There isn't a separate YouTube Music program to download for Windows or Mac. The official YouTube Music desktop app is an installable web app: open music.youtube.com in Chrome, choose More, then Cast, Save, and Share, then Install YouTube Music, and it gets its own launcher icon and window.
That answer surprises people, because the phone app is so polished. But Google's own help page describes the computer option as the "YouTube Music Installable Web App", and once it's installed it behaves like a normal program: it opens in its own window, sits in your taskbar or dock, and responds to keyboard shortcuts for play, pause and skip.
Here's how to set it up, what it does well, and the one thing it can't do that catches almost everyone out.
How to install the YouTube Music desktop app
These are the steps YouTube Music Help gives for Chrome:
- Go to music.youtube.com in Chrome and sign in.
- Click More (the three dots) in the top-right corner of Chrome.
- Choose Cast, Save, and Share.
- Select Install YouTube Music from the drop-down menu.
- Click Install.
That's it. YouTube Music now has its own icon, so you can launch it with one click without opening a browser tab first. On a Mac you can keep it in the dock; on Windows you can pin it to the taskbar or Start menu like any other app.
If you'd rather not install anything, you can simply use music.youtube.com in any supported browser. You'll get the same library, playlists and Premium benefits. The web app just saves you hunting for the tab.
What works on the desktop app (and what doesn't)
| Feature | YouTube Music on a computer | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Stream songs, albums and playlists | Yes | music.youtube.com and the installable web app |
| Keyboard shortcuts for play, pause and skip | Yes | YouTube Music Help, Installable Web App section |
| Upload your own music files | Yes, computer only | Uploads can't be done in the mobile app |
| Ad-free music with Premium | Yes, when signed in to your Premium account | Supported devices article |
| Download songs to listen offline | No | Downloads are for the mobile apps |
| Cast to a speaker or TV | Yes, with some limits (see below) | Installable Web App section |
The big one is downloads. YouTube Music Help says Premium members can download songs, videos and podcasts "to your mobile device", and its supported devices page says offline and background play are only available in the YouTube, YouTube Kids and YouTube Music mobile apps. So if you were hoping to save an album to your laptop for a flight, the desktop app won't do it. Download it on your phone or tablet instead, as I explain in my YouTube Music offline guide.
The computer is where uploads happen
There's one job the desktop version does better than the phone: uploading your own music. YouTube Music Help says music uploads can't be completed in the mobile app. On a computer you can drag files onto music.youtube.com, or click your profile picture and choose Upload music.
- Supported formats are FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG and WMA.
- You can upload up to 100,000 songs to your library.
- Uploaded songs play in the background, ad-free and offline, even without Premium.
- Only you can play them. If you share a playlist that contains your uploads, other people can't play those tracks.
If you've got an old collection of MP3s, the desktop app is the easiest way to get them into one place. The full walkthrough is in how to upload music to YouTube Music.
Casting from the desktop app
You can send music from the web app to a speaker, smart display or TV, but how it behaves depends on whether you pay.
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- Without Premium, the web app mirrors to the speaker. YouTube Music Help says the music stays connected only while it's playing from the web app. Close the app or stop the song, and the speaker stops too.
- With Premium, you can cast instead. Once you've cast, the music keeps playing even if you exit Chrome, close the web app or turn off your computer.
To cast, open the web app or music.youtube.com, click the Cast icon near your profile picture, choose the device or group, and press play. To stop, click the Cast icon again and choose Stop casting.
Why there's no YouTube Music app for TVs either
While we're on devices: YouTube's supported devices page says the YouTube Music app isn't available on living room devices. On a smart TV or games console, you listen through the main YouTube app, or cast from your phone or computer. It's the same pattern as the desktop: the full YouTube Music app lives on phones and tablets, and everything else gets a lighter version.
My verdict
Install the web app. It's five clicks, it's the official option, and it gives you a real app window without any third-party downloads. Just don't expect offline listening on your laptop: keep downloads on your phone, and use the computer for long listening sessions and for uploading your own files. If you're still deciding whether to pay, what free YouTube Music includes is worth a read first.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a YouTube Music app for Windows?
Not as a separate download. YouTube Music offers an installable web app: open music.youtube.com in Chrome, choose More, then Cast, Save, and Share, then Install YouTube Music.
Is there a YouTube Music app for Mac?
There's no native Mac program, but the same installable web app works on a Mac through Chrome and gives YouTube Music its own icon and window.
Can you download songs on the YouTube Music desktop app?
No. YouTube Music Help says downloads are for your mobile device, and offline play is only available in the mobile apps.
Can I upload music from my computer to YouTube Music?
Yes. Uploads only work on a computer: drag files onto music.youtube.com or use Upload music from your profile picture menu. Supported formats are FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG and WMA.
