- The catch: out-of-date copies can be switched off
- How to get the Canva desktop app
- Notifications the desktop app sends
- Working in tabs and windows
- Memory Saver: why tabs go to sleep
- When the Canva desktop app isn't working
- For IT teams: the MSIX installer
- My verdict on the Canva desktop app
- Frequently asked questions
The Canva desktop app is a download for Mac and Windows that gives you the same features as Canva in a browser, plus tabs, system notifications and a Memory Saver that keeps it running smoothly. As of October 2026 there's one Mac download that supports both Apple and Intel processors and one Windows download for both 32-bit and 64-bit, so there's no version to choose.
The catch: out-of-date copies can be switched off
People install the app once and forget about it. That's risky. In its guidance for IT teams, Canva says it may disable versions of the desktop app older than 6 months, or at any time if a critical bug or vulnerability is found. If the app suddenly stops opening designs, an update is the first thing to check.
Updating is quick. When an update is available, you'll be notified in the app:
- Click Update App in the top corner of the app.
- On the update dialog, click Update Canva App.
- Wait while the app closes and relaunches automatically.
Your design tabs come back on their own: the app reopens tabs that were open when you closed or updated it, or switched teams (source: Canva Help Center).
How to get the Canva desktop app
Download Canva for Mac or Canva for Windows from Canva's help page. If you're already using Canva in a browser, there's a shortcut:
- Select your profile icon to open the account menu.
- Select Open in desktop app.
- Select Open Canva app if it's installed, or Download Canva for Mac or Download Canva for Windows if it isn't.
If you want links people send you by email or chat to open in the app, click a design link, choose to open it in the desktop app, tick Remember my choice and click Continue. You can change this later in Settings, under Your profile, in the Link opening section.
Notifications the desktop app sends
This is the main thing the app adds over a browser tab. Your system notifications will tell you about these events.
| Event | Who gets it |
|---|---|
| A design or folder is shared with you or your team | Everyone |
| You're mentioned in a comment, or someone replies to yours | Everyone |
| You're assigned a task, or your task is resolved | Everyone |
| New comments on designs you own | Everyone |
| Someone requests access to your design | Canva Teams and Canva Education |
| Someone asks for design approval, or your request is approved or rejected | Canva Teams and Canva Education |
You'll only be notified about actions from people on your team. To switch notifications on, on a Mac open System Preferences, go to Notifications, select Canva and turn it on. On Windows, open Settings, go to System, then Notifications, turn notifications on and make sure Canva is switched on in the list.
Working in tabs and windows
The app works like a browser with Canva built in. A few things save real time:
- New designs from a tab: click the Create icon at the top, pick a design type or Custom size, and it opens in a new tab.
- Side by side: drag a design tab out to a new window, or right-click it and choose Move Tab to a New Window, so you can copy and paste between designs or compare versions.
- Tab menu: right-click a tab for Reload Tab, Reopen Last Closed Tab, Close Tab, Close All Tabs, Close Tabs to the Right and Move Tab to New Window.
- Open files from your computer: right-click a supported file in Finder, choose Open with and select Canva.app, or on a Mac drag it onto the Canva icon in the dock.
- Interface size: click View in the menu bar, then Interface scale, and choose Make larger, Make smaller or Reset to Default.
When you download a design, you'll be asked to choose a folder, and on a Mac the confirmation message has a Show in finder button.
Memory Saver: why tabs go to sleep
If the app is slowing down or using too much memory, Memory Saver pauses inactive tabs. There are two parts:
- Urgent Memory Saver is always on and pauses tabs when your computer is low on memory. You can't turn it off.
- Proactive Memory Saver is on by default and pauses inactive tabs before memory runs low. You can turn it off under App Performance in the app's settings.
A paused tab shows a dotted circle icon. Click it and it comes back. If you keep lots of designs open at once, I'd leave Proactive on.
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When the Canva desktop app isn't working
Canva's troubleshooting steps, in the order I'd try them:
- Try the same feature in a browser; most desktop app features work there too.
- Make sure the app is up to date.
- Make sure your computer's operating system is up to date.
- Reset the app to its default state. Canva says no designs will be lost. On Windows: Settings, Apps, Apps & features, Advanced options, Reset. On a Mac: open ~/Library in Finder and delete the Canva-related folders, keeping the app itself, then restart it.
- Force quit the app as a last resort, knowing you may lose unsaved changes.
If Canva is misbehaving in the browser as well, the problem isn't the app. My guide to fixing Canva when it's not working covers those wider issues.
For IT teams: the MSIX installer
Canva provides a Microsoft App Package (MSIX) installer so IT admins can deploy and update the app across an organisation's Windows devices. It supports Windows 10 and later, comes in 64-bit and 32-bit versions, and can be delivered with tools like Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, PowerShell cmdlets or AppInstaller.
| Job | PowerShell command |
|---|---|
| Install for the current user | Add-AppxPackage |
| Install for all current and new users | Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -SkipLicense |
| Uninstall for the current user | Remove-AppxPackage |
| Stop provisioning for new users | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online |
| Uninstall for all existing users | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers |
SkipLicense is there because Canva says the app doesn't need license checking. Auto Update works on Windows 11 21H2 and later and is on by default; where it isn't supported, Canva recommends checking versions on users' devices and using its RSS feed to roll out updates quickly, because of that 6-month cut-off.
My verdict on the Canva desktop app
I'd install it if you spend hours a day in Canva. Tabs, pop-out windows and system notifications for comments and approvals make it easier to manage than a pile of browser tabs. You won't get extra design features, because it's the same Canva. Just keep it updated, and if something breaks, test the browser first so you know whether it's the app or Canva itself. And don't confuse it with apps inside Canva, which add tools to the editor rather than install Canva on your computer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a different Canva download for an Apple or Intel Mac?
No. The Mac download supports both Apple and Intel processors, so there's no need to check which one you have.
Will resetting the Canva desktop app delete my designs?
No. Canva says resetting the app to its default state won't lose any designs. Force quitting is different and can lose unsaved changes.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to hide and reopen a tab?
Yes. Select the tab, then press Command + / on a Mac or Ctrl + / on Windows to hide and re-open that same tab.
Can IT install Canva for every user on a Windows machine?
Yes. The MSIX package supports per-machine installation through provisioning with Add-AppxProvisionedPackage, covering all current and new users on that machine.
