How To Windows

How to Install YouTube Music App on Windows 11 Desktop

By Arpita 4 min read
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YouTube Music has become one of the most convenient streaming platforms for music lovers. Whether you’re juggling playlists, streaming mixes while working, or playing background music during gaming sessions, having YouTube Music easily accessible on your desktop makes everything smoother. While Google doesn’t provide a dedicated Windows app, the good news is that we can still install YouTube Music on Windows 11 as a standalone app using Progressive Web App (PWA) support.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the methods you can use to install YouTube Music on your Windows 11 desktop. Whether you prefer Chromium browsers like Chrome or Edge, or you want a more advanced pinned-app experience, we’ve got you covered.

Install YouTube Music App on Windows 11 Desktop

You don’t need anything complicated to install YouTube Music on your desktop — just a modern web browser such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Brave. Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version so it supports Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), because that’s the key to turning YouTube Music into a desktop-like application. Once that’s done, you’re all set to follow the steps below.

1. Install YouTube Music App Using Google Chrome

Google Chrome makes it incredibly easy to turn websites into standalone apps, and YouTube Music works perfectly as a PWA.

Here’s how you can install it:

  1. Open Google Chrome on your Windows 11 PC.
  2. Visit the YouTube Music website: https://music.youtube.com.
  3. Once the page loads, look at the URL bar.
  4. You’ll see an install icon (a computer with a downward arrow).
  5. Click that icon and choose Install.
  6. Chrome will immediately create a standalone YouTube Music app.

After installation, Windows automatically adds a shortcut to:

  • Start Menu
  • Desktop (if enabled)
  • Taskbar (if you pin it)

Now you can open YouTube Music just like any native app — no browser tabs needed.

2. Install YouTube Music App Using Microsoft Edge

If you prefer Microsoft Edge over Chrome, you’re in luck because Edge has one of the best PWA implementations on Windows 11.

Follow these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.
  2. Go to https://music.youtube.com.
  3. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
  4. Navigate to Apps → Install this site as an app.
  5. Enter a name (default name is YouTube Music).
  6. Click Install.

Edge will instantly install YouTube Music as its own desktop app. It behaves like a native Windows application while still using the lightweight power of PWAs.

3. Install YouTube Music App Using Brave Browser

Brave also supports PWAs and works just like Chrome.

Here’s what to do:

  1. Open Brave Browser.
  2. Go to music.youtube.com.
  3. Click the Plus (+) icon or the Install app prompt in the URL bar.
  4. Click Install.

Brave creates a clean and secure standalone YouTube Music app on your desktop.

4. Pin YouTube Music to Taskbar or Start Menu

After installing the PWA, you can make it even easier to access:

Pin to Taskbar:

  1. Open the YouTube Music app.
  2. Right-click its icon on the taskbar.
  3. Select Pin to taskbar.

Pin to Start Menu:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search YouTube Music.
  3. Right-click it and select Pin to Start.

This gives you a one-click shortcut for quick music access while working or gaming.

5. Create a Manual Shortcut if PWA Installation Doesn’t Appear

In rare cases, the install button may not show. You can still create a Chrome windowed shortcut manually.

  1. Open Chrome → go to music.youtube.com.
  2. Click the three-dot menu.
  3. Go to More tools → Create shortcut.
  4. Name it YouTube Music.
  5. Check Open as window.
  6. Click Create.

This method creates a windowed app-like experience similar to a PWA.

6. Enable Desktop Notifications for the YouTube Music App

Want playback alerts or new song notifications?

  1. Open the YouTube Music desktop app.
  2. Click the Padlock icon next to the URL.
  3. Enable Notifications.

Now you’ll receive paused track alerts, new mix suggestions, and more — right on your desktop.

7. Use YouTube Music as a Background Player

One of the best parts about using the PWA version is that it behaves like a native app:

  • Runs in the background
  • Plays music even when minimized
  • Works independently from your browser
  • Uses Windows 11’s media controls (volume slider, lock screen playback controls)

This gives you a seamless listening experience while multitasking.

8. Uninstall the YouTube Music Desktop App (If Needed)

If you ever want to remove it:

For Chrome PWAs:

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Go to chrome://apps.
  3. Right-click YouTube Music → Remove from Chrome.

For Edge PWAs:

  1. Open Edge.
  2. Go to edge://apps.
  3. Click the three dots next to YouTube Music → Uninstall.

Or uninstall via Windows:

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
  2. Find YouTube Music.
  3. Click Uninstall.

The app will be removed instantly.

Wrapping Up

Even though Google doesn’t offer a dedicated Windows desktop app for YouTube Music, PWAs give us a clean and powerful way to install it on Windows 11. By following the steps above, you can run YouTube Music as a standalone app that feels almost native — complete with taskbar pinning, desktop notifications, and independent window controls.

Arpita

With a background in Computer Science, she is passionate about sharing practical programming tips and tech know-how. From writing clean code to solving everyday tech problems, she breaks down complex topics into approachable guides that help others learn and grow.