Chrome lets users open links in PWA with link capturing; Edge could get it soon

Google has released a new feature in Chrome Canary called link capturing which allows users to open links in PWA (progressive web apps) designated tabs. These tabs are independent of the main browser, and in some instances, they have their own capabilities.

Spotted by Windows enthusiast, @Leopeva64, link capturing is already working in Chrome Canary, after it was initially spotted as a flag a few days earlier. The flag mentioned the ability to enable system media controls for web apps. This means that an audio-playing PWA in Chrome will have its own control box, independent of the browser’s.

PWAs are an effective way to build a desktop shortcut for a website, but it seems the link capturing greatly eases this way. For instance, on Chrome, the browser will ask users to enable link capturing on an info bar.

Once enabled, Chrome will then automatically open up the link in the respective PWA. If it’s a Twitter link, then Chrome is going to open it up in the Twitter PWA; if it’s a YouTube link, it’s going to open it up in the YouTube PWA, and so on.

Link Capturing on Edge? Yes, most likely

According to @Leopeva64, Microsoft somehow implemented this feature in Edge, but not with web links. Instead, Edge uses a sort of link capturing when opening links from other apps, such as the Mail app.

However, Microsoft Edge is a Chromium-based browser, so every new feature coming to Google Chrome can be virtually implemented in Microsoft Edge, as well. It will most likely be released on the browser in the following weeks.

On the other hand, Edge will be getting Copilot too, as the AI assistant is apparently replacing Bing Chat, at least when it comes to the icon. So, Microsoft might actually come up with AI-enhanced PWA, as it is a strong possibility.

However, we’ll have to wait and see.