To install YouTube on Windows 11, open youtube.com in Microsoft Edge and select Settings and more (…) > More tools > Apps > Install YouTube, then select Install. In Google Chrome, select More (⋮) > Cast, save, and share > Install YouTube. Google doesn’t offer a separate YouTube app for Windows, so this installs the YouTube website as an app. It opens in its own window and appears in Start like any other app.
Applies to: Windows 11 with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. Checked on September 30, 2026.
Why YouTube installs from your browser
There’s no official YouTube app in the Microsoft Store. Instead, YouTube is built as a web app, which Edge and Chrome can install. Once installed:
- YouTube opens in its own window, without tabs or an address bar.
- You can pin it to Start or the taskbar and open it with one click.
- It updates on its own, because it’s the same YouTube you see in the browser.
- You’re signed in with the same Google account you use in that browser.
Install YouTube with Microsoft Edge
- Open Microsoft Edge and go to youtube.com.
- Select Settings and more (…) at the top right.
- Select More tools > Apps > Install YouTube.
- Select Install.
You may also see an App available icon at the right end of the address bar. Selecting it is a shortcut to the same Install prompt.
After installing, Edge may offer to pin the app to the taskbar or Start, or create a desktop shortcut. Choose the options you want.
Install YouTube with Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and go to youtube.com.
- Select More (⋮) at the top right.
- Select Cast, save, and share > Install YouTube. You can also select the install icon at the right end of the address bar.
- Select Install.
YouTube opens in its own window and is added to Start.
Open and pin the YouTube app
- Select Start and then All.
- Find YouTube in the list and select it to open it.
- To keep it handy, right-click YouTube and select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar.
This works the same way as pinning other sites. For another example, see how to pin Google to the taskbar in Windows 11.
What the YouTube app can and can’t do
The installed app is the full YouTube website, so you can watch videos, use your subscriptions, playlists and history, and switch to full screen. A few limits are worth knowing:
- It needs an internet connection. The web app streams videos and doesn’t save them for offline viewing.
- It depends on your browser. If you uninstall Edge or Chrome, or remove your browser profile, the app goes too.
- Some browser extensions don’t apply. Extensions you use in the browser may not run in the app window.
To send a video from your PC to a TV, see how to cast Windows 11 to a TV.
If the install option doesn’t appear
- Wait for the page to load. The install option shows up only on youtube.com itself, once the page has finished loading.
- Update your browser. In Edge, go to Settings and more > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge. In Chrome, go to More > Help > About Google Chrome. Then restart the browser.
- Check whether it’s already installed. If YouTube is already installed, the browser offers to open the app instead, and YouTube is listed in Start.
- Use a shortcut instead. In Chrome, select More > Cast, save, and share > Create shortcut, and check Open as window. In Edge, you can drag the site’s address to your desktop.
- Work or school PC. Your organization may block installing web apps. Ask your IT administrator.
Avoid “YouTube app” downloads from other websites. They aren’t made by Google and can include unwanted software.
Uninstall the YouTube app
- Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find YouTube, select More options (…) next to it, and select Uninstall.
- Select Uninstall again to confirm.
You can also right-click YouTube in Start and select Uninstall. Removing the app doesn’t affect your YouTube account or the browser. For more, see how to uninstall a program in Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official YouTube app for Windows 11?
Not a separate one. The web app you install from Edge or Chrome is YouTube’s own website, made by Google, running in its own window.
Is the YouTube app free?
Yes. Installing it costs nothing. YouTube Premium is an optional subscription that removes ads.
Does this work on Windows 10?
Yes. The steps are the same in Edge and Chrome on Windows 10.
Can I install YouTube Music the same way?
Yes. Go to music.youtube.com and use the same install option in Edge or Chrome.
Related: how to clear YouTube search history on iPhone.
Related: How to Download YouTube Videos in Windows 10.
Related: how to download YouTube videos on Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.