Distributing a web extension WITHOUT a native app

We have a browser extension using manifest v3 that we publish to the Chrome web store, and soon as a Firefox add-on.

We'd also like to publish it for Safari, so we followed the instructions here:

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/safariservices/safari_web_extensions/converting_a_web_extension_for_safari

This worked just fine, and running the XCode project will install the extension in Safari.

The problem is that we do not want to distribute this with a macOS app. We only need the extension itself, all background work is done via a web worker.

If I remove the macOS app from the XCode project, it does not seem as if there is a way to try and distribute it via App Store Connect.

Is there way to just build and distribute the .webex extension?

After downloading a few other Safari extensions on macOS, it appears as though this is just how they work. Most of them have the macOS app just show you how to enabled the extension.

Very weird experience! But okay.

Like you said in your follow-up message, an app is required to distribute Safari Web Extensions via the App Store.

Distributing a web extension WITHOUT a native app
 
 
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