# Real app look and feel? Sharing AppLab app via exported zip file?

**URL:** <https://forum.code.org/t/real-app-look-and-feel-sharing-applab-app-via-exported-zip-file/7427>\
**Category:** AP Prep\
**Tags:** csp-unit-pt-prep\
**Created:** [May 25, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/real-app-look-and-feel-sharing-applab-app-via-exported-zip-file/7427 "2017-05-25T13:31:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nicholsonl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@nicholsonl](https://forum.code.org/u/nicholsonl)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/real-app-look-and-feel-sharing-applab-app-via-exported-zip-file/7427/1 "2017-05-25T13:31:53Z")

</div>

My student wants the app to “install” on phones and be accessible from the app drawer, etc. in the smartphone. How would this work – or something close to this?

I exported the zip folder and clicked on the html index after unzipping. That seems to work. The problem is that the user has to have the folder, open it and click on the right file.

I also see how to embed in an html page.

When I was doing AppInventor2, we got apk files and could just email them. They then “installed” and were there for the user. I am trying to get something like this in place with AppLab. “Close” is good enough.

Any suggestions?

Thank you,  
Lee

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bhatnagars](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.code.org/bhatnagars/32/4919_2.png) [@bhatnagars](https://forum.code.org/u/bhatnagars)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/real-app-look-and-feel-sharing-applab-app-via-exported-zip-file/7427/2 "2017-05-25T16:50:32Z")

</div>

Since its a web app the really easy way to do this is by adding a tile on your phone screen for the website address. Here is some information on how to do this.

> **[How to Add Websites to the Home Screen on Any Smartphone or Tablet](https://www.howtogeek.com/196087/how-to-add-websites-to-the-home-screen-on-any-smartphone-or-tablet/)**
>
> Your smartphone or tablet’s home screen isn’t just for apps. Whatever platform you’re using, you can pin your favorite websites to your home screen so you can quickly access them.

  
Also, this  
[http://www.kylejlarson.com/blog/adding-an-icon-for-iphone-ipad-android-to-your-website/](http://www.kylejlarson.com/blog/adding-an-icon-for-iphone-ipad-android-to-your-website/)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nicholsonl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@nicholsonl](https://forum.code.org/u/nicholsonl)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/real-app-look-and-feel-sharing-applab-app-via-exported-zip-file/7427/3 "2018-02-27T13:04:01Z")

</div>

Is there an easy way to let them put their own icon on the app vs the [code.org](http://code.org) icon? (Grey with “C” in the middle.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gtwrobel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.code.org/gtwrobel/32/3576_2.png) [@gtwrobel](https://forum.code.org/u/gtwrobel)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/real-app-look-and-feel-sharing-applab-app-via-exported-zip-file/7427/4 "2018-03-06T23:33:15Z")

</div>

@nicholsonl I don’t know of a way to do it currently. I know we’ve looked into it before and I’ve forwarded your request on to the product team to consider if and how we can integrate it into future improvements to App Lab.