log in each time (unless you log out)

App-Like Features

What works:

• Full-screen interface without browser controls
• Fast loading and smooth performance
• All BookFellows features available
• Auto-save for answers and notes
• Syncs across all your devices

What’s different from native apps:

• Must have internet connection to use BookFellows
• Downloads happen through your device’s download manager
• No app store updates (updates happen automatically when you use it)

Switching Between Devices

Your BookFellows account works seamlessly across devices:

• Install on multiple mobile device or acccess from web browser on your desktop or laptop
• Log in with the same account
• All your studies, answers, and progress sync automatically
• Start on phone, continue on tablet or desktop, or vice versa

Update the Installed App

BookFellows updates automatically—no action needed!

How updates work:

• Updates happen in the background
• When you open the app, it checks for updates
• New features appear automatically
• No app store updates required

If you notice issues:

1. Close the app completely
2. Open it again
3. The latest version will load

Force a refresh (if needed):

• Close the app
• Clear browser cache for app.bookfellows.net
• Reopen the app

Troubleshooting

Issue: “Add to Home Screen” option not available (Android)

Possible causes:

• Not using Chrome browser → Switch to Chrome
• Already installed → Check home screen or app drawer
• Website not ready → Wait a few seconds for page to fully load
• Chrome version too old → Update Chrome from Play Store

Issue: “Add to Home Screen” option not available (iOS)

Possible causes:

• Not using Safari → Must use Safari, not Chrome or other browsers
• Using private/incognito mode → Use regular Safari window
• Option hidden → Look in “Edit Actions” at bottom of share sheet
• iOS version too old → Update iOS to latest version

Issue: Icon doesn’t appear on home screen

Android:

• Check your app drawer (all apps list)
• The icon may be on a different home screen page
• Try installing again

iOS:

• Check all home screen pages
• The icon may be on the last page
• Try installing again

Issue: App opens in browser instead of full-screen

Android:

• Try uninstalling and reinstalling
• Make sure you used Chrome to install
• Check if you tapped the correct icon

iOS:

• Make sure you installed from Safari (not Chrome)
• The first launch may show briefly in Safari
• Try reinstalling from Safari

Issue: App keeps logging me out

Both platforms:

• Don’t use private/incognito mode when installing
• Check browser settings allow cookies for app.bookfellows.net
• Make sure you’re not clearing browser data
• Try reinstalling the app

Issue: Can’t remove the app

Android:

1. Long-press the icon
2. Select “Remove” or drag to “Remove”
3. If that doesn’t work, go to Settings > Apps > BookFellows > Uninstall

iOS:

1. Long-press the icon
2. Tap “Remove App”
3. Confirm “Delete App”

Next Steps

Choose your path forward:

Join a Group Essential first step to access studies in your Library

Select a Study from the Library Browse your Library and choose a study

Start a Solo Study Begin studying independently at your own pace

Need help? Contact support at rich@bookfellows.net