webpins
A photo gallery that works without internet and becomes an app
After the first visit, webpins opens even with no connection, with your photos, and it can be installed as an app. You do not need an app store.
How offline mode works
On the first visit, the browser keeps the site's own files (the page, the styles, the fonts and the icons). Your photos are not part of that: they are in the browser's storage from the moment you add them. That is why the gallery opens and works without internet. A new version of the site shows up as soon as there is a connection.
Offline mode requires the site to be on https, which the published address already is.
How to install it
On a computer (Chrome, Edge)
Look for the Install option in the address bar or in the browser menu. webpins then opens in a window of its own, like a program.
On Android (Chrome)
Open the browser menu and choose Install app (or Add to Home screen).
On iPhone and iPad (Safari)
Tap Share and then Add to Home Screen.
A warning about Safari: Safari may delete on its own the data of a site that goes about 7 days without being opened, and the gallery's photos are in that data. Installing the site on the Home Screen and making backups often lowers the risk.
What keeps working offline
- Viewing the photos, the viewer, the slideshows and search.
- Adding photos, creating albums, renaming, moving and deleting.
- Making a
.zipbackup.
There is nothing to sync: since nothing goes to the internet, nothing depends on it.
Install it and test it: open the site once with internet, then turn the connection off to see.
Open webpins