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Windows 11 does not require a traditional YouTube installer. The dependable way to add YouTube to your PC is to install youtube.com as a web app (also called a Progressive Web App or PWA) using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
The result is a separate YouTube window with its own Start-menu, taskbar, or desktop shortcut. It still uses the browser engine and an internet connection, so it is not a fully independent offline desktop program.
Before you install YouTube on Windows 11
Use the current version of Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. You can also watch YouTube in Firefox, but the installation steps below apply to Edge and Chrome because both browsers support installing websites as apps.
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Method 1: Install YouTube with Microsoft Edge
Edge is usually the simplest option on Windows 11 because its site-as-an-app command is built into the browser.
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Visit
https://www.youtube.com. - Select the Settings and more button—the three dots (…) in the upper-right corner.
- Choose More tools.
- Select Apps.
- Choose Install this site as an app.
- Leave the name as YouTube, or change it if you prefer.
- Select Install.
Edge creates an app-style YouTube window and adds the installation to its web-app list. The exact menu path is:
Settings and more (…) > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchUse the Edge address-bar install button
Depending on the version of Edge and the way YouTube is detected, an App available message or install icon may appear on the right side of the address bar. Select it and follow the installation prompts.
If that icon is missing, use the full menu path above. The address-bar button is conditional; its absence does not necessarily mean that YouTube cannot be installed as an app.
Pin the Edge YouTube app to Start or the taskbar
- Open Edge and enter
edge://appsin the address bar. - Find the YouTube app card.
- Select Details.
- Choose Pin to taskbar, Pin to Start, or Create Desktop shortcut.
The same Details page can include Auto-start on device login. Enable it only if you want YouTube to launch automatically when you sign in to Windows.
Method 2: Install YouTube with Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Go to
https://www.youtube.com. - Select the three-dot More button in the upper-right corner.
- Choose Cast, save, and share.
- Select Install page as app….
- Confirm the app name and complete the on-screen installation.
The current Chrome path is:
More (…) > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app…
Chrome may also show an Install icon on the right side of the address bar while YouTube is open. Selecting that icon starts the same type of web-app installation.
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Create a Chrome desktop shortcut
Some Chrome versions or websites may not show Install page as app…. In that situation, you can create a basic shortcut:
- Open YouTube in Chrome.
- Select More (…) > Cast, save, and share > Create shortcut, if that command is available.
- Enter a name such as YouTube.
- Select Create.
A shortcut is not always the same as a full web app. If Chrome offers Install page as app…, use that command when you want a separate app-style window without normal browser controls.
Find and manage the Chrome YouTube app
Enter this address in Chrome:
chrome://appsFrom the Chrome apps page, you can open YouTube or create a shortcut. To remove the app from inside its app window, select More (…) > Uninstall YouTube > Remove. Chrome may also ask whether you want to delete the app’s stored data.
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- Open the YouTube app from Start, the taskbar, or your desktop.
- Select Sign in.
- Enter the Google Account used for YouTube.
The installed app uses browser-based website data, including the relevant profile’s cookies and sign-in session. If YouTube opens signed out, sign in again from the app window. If you use multiple browser profiles, make sure YouTube was installed from the profile containing the account you want to use.
What the Windows 11 YouTube app actually is
Installing YouTube through Edge or Chrome does not install an Android app or a conventional Windows program. It creates a browser-backed web app with these characteristics:
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Separate window | YouTube opens in an app-style window rather than a regular browser tab. |
| Start and taskbar access | You can pin it to Start or the taskbar and create a desktop shortcut. |
| Updates | The interface and features come from YouTube’s website, so they change online rather than through a traditional installer. |
| Internet access | Normal video playback requires an internet connection. |
| Browser dependency | An Edge-installed app depends on Microsoft Edge; a Chrome-installed app depends on Chrome’s web-app environment. |
| Offline use | Installing the app does not automatically make videos available offline. |
How to uninstall YouTube
Uninstall the Edge version
- Open Edge and go to
edge://apps. - Find YouTube.
- Select Details.
- Select Uninstall.
- Choose whether to delete the app’s history and data.
- Select Uninstall again.
Uninstall from Windows 11 Settings
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Select Installed apps.
- Find YouTube.
- Select the three-dot button beside it.
- Choose Uninstall.
You can also open Start > All apps, right-click YouTube, and select Uninstall.
Uninstall the Chrome version
- Open the installed YouTube app.
- Select More (…).
- Choose Uninstall YouTube.
- Select Remove.
Fix common YouTube installation and playback problems
“Install this site as an app” is missing in Edge
First confirm that you are viewing https://www.youtube.com, then try the complete route:
Settings and more (…) > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app
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If it is still unavailable:
- Update Edge.
