Beta · Independent · Not affiliated with Google
YouTube on your desktopPlayback-first. Tabs optional.
- Beta channel
- Windows x64
- Player-focused
- Lightweight
- No subscription
- Free
Beta · Windows builds ship in waves · Best on Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
Why a desktop player
Most people still watch YouTube inside the browser — which means tabs, notifications from every other site, and heavier memory use. YT Desktop is built around one job: smooth playback in a dedicated window, with shortcuts and tray behavior that feel closer to a native app.
Creators who search for YouTube Studio Desktop usually want Studio in the browser; this product does not replace Studio. If you meant a YouTube Music desktop app, that is a different product category — see YTM Desktop for music.
We keep this page honest: YT Desktop is third-party software in beta. Trademark credits apply to Google where mentioned.
Why use YT Desktop?
Designed for people who live in long sessions — tutorials, live streams, or background listening — without turning the entire browser into a video surface.
Media keys
Play, pause, skip, and volume from your keyboard — no hunting for the right tab.
Tray & notifications
Minimize to tray, resume quickly, and keep playback-aware alerts outside the browser chrome.
Companion control
Roadmap: remote-style playback control from another device on your network — similar to desktop music apps.
Lower overhead
One focused rendering surface instead of many browser profiles competing for RAM.
Custom shortcuts
Bind seek, fullscreen, and Picture-in-Picture to keys that match your workflow.
Privacy-aware
No Google login is collected on this site. Optional analytics only help us prioritize engineering work.
Download
Windows ships first in our beta program; macOS and Linux follow based on demand.
Windows
x64 · Beta channel
macOS
On the roadmap
Linux
On the roadmap
FAQ
Is this an official YouTube client?+
No. YT Desktop is independent software and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google LLC or YouTube.
What happens when I click Download?+
We stage your request for the Windows beta queue and may log an anonymous download_click event (surface + locale) when Firebase Analytics is configured — never passwords or watch history. Installers roll out in batches; nothing is written to your Downloads folder until a build is assigned to your wave.
Do you collect my Google password?+
No. This website never asks for Google or YouTube credentials.
More questions
Plain-language answers that also align with structured data for search.
What is YouTube Desktop in this context?+
It refers to watching YouTube inside a desktop application window rather than a browser tab — the experience YT Desktop targets for PC users.
Is this the official YouTube Studio Desktop site?+
No. Official Studio remains at studio.youtube.com. This page describes a playback-focused desktop client concept.
How does this relate to a YouTube Music desktop app?+
Music-focused apps serve the YouTube Music catalog and queries such as youtube music desktop or ytm desktop. YT Desktop focuses on general YouTube video playback on PC—use a YouTube Music–specific desktop app if you need the music library.
Does this page address misspellings such as “you tube destop”?+
Yes — we use correct spelling while covering the same intent: a cleaner desktop viewing experience.