App Tour
After installing the app and tapping its icon on your home screen, here is what you can expect.
Launch Experience
Splash Screen
When you open the app from your home screen, a branded splash screen appears for about 1.5 seconds. It shows your community's logo and name, then fades out to reveal the main content.
The splash screen only appears:
- When launching the installed app (not when browsing in a regular browser tab)
- On the first load of a new session
It does not appear on every page navigation — only on fresh app launches.
Navigation
Bottom Tab Bar
Once inside the app, you navigate using a tab bar at the bottom of the screen. This replaces the sidebar you would see on a desktop browser.
The tabs shown depend on what your community admin has configured. Common tabs include:
| Tab | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Feed | Community activity and posts |
| Spaces | Discussion spaces you belong to |
| Notifications | Activity alerts and mentions |
| Me | Your profile and account |
| Events | Upcoming and past events (if enabled) |
| Courses | Learning content (if enabled) |
| Wallet | Membership and payments (if enabled) |
| Directory | Member directory (if enabled) |
| Jobs | Job board (if enabled) |
Not all tabs are visible in every community. Your admin controls which tabs appear and in what order.
Layout Differences from Browser
The app adjusts its layout when running in standalone (installed) mode:
| Element | Browser | Installed App |
|---|---|---|
| Sidebar navigation | Visible | Hidden |
| Bottom tab bar | Hidden | Visible |
| Content width | Side margins for sidebar | Full width |
| Browser address bar | Visible | Hidden |
This means the content area is wider and the interface feels more like a native app.
Safe Area Handling
On devices with a notch, home indicator, or system navigation bar, the app automatically adds spacing so content is never hidden behind those elements.
- iOS — Content clears the notch at the top and the home indicator bar at the bottom
- Android — Content clears the system navigation bar at the bottom
You do not need to do anything — this is handled automatically.
Browser vs. Installed App
You can use your community in both a regular browser tab and as an installed app. The content is identical; only the layout and features differ.
| Feature | Browser tab | Installed app |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom tab nav | No | Yes |
| Splash screen | No | Yes |
| Pull-to-refresh gesture | No | Yes |
| Push notifications | Yes (desktop) | Yes |
| Full-screen experience | No | Yes |
| Address bar visible | Yes | No |
If you want to switch back to the browser view at any time, simply open your community URL in Safari or Chrome directly.
Related Guides
Need help? Contact support@uni8.ai