Install FortifyCast

FortifyCast runs on every modern device. You can listen and go live in a regular web browser, install it as a Progressive Web App on iPhone and iPad so it behaves like a native app, or download the native Android application for the smoothest background-audio experience. Whichever platform you pick, your account, followed shows, listening history, downloads and coin balance stay in sync.

What the FortifyCast app does

FortifyCast is a podcast host, a live audio room, a community chat, and a creator payments layer in a single application. You can play any episode from the catalogue, jump into a live room and chat with the host, follow creators to get notified when they publish or go live, tip creators with coin gifts, download episodes for offline playback, and (as a creator) publish your own show and go live yourself. The app is free to install and free to start using.

Web browser (no install)

The fastest way to try FortifyCast is to open fortifycast.com in any modern browser. Chrome, Edge, Brave, Firefox, Safari and Samsung Internet are all fully supported. You can sign up, follow shows, listen to episodes, join live rooms, and send messages without installing anything. The one thing the browser cannot do reliably is keep audio playing when you close the tab, so for long listening sessions we recommend installing the PWA or the Android app.

iPhone and iPad (Progressive Web App)

Apple does not allow us to publish FortifyCast on the App Store today, but iOS Safari supports installing web apps directly to the home screen with almost all the same capabilities as a native app. To install:

1. Open fortifycast.com in Safari (not Chrome). The PWA install works only through Safari on iOS.
2. Tap the Share icon in the bottom toolbar (a square with an upward arrow).
3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
4. Give it a name (FortifyCast is fine) and tap Add.

The PWA icon appears on your home screen. Opening it launches FortifyCast full-screen with no browser bar. Background audio, push notifications and the media lock-screen controls all work. Your session is remembered across launches, so you only sign in once.

Android (native app)

The Android app is the smoothest way to use FortifyCast, especially for long live sessions. Background audio is handled by a native foreground service, so a live room continues to play cleanly when your screen turns off, when you switch apps, and when the phone is in your pocket. The lock-screen media controls are wired up, and mic capture continues while you speak in a live room even when the app is not in the foreground.

To install:

1. Open the install page on your Android device and tap Download APK.
2. Your browser asks for permission to install apps from this source, tap Allow.
3. Open the downloaded file and tap Install.
4. Launch FortifyCast from your app drawer or home screen and sign in.

Updates are released through the same download link. The app checks for a newer version on launch and shows a small update prompt when one is available.

Permissions we ask for and why

• Microphone. Requested the first time you speak in a live room, whether as a host or a called-up guest. Never used outside a live room.
• Notifications. Used to alert you when a followed creator goes live, when a scheduled episode is published, when someone sends you a direct message, and when your withdrawal is processed. You can disable specific categories in Settings without disabling notifications entirely.
• Storage. Used only if you download an episode for offline listening. Downloaded audio is stored in the app's private area and removed when you sign out.
• Photos (Android). Requested only when you replace a profile picture, show cover or background image. We open the system picker so you can pick a specific image; the app never reads your full library.

Offline and background behaviour

Downloaded episodes are cached locally and play with no internet connection. On the Android app, live audio continues in the background with a foreground notification you can tap to jump back into the room. On the iOS PWA, background audio works for published episodes; live rooms benefit from keeping the app visible, though we do our best to keep the WebRTC connection alive when the screen locks.

Troubleshooting

The APK will not install. Your Android is blocking installs from unknown sources. Enable installs for your browser in Settings, then try again.

Audio pauses on Android when I lock the screen. Grant the "Allow background activity" permission for FortifyCast, and make sure your device battery optimiser is not restricting the app.

The PWA on iPhone did not appear on my home screen. Add to Home Screen has to be tapped from Safari, not from Chrome or another browser.

I do not see the install prompt on desktop Chrome. Some browsers hide the prompt until you have visited a few times. You can install manually from the browser menu.

Still stuck?

Email hello@fortifycast.com with your device model and OS version and a real person will help. Or read the full Help Center.