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Windows 11 does not have an official Google YouTube desktop application distributed as a normal .exe file. The safest app-like option is to install youtube.com as a web app through Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. It opens in its own window, can be pinned to Start or the taskbar, and uses the browser’s YouTube account session.
You can also watch YouTube directly at youtube.com in any supported, up-to-date browser. Installing it as a web app is mainly useful if you want YouTube to behave like a separate Windows application.
Before you install YouTube on Windows 11
- Update Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
- Use the official address:
https://www.youtube.com. - A Google Account is optional for watching public videos. You need to sign in to use subscriptions, playlists, watch history, purchases, and other account features.
- Avoid Microsoft Store listings with names such as “YouTube Player” or “Tube Video” unless you have independently verified the publisher. Google’s official Windows guidance supports using YouTube through a browser rather than downloading a native Windows installer.
The installed version still requires an internet connection for normal streaming. It is a browser-based web app, not a separate YouTube playback engine.
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Install YouTube as an app in Microsoft Edge
Use the address-bar install button
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Visit
https://www.youtube.com. - Look on the right side of the address bar for the App available icon. Its appearance can vary between Edge versions.
- Select the icon, then select Install.
Edge may offer options to create a desktop shortcut or pin YouTube to Start or the taskbar during installation. Select the options you want and finish the installation.
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Install YouTube when the icon is missing
The address-bar icon only appears when Edge identifies a page as an installable Progressive Web App. You can still install YouTube as a site app using Edge’s menu:
- Open YouTube in Edge.
- Select Settings and more (…) in the upper-right corner.
- Select More tools.
- Select Apps.
- Select Install this site as an app.
- Review the name, change it if necessary, and select Install.
This fallback can install a website even when Edge does not show the dedicated PWA icon. The resulting app normally opens YouTube in a separate window without the usual browser tab strip.
Open and manage the Edge YouTube app
To see installed Edge apps, enter this address in Edge:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesedge://appsFind YouTube and select Open. You can also launch it from the Windows Start menu, a desktop shortcut, or the taskbar.
To create shortcuts or pin the app:
- Open
edge://apps. - Find the YouTube app.
- Select Details.
- Choose Pin to taskbar, Pin to Start, or Create Desktop shortcut.
If the Edge controls do not work, open Start > All, find YouTube, right-click it, and choose Pin to taskbar or Pin to Start.
Install YouTube as an app in Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Go to
https://www.youtube.com. - Select the three-dot More menu in the upper-right corner.
- Select Cast, save, and share.
- Select Install page as app….
- Confirm the installation.
On some Chrome versions, an Install icon appears directly in the address bar. You can select that icon instead of using the menu.
Open and manage the Chrome YouTube app
Chrome’s installed web apps are listed at:
chrome://appsFrom there, right-click YouTube to create a shortcut or enable Launch at startup, where available. You can also open the web app and use its three-dot menu to view App info or access its settings.
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Use Install page as app… rather than More tools > Create shortcut when you want a separate app window. A normal shortcut may simply open YouTube in a regular browser tab.
Sign in and use YouTube
- Open the installed YouTube app.
- Select Sign in in the upper-right corner.
- Enter your Google Account details and complete any verification prompts.
- Select your profile picture to access account settings and channel controls.
The app uses the same web interface as YouTube in a browser. Depending on your account, you can use:
- Search and recommendations
- Subscriptions
- Watch history
- Watch later
- Playlists
- YouTube Studio
- Purchases and memberships
- Full-screen playback
To watch a video in full screen, open the video and select the Full screen button in the lower-right corner of the player. You can usually exit full screen by pressing Esc.
Cast YouTube from Windows 11 to a TV
YouTube’s computer casting instructions use Chrome. The computer and receiving TV or streaming device should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
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- Open the YouTube app on the TV or streaming device.
- Open YouTube in Chrome on Windows 11.
- Open the video you want to watch.
- Select Chrome’s three-dot More menu.
