How to Download a Website as an App on the Desktop

Quickly Access Your Favorite Websites: Two Methods for Adding Websites to Your Desktop

Tired of hunting through bookmarks? Windows offers easy ways to add frequently visited websites directly to your desktop for instant access. This guide details two methods: creating a shortcut and installing a website as a Progressive Web App (PWA).

Shortcuts vs. PWAs: Understanding the Difference

Before we begin, it's important to distinguish between shortcuts and PWAs. A desktop shortcut acts like a hyperlink, opening the website in your browser. PWAs, however, are website versions designed to function like standalone applications, often offering extra features like offline access and notifications. Not all websites support PWA functionality.

Method 1: Installing a Website as a PWA (Google Chrome)

For the full PWA experience, use Google Chrome. Follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome and navigate to the desired website (e.g., YouTube).

2. Click the three vertical dots (More) in the top right corner, then hover over "Cast, Save, and Share".

3. Select "Install [Site Name]" from the dropdown menu. This option only appears if the website supports PWA installation.

4. Alternatively, use the Install icon located in the address bar, to the left of the star (Favorites) icon.

5. Confirm the installation in the popup window.

6. The PWA will launch. A prompt may appear asking if you want to pin the app to your taskbar.

7. A desktop shortcut will be created.

Method 2: Creating a Website Shortcut (Chrome, Firefox, and Edge)

If the website doesn't support PWAs, a shortcut is still a convenient option. Here's how to do it for popular browsers:

Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome and go to the website.

2. Click the three vertical dots (More), hover over "Cast, Save, and Share," and select "Save Page As." Alternatively, use the Ctrl S keyboard shortcut.

3. In the file explorer window, choose your desktop as the save location and "Webpage, Complete" as the file type.

4. The shortcut will appear on your desktop.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox and navigate to the website.

2. Click the three horizontal lines (More) in the top right corner.

3. Select "Save Page As" and specify the save location and file type in the file explorer window.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Open Edge and go to the website.

2. Click the three horizontal dots (More) in the top right corner, then hover over "More Tools" and select "Save Page As."

3. Choose your desktop as the save location and "Webpage, Complete" as the file type in the file explorer window.

Now you can quickly access your favorite websites directly from your desktop!

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