Install the Google Chat standalone app
For a simple way to use Google Chat, install the Google Chat standalone app in your Chrome Browser. This provides a streamlined Chat experience and is a Progressive Web Application (PWA) that you can open from your desktop.
Important: There’s no Google Chat Chrome extension. For a similar experience, install the app.
Check system requirements
To install the Chat standalone app, make sure:
- Your device is running Google Chrome 73 or up.
- Chrome doesn’t need to be your default browser, but it does need to be open to use the Chat standalone app.
- You can install Chrome extensions and apps on your computer.
- If you can't complete the installation and you use a work or school account, contact your Google Workspace administrator.
Install the standalone app on your computer
- Sign in to chat.google.com.
- To install the app on your computer, try one of these methods:
- At the top right of Google Chrome, in the URL bar, click Install 👁 Image
👁 and then
Install. - At the top right of Google Chrome, click More 👁 Image
👁 and then
Install Google Chat.
- At the top right of Google Chrome, in the URL bar, click Install 👁 Image
Tip:
- If you already created a Google Chrome shortcut to chat.google.com, the app automatically installs. You won't have the option to manually install the app.
Open the standalone app
Once installed, you can open the standalone app from your desktop:
- In ChromeOS, go to the Launcher 👁 Image
👁 and then
Chat. - In Windows, click Start 👁 and then
Chat. - In MacOS, go to the Applications folder 👁 and then
Chat. - In a Chrome browser, in the address bar, enter chrome://apps and click Google Chat.
Open the standalone app automatically at startup
Important: These steps don't work on Chrome OS.
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- In the address bar, enter chrome://apps.
- Right-click on the Chat standalone app 👁 Image
. - Select Launch at startup.
Uninstall the Chat standalone app
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- In the address bar, enter chrome://apps.
- Right-click on the Chat standalone app 👁 Image
. - Select Uninstall 👁 and then
Remove.
- On your computer, open Launcher 👁 Image
. - In the search bar, search for Google Chat.
- In the search results, right-click on the Chat standalone app 👁 Image
. - Click Remove from Chrome 👁 and then
Remove.