- Select Cast.
- Choose the TV or streaming device.
Browser casting may not provide every feature available in YouTube’s dedicated TV, mobile, or streaming-device apps.
Fix common YouTube app problems
The install icon is not visible
This does not necessarily prevent installation. In Edge, use … > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app. In Chrome, use More > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app….
YouTube opens in a normal browser tab
You may have created a shortcut rather than installed a web app. Remove the shortcut and reinstall YouTube using Edge’s Install this site as an app command or Chrome’s Install page as app… command.
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The app is signed out
Web apps use the browser profile in which they were installed. An Edge YouTube app installed under one profile may not share cookies with another Edge profile. Open the app, select Sign in, and use the correct Google Account.
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Update the browser first, then check the connection and temporarily disable extensions that affect video playback. YouTube lists these approximate sustained speeds:
| Video quality | Approximate speed |
|---|---|
| 360p | 0.7 Mbps |
| 480p | 1.1 Mbps |
| 720p | 2.5 Mbps |
| 1080p | 5 Mbps |
| 4K UHD | 20 Mbps |
These are approximate requirements. Actual playback can vary with Wi-Fi congestion, the video itself, browser support, and available YouTube resolutions.
The Edge app stops working after Edge is removed
Edge-installed web apps depend on Microsoft Edge. If Edge is uninstalled, the YouTube app can stop launching. Keep Edge installed and updated if you use the Edge version.
An unofficial YouTube app appears in the Microsoft Store
Do not assume that a Store app named “YouTube” is published by Google. Google’s official download information does not provide a native Windows YouTube installer. Installing the website through Edge or Chrome avoids third-party wrappers that may contain advertising, tracking, or unwanted software.
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Remove the Edge version
- Open Edge and enter
edge://apps. - Find YouTube and select Details.
- Select Uninstall.
- Confirm the removal. If Edge asks whether to delete app history and data, choose the option appropriate for your needs.
You can also look for the app under Settings > Apps > Installed apps and uninstall it from there.
Remove the Chrome version
- Open the YouTube web app in Chrome.
- Select the three-dot menu.
- Select Uninstall YouTube.
- Select Remove.
Chrome may offer Also delete data from Chrome. Select it only if you want to remove the web app’s locally stored site data as well.
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Outdated installation methods to avoid
Older guides may tell you to install YouTube through Windows Subsystem for Android or the Amazon Appstore. That route is no longer suitable for current Windows 11 installations: Amazon discontinued the Amazon Appstore on Windows after March 5, 2025.
Guides referring to old Chrome Apps are also outdated. Chrome Apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux were discontinued after December 2022. Modern Chrome web apps are different and are installed through Install page as app….
Official references
- YouTube system requirements and supported devices
- YouTube app download instructions
- Microsoft Edge: install, manage, or uninstall apps
- Google Chrome: use web apps
FAQ
Is there an official YouTube app for Windows 11?
Google does not provide a standard native YouTube Windows installer. The supported app-like solution is to install youtube.com as a web app in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
Can I watch YouTube without signing in?
Yes. You can watch public videos without a Google Account. Signing in is required for features such as subscriptions, playlists, history, purchases, and channel management.
Does the Windows 11 YouTube app work offline?
No. The installed app is a browser-based version of YouTube and normally needs an internet connection for playback.
Which is better for installing YouTube: Edge or Chrome?
Either works. Edge integrates with Windows and provides the edge://apps management page, while Chrome provides the chrome://apps page and its own web-app controls. Use the browser you already keep updated and signed in to.
Why does YouTube open in a browser tab instead of an app window?
You probably created a standard shortcut instead of a web app. Reinstall it using Edge’s Install this site as an app or Chrome’s Install page as app command.
The Bottom Line
For Windows 11, install YouTube from the official website rather than downloading an unofficial Store package. In Edge, use … > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app. In Chrome, use More > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app…. The result is a separate, pinnable YouTube window backed by the browser.
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