How can I edit the URL of a home screen bookmark?


Question

I want to have a bookmark shortcut on my Home screen to launch a web app I use regularly. The only way I found to achieve this is using the Add to Home screen from the Chrome browser menu when I'm on the site. However, this does not let me edit the actual URL the bookmark will point to.



This is a problem because said web app automatically appends the current date to the end of the URL when it's loaded. When I add the shortcut to the Home screen, the link will then actually open the app to display data from the day on which I created the shortcut. I'll always have to open the date picker and navigate to the current date to start using the app.



I'd like to edit the Home screen bookmark shortcut's URL to remove the date added to its end, so it always opens to the current day. Can I achieve this without third-party software?



I'm using an unrooted Sony Xperia Z5 Compact running Android 6.0.1.




  • Some sources say to create a standard bookmark in Chrome, where the URL can be edited, then long-press it in the bookmarks manager and choose to add it to the home screen from the context menu. This context menu entry does not appear to exist anymore in current versions of Chrome.

  • Some sources say to look for a Bookmarks widget that allows to choose a Chrome bookmark to display. This widget doesn't appear to exist anymore in Android 6. The only bookmarks widget I have displays the entire bookmarks folder.

  • The website in question loads too quickly for me to be able to cancel before the URL is modified. I tried many times.


Answer

I havent been able to find an intuitive way to modify a desktop shortcut's URL, but I have found a workaround for the problem.




  • Put your phone in airplane mode and disable WiFi to turn off all internet access

  • Open the Chrome browser

  • Type in the URL you are trying to set a shortcut for

  • Press enter and the browser will alert you that you are currently in an offline status

  • On Chrome, click the settings (hamburger) button

  • select add to desktop


You will now have a shortcut on your desktop that refelcts the URL that you have just entered into Chrome

Turn off airplane mode and you're golden.



This applies to Android Marshmallow 6.x as well as Nougat 7.x. It may also apply to older versions as well


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