How to Download ChatGPT on Mac, Windows and Phone (Safely)

You don't need to download anything to use ChatGPT, because it works in any browser at chatgpt.com. But the apps are worth having: the desktop app opens with a keyboard shortcut, and the phone app lets you talk to ChatGPT with voice. The only real risk is downloading a copycat, and there are plenty of those.

Where to download ChatGPT

Device	Where to get it	Needs
Mac	chatgpt.com/download	macOS 14 or later, Apple Silicon or Intel
Windows	Microsoft Store	Windows 10 version 17763.0 or later
iPhone and iPad	App Store	Search ChatGPT, publisher OpenAI
Android	Google Play	Search ChatGPT, publisher OpenAI

How to download ChatGPT on a Mac

1. Go to chatgpt.com/download.
2. Download the Mac app. The page detects whether your Mac has Apple Silicon or an Intel chip and gives you the right installer.
3. Open the downloaded file and drag ChatGPT into your Applications folder.
4. Open ChatGPT and sign in.

The catch for older Macs: the app needs macOS 14 or later, and OpenAI has said it won't release a version for older systems. If your Mac can't update, use ChatGPT in your browser instead.

How to download ChatGPT on Windows

1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
2. Search for ChatGPT and check the publisher is OpenAI.
3. Click Get or Install.
4. Open the app and sign in.

The Windows app needs Windows 10, version 17763.0 or later, on a standard or Arm computer.

How to download ChatGPT on your phone

1. Open the App Store on iPhone or iPad, or Google Play on Android.
2. Search for ChatGPT.
3. Check the developer is OpenAI before you tap install.
4. Open the app and sign in, or create an account.

The bigger catch: copycat apps

Search an app store for ChatGPT and you'll find dozens of apps with similar names and logos. Many are wrappers that send your questions through OpenAI's systems, some show heavy ads, and some push an upgrade screen at you within seconds. Before you install, check the publisher line says OpenAI. On a computer, download only from chatgpt.com or the Microsoft Store, never from a link in an email or a pop-up.

Which version should you use?

• Browser: nothing to install, works on any computer, ideal for shared or work machines.
• Desktop app: quicker to open, sits alongside your other apps, and the Mac app adds features like record mode.
• Phone app: voice conversations, photos and quick questions on the go.

Your chats sync across all of them when you're signed in to the same account, so you can start on your phone and carry on at your desk.

The new desktop app and ChatGPT Classic

OpenAI's newer desktop app brings Chat, Work and Codex together in one app for Mac and Windows. On a Mac, the earlier app has been renamed ChatGPT Classic and is still supported, so don't worry if you see both names. Download from chatgpt.com/download and you'll get the current version.

If the app won't install or open

• Update your computer's operating system and try again.
• On a Mac, check you're running macOS 14 or later.
• On Windows, update the Microsoft Store itself, then retry.
• Restart your computer after installing.
• If it still fails, use ChatGPT in the browser while you sort it out.

Signing in after you download

Use the same sign-in you use on the website, whether that's an email and password, or Google, Microsoft or Apple. If you signed up with Google, choose Continue with Google in the app rather than typing your email, or it may look as though your account and chats have vanished. Once you're in, your past conversations, custom instructions and settings appear on every device, so there's nothing to set up again.

Desktop shortcuts worth knowing

The desktop apps can open a small chat window over whatever you're working on, so you can ask a quick question without switching windows. Look in the app's settings for the keyboard shortcut and change it to something you'll remember. It's the main reason to use the app over a browser tab if you ask ChatGPT lots of quick questions during the day.

Using ChatGPT on a work computer

If your employer manages your computer, you may not be able to install apps, or your company may have its own approved AI tools. Ask before installing, and never paste confidential client information into a personal ChatGPT account on a work device. Many organisations use ChatGPT's business plans, which come with their own admin controls and sign-in, so check whether yours already has an account set up for you.

If you're choosing between AI assistants before downloading, my comparison of Grok and ChatGPT can help, and my explainer on ChatGPT Atlas covers OpenAI's browser.

My verdict

Get the Mac app from chatgpt.com/download, the Windows app from the Microsoft Store, and the phone apps from the official stores, always checking the publisher is OpenAI. Older Macs below macOS 14 can't run the app, so use the browser there. Once you're signed in, everything syncs. For getting more from it at work, see how to use ChatGPT for business development.

Frequently asked questions

Is the ChatGPT desktop app free to download?

Yes. The apps are free to download, and you sign in with the same account you use on the website.

Is there an official ChatGPT app for Windows?

Yes. Download it from the Microsoft Store and check the publisher is OpenAI.

Where do I download ChatGPT for Mac?

From chatgpt.com/download. It needs macOS 14 or later.

Why won't ChatGPT install on my Mac?

It needs macOS 14 or later. Older versions aren't supported.

How do I know a ChatGPT app is real?

Check the publisher or developer is OpenAI.

Do I need to download ChatGPT to use it?

No. It works in any browser at chatgpt.com.

What is ChatGPT Classic?

The earlier Mac app, renamed after OpenAI released its newer desktop app.