If you’re someone who regularly watches YouTube on your laptop or desktop, you’ve probably thought—“Is there a faster, cleaner way to open YouTube without opening the browser every time?” The good news is: yes, there is! You can install YouTube as a Progressive Web App (PWA) directly on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 system. This gives you an app-like experience with faster access, a cleaner interface, and zero distractions from extra browser tabs.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through each step to help you turn YouTube into a one-click desktop app—without installing any third-party software.
🧠 What is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
Before we dive in, let’s understand what a PWA really is. A Progressive Web App is essentially a website that behaves like a native application on your device. You get the same experience as using a normal app—like launching it from your taskbar, running it in a standalone window, and receiving faster performance—but it’s powered by your web browser.
YouTube supports this functionality, so let’s take full advantage of it.
✅ System Requirements
Before you begin, make sure your system meets these basic requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest version) or Microsoft Edge
- Internet Connection: Required for installation and video playback
🪜 Step-by-Step Guide to Install YouTube as a Desktop App
Let’s walk through the full process. We’ll cover both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge options so you can choose the browser you prefer.
🟢 Method 1: Using Google Chrome
Let’s begin with the world’s most popular browser.
- Open Google Chrome
- Make sure it’s updated to the latest version for the best compatibility.
- Navigate to YouTube
- Go to https://www.youtube.com
- Access the Install Option
- Once the page loads, look for a computer screen icon with a small arrow inside (🖥️ ➕) on the right side of the address bar.
- If you don’t see that, click on the three vertical dots (⋮) in the upper-right corner to open the menu.
- Click on “Install YouTube”
- In the dropdown, select “Install YouTube”.
- Confirm Installation
- A pop-up will appear. Click Install.
- Done!
- YouTube will now launch in a separate window. You’ll also see its icon added to your:
- Start menu
- Taskbar (if you choose to pin it)
- Desktop (if you allow shortcut creation)
- YouTube will now launch in a separate window. You’ll also see its icon added to your:
🔵 Method 2: Using Microsoft Edge
If you’re a fan of Microsoft Edge (especially after its Chromium upgrade), follow these steps:
- Open Microsoft Edge
- Go to YouTube
- Visit https://www.youtube.com
- Click on the Three Dots (Menu)
- Located in the top-right corner
- Navigate to Apps > Install this site as an app
- Click Apps, then choose “Install this site as an app”
- Confirm
- Click Install when prompted
- YouTube is now an App!
- You can now open it like any desktop program, and it runs in its own window without the Edge browser frame
🎯 Features of YouTube as an App
After installing, you’ll notice a few key differences in how YouTube behaves:
✅ Cleaner, Distraction-Free Interface
The app opens in its own dedicated window, without tabs, URL bars, or bookmarks taking up space.
✅ Faster Launch
You can pin the YouTube app to your Taskbar, Start Menu, or create a Desktop Shortcut, so launching it takes just one click.
✅ Better Performance
Since it runs in isolation, the YouTube app often performs better than having 10 browser tabs open.
✅ Multi-Window Capability
Want to open multiple YouTube videos? You can launch multiple instances of the app (depending on your browser support) without being locked into a single browser tab.
⚠️ Things to Note
- This is not a native app built by YouTube. It’s a browser-powered app.
- You still need an active internet connection to watch videos.
- Extensions (like ad blockers) will not run inside the PWA.
- If you clear your browser data, it might uninstall the app.
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❓FAQ Section
Q1. Can I use the YouTube app in offline mode?
A1. No, since it’s essentially a web wrapper, you’ll need internet access for videos to play.
Q2. Does this app update automatically?
A2. Yes. Since it pulls directly from the live YouTube site, the app reflects all updates and changes instantly.
Q3. Can I log in to my YouTube account in the app?
A3. Absolutely. You’ll get the same login experience as you would on YouTube via your browser.
Q4. Is it safe to install YouTube as an app this way?
A4. Yes. This method uses your official browser’s install feature—no third-party downloads or installations are involved.
Q5. How do I uninstall the YouTube app later?
A5. You can uninstall it easily from your browser’s settings:
- In Chrome: Go to chrome://apps → Right-click on YouTube → Remove from Chrome.
- In Edge: Settings → Apps → Manage Apps → Uninstall
💡 Additional Tips
So far, we’ve done a good job setting things up. But let’s add a few more suggestions to improve your desktop YouTube experience even further:
- Keyboard Shortcuts: You can still use regular shortcuts like
Kfor pause/play,JandLto skip backward/forward. - App Settings: You can customize notifications and permissions by right-clicking the app shortcut → Properties (Windows).
- Split Screen Use: Combine the app with Windows 11’s Snap Layouts for easy multitasking.
🧹 Final Thoughts
Installing YouTube as a desktop app might seem like a small trick, but it can make a big difference in your daily routine—especially if you’re someone who watches or listens to YouTube for hours every day. With faster access, fewer distractions, and a smoother interface, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it earlier.
This guide ensures no step is missed and no shortcut taken. Every method here is built on native browser features, keeping things safe, lightweight, and efficient. Whether you’re a creator, a student, or someone who just enjoys cat videos on loop—you’ll love the new experience!
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