How To Convert Website Into Android Application

In this mobile-first world, having just a website isn’t sufficient for great digital presence. Having a mobile app will help you to acquire more customers and grow the revenue of your business. If you have a B2C website and still haven’t planned for having an app then you are missing great revenue opportunities. With a mobile app, you can make it is easy for people to discover your products and services right at their fingertips. Let us have a look at how you can convert a website into the android application and the benefits of doing it.

Convert Website Into The Android Application Using Online Tool

You can use a third-party online tool which will help you convert your web application into native Android and iOS mobile apps. Some of these tool offer a free trial. These tools also allow you to add functionalities such as push notifications, WebView and animations. One of such tool is GoNative which allows you to include additional functionalities by selecting features in the checkbox. You can try GoNative here.

Another online third-party tools is AppyPie. It is also very similar to GoNative but it allows you to see your app in an online emulator so that you can see your changes in real-time.

Convert Website Into Android Application Using Android Studio

If you want to build Android app for your website in simple and quick way then you can use WebView. Before you start installing Android Studio and start building an app, your website should be responsive and mobile-ready. You can take Google’s mobile-friendly test to check if your website is optimized for mobile devices or not. Once you have completed the test, you can follow the below steps.

Step 1: Get Ready With Android Studio

Install latest version of Android Studio. Create a new project in Android Studio and name it.

Step 2: Create App Interface And WebView Element

Open res -> layout -> activity_main.xml, create the application interface and add WebView element to it.

Step 3: Declare A WebView Variable, Add A Link To Your Site

Go to src -> package -> MainActivity.java. You will need to declare a WebView variable, enable JavaScript and load the link of your website. You can check the below code screenshot. Do not forget to add link of your website in mywebView.loadUrl().

Step 4: Give Internet Access Permission

Your WebView based app will need Internet access permission to load the website. Without permission, device will be unable to load the website inside the app. To enable permission, Open AndroidManifest.xml file and add internet permission after the package name.

Step 5: Set WebView Client

Next step is to add one line of code in your MainActivity.java class given below. If you do not add this code in your app then clickable links will open in a standard web browser such as Google Chrome. To ensure that the user stays within the app and links open inside your app, you will need to add the below code.

mywebView.setWebViewClient(new WebViewClient());

Step 6: Add Navigation Buttons

By default, the application will not have navigation buttons as a back button. To enable the back button, add the given code in your MainActivity.java class.

Step 7: Remove Additional Padding

If you want to remove the additional spacing, open activity_main.xml and remove the padding from layouts. Let us show you the final code of activity_main.xml.

Step 8: Check Code Of MainActivity.java

Step 9: Run The App

Now you can run the app and you will see WebView app of your website. To make the same app for another website; you can change the URL in mywebView.loadUrl() and run it again.

It Is Not Sufficient To Convert A Website Into Android Application

As the world is going mobile-first, many businesses have invested money in mobile app development. Calculating the ROI of mobile app isn’t as simple as solving a mathematical formula. The correct way to calculate ROI requires a holistic view so that you can understand the impact of every development step on your business.

Understanding the nuances and then calculating the ROI of mobile app maximizes your outcomes and helps your business grow in the direction you want.

Are You Looking For A Reliable Company For Android App Development?

Working with an experienced android app development company is the only way to ensure that there are no hurdles in your mobile app development project. We are one of the top mobile app development companies in India. Apart from Android app development services, we offer iPhone app development and PHP web development services in India and USA.

Why Should You Choose Techcronus?

At Techcronus, we believe in delivering value and growth to our client. Techcronus Provides transformative technology solutions using various platforms. Our team delivers world-class products thanks to technical competence and creativity. Connect with us to make your mobile app a great success!