How-To Guide

How to Add a Mood Tracker to Your Phone Home Screen (No App Store Required)

By the Wavelength Team · June 2026 · 5 min read

Wavelength works as a Progressive Web App — which means you can install it directly to your phone's home screen from your browser, with no App Store or Google Play required. Here's exactly how to do it on both iPhone and Android.

What Is a Progressive Web App?

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a website that's been built to behave like a native mobile app. When you install a PWA to your home screen, it opens full-screen without the browser address bar, looks and feels like any other app on your phone, and can work offline.

The big advantage: no app store fees, no review process, no waiting for updates to approve. When Wavelength updates, it updates automatically the next time you open it.

✅ What you get when you install Wavelength

A Wavelength icon on your home screen, full-screen app experience, your data synced to your account across all devices, and daily reminder notifications (optional).

📱 iPhone / iPad (Safari)

Step 1

Open moodtrackerfree.com in Safari

This must be Safari — Chrome on iPhone does not support home screen installation. If you're reading this in Chrome, copy the URL and open it in Safari.

Step 2

Tap the Share button

Look for the share icon at the bottom of the screen — it looks like a box with an arrow pointing up. Tap it.

Step 3

Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"

In the share sheet that pops up, scroll down until you see "Add to Home Screen." Tap it.

Step 4

Tap "Add" in the top right corner

You'll see a preview with the Wavelength name. Tap "Add" in the top right to confirm. The Wavelength icon will now appear on your home screen.

🤖 Android (Chrome)

Step 1

Open moodtrackerfree.com in Chrome

Chrome is recommended for Android installation. Other browsers may work but Chrome gives the best experience.

Step 2

Tap the three-dot menu

In the top right corner of Chrome, tap the three vertical dots to open the browser menu.

Step 3

Tap "Add to Home screen"

You may see a banner at the bottom of the screen that says "Add Wavelength to Home screen" — you can tap that instead. Either way works.

Step 4

Tap "Add" to confirm

Confirm the installation. Wavelength will appear on your Android home screen and app drawer like any other installed app.

After Installing

Once installed, open Wavelength from your home screen. You'll go through a brief onboarding, create your free account, and you're ready to start your first check-in. Your data will be tied to your account so it syncs across any device where you're signed in.

To set up daily reminders, go to the Support tab inside the app and enter your email address for a daily check-in nudge.

Troubleshooting

I don't see "Add to Home Screen" on iPhone

Make sure you're using Safari, not Chrome, Firefox, or another browser. Apple only allows home screen installation through Safari on iPhone and iPad.

The icon disappeared from my home screen

This shouldn't happen, but if it does, just repeat the installation process. Your account and all your data will still be there — just sign in again.

It doesn't look like an app — it still shows the browser bar

Make sure you opened it from the home screen icon, not from the browser. When launched from the home screen icon, it opens in full-screen app mode automatically.

Ready to install?

Open this page on your phone and follow the steps above. Your first check-in takes under two minutes.

Open Wavelength →