If you open the same site every day in Edge on Android, typing the URL each time gets old. The Add to Phone option puts a one-tap shortcut on your home screen so the page opens in Edge instantly.
The menu moved and changed labels in the late-2024 redesign, so the option name may not match older instructions. The walkthrough covers the current Add to Phone flow, what changes for Progressive Web Apps, and how to move or remove the shortcut later.
In this guide, I have covered:
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Add a Site Shortcut Link to Your Phone Screen in Edge on Android
You open the same site every day, and the routine is slower than it should be: tap Edge, wait, type the URL. Edge on Android can skip all that by placing a one-tap shortcut on your home screen. Tap the icon once, and the site opens in Edge right where you left it.
Pin a Site to the Home Screen
If you still look for the shortcut under the top-right menu, that changed in the late-2024 redesign. The menu now lives at the bottom-right of the toolbar, and the command that creates the icon is called Add to Phone instead of the older Add to Home Screen. Follow these steps to add the shortcut.
- Open the Edge app on your Android phone.
- Go to the website you want to keep one tap away.
- Tap the Menu
icon in the bottom-right corner of the Edge toolbar. - Tap Add to Phone. If the site works as a Progressive Web App, the same entry appears as Install app instead.
- Edit the Title if you want a different name, then tap Add.
- Choose Add Automatically to drop the icon on the next empty spot, or touch and hold the icon to drag it to a specific place on the home screen.
You’ll know it worked when a new icon shows up on your home screen within a few seconds. Tap it once. The site opens in Edge without a detour through the new tab page.
What If the Site Is a Progressive Web App?
Seeing Install app instead of Add to Phone means the site is a Progressive Web App or has a matching Android app. Tapping that option opens the Google Play Store listing or installs the app directly.
The home screen icon then launches the installed app, not an Edge tab. Edge-only features like synced tabs and Collections do not apply to that site.
Move or Remove the Shortcut Later
Once the icon sits on your home screen, treat it like any other Android app icon. You can move it, group it, or remove it without touching Edge.
- Move it: touch and hold the icon until it lifts, then drag it to another spot, a different home screen, or a folder.
- Group it: drag it on top of another icon to create a folder, then name the folder.
- Remove it: touch and hold the icon and choose Remove or Uninstall. The choice depends on whether Edge installed the site as an app or only added a shortcut.
Removing the shortcut only deletes the icon. It does not clear your Edge browsing data or sign you out of the site.
The next time you open that site in Edge, you can pin it back with the same steps.
Use the Same Trick on Other Devices
If you also use Edge on an iPhone or iPad, the same idea works there. The iOS app routes through Safari’s Add to Home Screen flow inside Edge’s share sheet, so the taps look a little different. See Add Site to Home Screen on iPhone & iPad using Edge app for that walkthrough.
On a Windows or Mac computer, Edge creates a desktop shortcut instead of a phone icon. The desktop flow lives under More tools and drops a small shortcut file on your desktop. Our guide on how to create a shortcut link on the home screen in Edge on the computer walks through it.
Tweak Site Settings for the Pinned URL
Once a site has a home screen shortcut, you may want to control what that specific URL can do in Edge. Notifications, location, and camera access are all managed per site.
Edge on Android groups those controls under Site settings in the site info panel. See View Site Information and Configure Settings in Microsoft Edge on Android for the exact steps to open that menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I see the Add to Phone option in Edge on Android?
Edge moved the menu from the top-right corner to the bottom-right toolbar in late 2024. If you only see three dots at the top, update Edge from the Google Play Store and check the bottom toolbar again.
Does the shortcut open in Edge or in another browser?
For regular sites, the shortcut opens the URL in Edge. For Progressive Web Apps or sites with a matching Android app, the menu shows Install app, and the home screen icon launches that installed app instead.
How do I rename the shortcut before adding it?
After you tap Add to Phone, Edge shows the site’s title in an editable text field. Clear that text, type the name you want on the home screen, then tap Add.
Will removing the shortcut delete my saved passwords for that site?
No. Removing or uninstalling the shortcut only takes the icon off the home screen. Saved passwords, autofill data, and Edge browsing history stay intact.
I found it on “add to phone”
The Android Edge no longer has the functionality to put a link on the home screen. The button has been removed.