How to Download a Website as an App on the Desktop

Quick Tips

• Use Google Chrome to install websites as desktop apps with added functionality.
• If a site doesn’t support app installation, save it as a shortcut instead.
• Look for “Install” or “Save Page As” in your browser’s menu options.

Sometimes you need fast access to your most frequently used websites without the hassle of sifting through your bookmarked pages. Thankfully, Windows offers some handy ways to get this done and save you time.

In this article, we’ll teach you two primary ways of how to download a website as an app to your desktop to save you time.

Shortcut or App?

To start, we need to clear up some definitions. Saving a website as an app isn’t the same as a shortcut. When you save a webpage to your desktop as a shortcut, the icon will act as a hyperlink when clicked, taking you to the exact part of the site you saved.

Saving as a web app, on the other hand, is an option that saves a version of a website that functions like an app. Some sites are configured to be saved as apps on any device and come with extra functionality, like storage and reminders. These are called Progressive Web Apps (PWA). Only some sites have this functionality.

How to Download a Website as an App

If you’re looking to take full advantage of PWA functionality and have a site function as it would on a smartphone, you’re going to need Google Chrome to get the job done. Once you have it downloaded and fully updated, these are the steps to follow:

1. Open Chrome and head to the website you wish to save as an app. We’re using YouTube as an example.

2. Click the More button (the three dots) in the top right of the screen and hover your mouse over “Cast, Save, and Share.”

3. In the new menu that pops up, look for the option that says “Install [Site name].” If your site is able to be saved as an app, it should be here. Click this.

4. You can also install the website via the Install icon. It’ll be in the Search Bar, just left of the Favorite icon.

5. You’ll receive a popup asking to confirm the installation. Click the “Install” button.

6. Your website will be installed as an app and open right away. Apps will have a popup, asking if you’d like to pin your new app to your taskbar. You can accept or decline.

7. The app will now appear as a shortcut on your desktop.

How to Download a Website as a Shortcut

It’s lovely to have progressive app functionality, but not every website can handle this. Thankfully, you can still save your favorite sites as shortcuts. Here’s how to do so for the three main browsers:

Google Chrome

For Chrome, the Shortcut option is in the same window you find the Install button:

1. Open Chrome and head to your website.

2. Click the More button and hover over “Cast, Save, and Share.”

3. In the next menu, click “Save Page As.” You can also use the hotkey (Ctrl+S).

4. An Explorer window will open, asking you where you want to save the shortcut and in what format. Choose the Desktop and leave the format as “Webpage, Complete.”

5. The shortcut will be added to your desktop.

Mozilla Firefox

For Firefox, the process is even simpler:

1. Open Firefox and navigate to your site.

2. Click the More button in the top right of the screen and open the menu.

3. Click “Save Page As” and choose the details of your shortcut via the Explorer window.

4. Hit the “Save” button and the site will now appear on your desktop.

Microsoft Edge

As a Chromium browser, Edge’s process is similar to Chrome:

1. Open Edge and the website you want to save.

2. Click the More button at the top right of the screen, then hover over “More Tools.”

3. Click “Save Page As” in the new menu, then choose the details of the shortcut in the Explorer “Save As” window.

4. Click “Save” and the icon will be added to the desktop.