- Close and reopen Edge.
- Restart Windows.
- Check whether the PC is managed by a school or employer.
On managed computers, the Edge policy WebAppInstallByUserEnabled can prevent users from installing web apps manually. An administrator must change that policy if it has been disabled.
The Edge install icon does nothing
Use the menu method instead. The address-bar icon appears only when Edge recognizes the relevant app-install experience. It is not the only installation route.
YouTube is not in Windows Search or the Start menu
The app may have been installed without a Start shortcut, or its shortcut may have been removed.
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For Chrome, open chrome://apps, right-click YouTube, and choose Create shortcut.
The app opens as a normal browser tab
You may have created a shortcut instead of installing a web app. In Chrome, Create shortcut and Install page as app… are separate commands. Remove the shortcut and reinstall YouTube using:
More (…) > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app…
In Edge, use:
Settings and more (…) > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app
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Videos buffer or fail to load
YouTube’s approximate sustained-speed recommendations are:
| Video quality | Recommended sustained speed |
|---|---|
| General playback | At least approximately 500 Kbps |
| 720p | Approximately 2.5 Mbps |
| 1080p | Approximately 5 Mbps |
| 4K UHD | Approximately 20 Mbps |
Actual performance also depends on Wi-Fi quality, network congestion, browser extensions, and other programs using the connection. Try the following:
- Update the browser.
- Install available Windows updates.
- Close unnecessary tabs and applications.
- Restart the browser and PC.
- Test YouTube in another supported browser.
- Restart or test the internet connection.
YouTube shows a blank page or incorrect formatting
Clear YouTube’s cached data and cookies, then sign in again if required. Clearing cookies can sign you out of websites and remove YouTube-specific preferences.
The video is green or visually corrupted
Outdated graphics drivers and browser hardware acceleration can cause green-screen playback problems. Update the graphics driver first. In Chrome, you can test hardware acceleration by opening:
More (…) > Settings > Advanced > System > Use hardware acceleration when available
Change the setting, restart Chrome, and test the video again. If the problem continues, return the setting to its previous value and check for a graphics-driver update from the PC or graphics-card manufacturer.
Edge was removed and the YouTube app stopped working
Edge-installed web apps depend on Microsoft Edge. Keep Edge installed and updated if you use YouTube as an Edge app. Removing the browser can also affect other sites installed through Edge.
YouTube Premium downloads on Windows 11
Installing YouTube as a web app does not itself enable offline downloads. YouTube Premium members can download eligible videos on a computer through supported browsers, including Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
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- Sign in to YouTube Premium.
- Open the video’s watch page.
- Select Download below the video.
Availability can vary by video, account, location, and other YouTube requirements. Downloads are a Premium feature, not a result of installing the Windows web app.
Which installation method should you use?
For most Windows 11 users, Edge is the quickest choice:
- Open Edge.
- Visit
https://www.youtube.com. - Select Settings and more (…) > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app.
- Select Install.
- Open
edge://apps. - Select Details for YouTube.
- Pin it to Start, pin it to the taskbar, or create a desktop shortcut.
Choose Chrome instead if you already use Chrome for your Google Account, extensions, or browser profiles. Both approaches create a convenient app-style launcher, but neither is a separate native YouTube program.
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FAQ
Is there an official YouTube desktop app for Windows 11?
Windows 11 users do not need a traditional native YouTube installer. The supported desktop-style option is to install youtube.com as a web app through Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
Can I install YouTube from the Microsoft Store?
Do not assume that a Microsoft Store listing with YouTube in its name is official. The verifiable Windows method documented by Microsoft and Google is installing youtube.com through Edge or Chrome.
Does the installed YouTube app work without internet?
Normal video playback requires an internet connection. Installing YouTube as a web app does not automatically download videos or create a fully offline program.
Will installing the app sign me in automatically?
It may use the relevant browser profile’s existing cookies and session, but YouTube can still open signed out. Select Sign in in the app window and enter your Google Account details if needed.
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How do I put YouTube on my Windows 11 desktop?
In Edge, open edge://apps, select Details on YouTube, and choose Create Desktop shortcut. In Chrome, open chrome://apps, right-click YouTube, and select Create shortcut.
Why does my YouTube shortcut open in a normal browser tab?
It was probably created as a basic shortcut rather than a web app. Reinstall it using Chrome’s Install page as app… command or Edge’s More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app command.
The Bottom Line
The practical way to install YouTube on Windows 11 is to install youtube.com as a web app. In Edge, use Settings and more (…) > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app. In Chrome, use More (…) > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app…. You can then pin YouTube to Start or the taskbar, while remembering that it remains a browser-based app and normally needs an internet connection.
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