Installing YouTube on a Windows 11 laptop isn’t exactly rocket science, but it’s not super obvious either. While there’s no official standalone app from Microsoft in the Store, the workaround is to grab it as a Progressive Web App (PWA). This way, YouTube gets its own icon on your desktop or start menu, kind of like a regular app. Basically, it’s just a shortcut with more swagger, and it runs in its own window, not inside a browser tab—so feels more native.
How to Install YouTube in Laptop Windows 11
If you’re tired of juggling tabs or want that little shortcut on your desktop, here’s how this usually goes down. Sometimes it works on the first try, sometimes you gotta do a quick browser refresh… It’s a bit hit-or-miss, but usually it’s straightforward once you’ve done it a couple times.
Step 1: Open Your Web Browser
Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Seriously, these are your best bets because they support full PWA installation, unlike Firefox or others. On one setup it worked, on another, not so much—because of course Windows has to make it harder than necessary. But yeah, Chrome or Edge are the way to go.
Step 2: Go to YouTube
Type www.youtube.com in the address bar and hit Enter. Once YouTube loads, you’re almost there. This is just the starting point for the app-like experience you want.
Step 3: Access Browser Menu
Find the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of Chrome or Edge. Click that, it opens a dropdown with tons of options. This menu holds the key for installing the site as a PWA.
Step 4: Install YouTube as an App
Look for options labeled “Install YouTube” or “Create shortcut”. In Chrome, you might see it as “Install [Site Name]” under the menu > More tools > Install site. In Edge, a little banner or prompt might show up automatically, but if not, the menu is your friend. Just pick the install option. It’s kind of weird, but sometimes you need to refresh or re-open the browser if it doesn’t show immediately.
Step 5: Confirm and Finish
A little dialog will ask if you want to add the app; click “Install” or “Add”. After that, a shortcut should pop up on your desktop or start menu, ready to launch YouTube like a real app. No mess, no fuss. On some setups, rebooting or re-adding helps if it refuses to show up at first.
Tips for Installing YouTube in Windows 11
- Make sure your browser is up-to-date—sometimes outdated browsers won’t support PWA features well.
- You can uninstall the shortcut later by right-clicking and choosing Uninstall.
- If you plan to use it often, pin the shortcut to your taskbar by dragging it or right-clicking and choosing Pin to taskbar.
- If you use both Chrome and Edge, you’ll need to repeat these steps on each browser—you can’t cross-install single PWAs across browsers.
- Clear your cache if you notice slowness or weird glitches. Sometimes stale data messes up the install process.
FAQ
Can I install YouTube straight from Microsoft Store?
Nope. You won’t find a dedicated YouTube app there. The PWA trick is the closest thing—just use your browser.
What’s a PWA anyway?
Basically, it’s a web app that acts more like a native app. It’s installed on your device, has its own window, and can even launch even if offline (with some limitations).
Is it safe?
Yeah, as long as you grab it through Chrome or Edge. Just don’t go installing weird third-party tools claiming to do the same thing; those can be sketchy.
Will this work on Windows 10?
Most likely, yes. The PWA feature is supported on Windows 10 as well, so if you’re still on that, give it a shot.
Summary
- Open your browser (Chrome or Edge).
- Navigate to
www.youtube.com. - Access the menu (three dots).
- Choose the install shortcut option.
- Confirm and enjoy it on your desktop/start menu.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. After you get the hang of it, it’s pretty smooth sailing—wouldn’t be surprised if you do this for a few other sites too, like Netflix or Twitter.