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How to Add Gmail Web App to Your Windows PC Desktop

Gmail is one of the most widely used email services, with over 1.5 billion users worldwide. Many professionals rely on Gmail for their daily communication and prefer using it over other email clients due to its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and integration with other Google services.

While Gmail works great as a web application that you can access from any browser, having it available as a desktop app on your Windows PC can further improve your productivity. The desktop app allows you to access your emails without having to first launch your browser.

Benefits of Using Gmail Desktop App

Here are some of the biggest benefits of using the Gmail desktop app on your Windows PC:

  • Easy access to emails – The app provides quick access to your Gmail inbox from your desktop without needing to first launch a browser. This saves you time when checking emails.
  • Works offline – The desktop app allows you to read, search, write, and delete emails even when offline. Your actions sync once back online.
  • Notifications – Get notifications about new emails right on your Windows desktop. This allows you to respond to important emails quicker.
  • Keyboard shortcuts – Use keyboard shortcuts to archive, delete, label emails to improve efficiency.
  • Familiar interface – The app provides the same Gmail interface you are used to, making the transition seamless.

How to Get Gmail App on Windows PC

While there is no official Gmail desktop app available from Google, you can easily create one yourself by following these simple steps:

Using Google Chrome

  1. Open Google Chrome browser on your PC and launch Gmail by going to mail.google.com. Log in to your account.
  2. Click on the 3-dot menu in the top right and select “More tools > Create shortcut”.
  3. In the popup, check the box for “Open as window” and click “Create”.
  4. The app will now appear in your start menu and desktop. You can pin it to taskbar for quick access.

Using Microsoft Edge

The steps to add Gmail as an app on Windows using Edge browser are:

  1. Launch Edge browser and go to Gmail website
  2. Click on 3-dot menu and select “Apps > Install this site as an app”
  3. Customize the name if needed and click “Install”
  4. Your Gmail app will now be available in start menu to launch just like any desktop app

Customizing the Gmail Desktop App

Once you have created the Gmail app shortcut using either Chrome or Edge, you can customize it further to suit your preferences:

  • Right click the app icon and select “Pin to taskbar” to add it to the taskbar for one-click access.
  • Enable “Open as window” in app settings for separate desktop window.
  • Adjust notification settings to control how often you receive new email alerts.
  • Use Windows display settings to adjust app window size or make it full screen.
  • Set Gmail as default mail app in Windows 10/11 to handle links from other apps.

Tips for Using the Gmail Desktop App

Here are some additional tips to help you make the most of the Gmail desktop app on your Windows PC:

  • Use keyboard shortcuts like c to compose, r to reply, a to archive for efficiency.
  • Right click emails to quickly label, mute, mark as read/unread.
  • Drag emails between tabs to manage conversations better.
  • Use search operators and filters for advanced email search and management.
  • Click the Settings icon to customize themes, inbox types, signatures, etc.
  • Enable offline mail to keep accessing emails without an internet connection.
  • Link calendar and contacts for unified access to your Google account.
  • Use multiple accounts feature to manage different Gmail accounts from one app.

So go ahead and set up the Gmail desktop web app on your Windows PC using the simple steps outlined above. With its familiar interface and tight integration with Gmail’s powerful features, it is sure to make your email experience much more convenient and productive.

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