# Make A Web App Run Like A Desktop App By Doing These Few Steps! **URL:** \ **Category:** Tutorials & Methods\ **Tags:** tools, tips-tricks, windows\ **Created:** [November 21, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459 "2019-11-21T00:00:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aina](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/aina/32/167469_2.png) [@Aina](https://onehack.st/u/Aina)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/1 "2019-11-21T00:00:36Z")
So many programs are going from being something you install on your computer to being a web app that you run in a browser. It’s a move that’s brought on by more and more of the world having access to high-speed Internet service in excess of 10Mbps. Another contributing factor is that server-based power is getting more pervasive and cheaper to use. Between the two, conditions are ripe for web apps to become the standard. ## The Problem with Web Apps However, there is one big problem facing web apps – the browser. If your desktop Microsoft Word also had a web address bar, a bookmarks bar, a bunch of extensions showing, and a row of tabs on top, you would probably get really frustrated with the clutter. That’s exactly what happens with web apps in the browser. It gets worse when you want to have other websites open at the same time, so you have a few web apps running in the same browser under several different tabs. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/3/c/3cf39e9d7d6838f728dfd2801595f9e42336edb9.jpeg) A lesser problem is having to open the browser and click on the bookmark for your web app just to start it up. ## Make a Web App Run Like a Desktop App There is a way to eliminate those problems and enjoy your web app as much as you enjoyed the desktop version. Let’s go through the steps of making that happen. ### What You’ll Need You’ll need Google Chrome installed and set as your default browser. It can be downloaded from [https://www.google.com/chrome/](https://www.google.com/chrome/). At the time of writing this, we only know of one browser that works for this. If you’d like to see this functionality in your favorite browser, go to their homepage and find a way to request it. You’ll also need the web address or URL of a web app that you use frequently. For our purposes, we’ll use Google’s Messages for Web app. If you’ve got an Android-based phone, you should look into using Messages for Web. It’s a great way to send and receive text messages on your computer. Go check it out at [https://messages.android.com/](https://messages.android.com/). ### Steps to Take Open **Windows Explorer**. The quickest way to do this is to hold down the **Windows** key and press **E** on your keyboard. Navigate to where Chrome is installed on your computer. It will likely be in: _C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application._ If you can’t find it there, search for Chrome.exe in Windows Explorer. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/3/0/305f576775e2458d2a53ede06878a466b43022f1.jpeg) Right-click on the chrome.exe file and click on **Create shortcut**. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/7/e/7e2db40d8b4cafc0448ae64216e68e6c16743331.png) You’ll likely get an error message saying _“Windows can’t create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead?”_ Select **Yes**. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/0/0/002d40d690257739d7447a059f5d2570ef7b8aa1.png) Go to your desktop and find the shortcut. It will look like the following image. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/7/6/766c8579883497e9288edbc77fd1dd71072ec936.png) Right-click on the shortcut and click on **Properties**. A new window will open. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/9/5/95e6b3b924e3f0050d5f525f27ce2d5fe08ad9fd.png) The **Shortcut Properties** window should open with the focus on the **Shortcut** tab and in the **Target:** field. This is where we will add the flag that makes your web app open up in a Windows-like window with none of the clutter of the browser. Move your cursor to the end of the text that is already in the field. Now, type the following: **–app=[https://messages.android.com](https://messages.android.com)** /. Notice that there are two dashes in front of app. The **–app** tells Chrome to open without the location bar, bookmarks, or any other elements. The **=[https://messages.android.com](https://messages.android.com)** part tells Chrome to open up directly to that website, or web app. You can substitute that address with the web address of any web app you like. Click **Apply**. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/a/5/a532d902110cef56672eb6b1b971cbda9e2e1faa.png) It is recommended that you change the name of the shortcut, so you can easily identify it as the one that opens your web app. In the **Shortcut Properties** window, click on the **General** tab. At the top of the tabbed-page, you’ll see the name is set as **chrome.exe – Shortcut**. Delete that and enter the name of your web app. Click on the **OK** button at the bottom of this window. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/2/4/24ad2fddce63fece13cc4b79f161138a995b9dba.png) Now, double click on that shortcut and enjoy your web app in a nice, big, open window. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/8/d/8d323eb0917aa7d461f92b99ce48c19a66bb0816.png) That’s how you can make any web app open up like it’s a Windows app. You can pin that shortcut to the taskbar or move it into your Start Menu so you can access it where you’d like. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/f/e/fe7f382e7fcb9a3ff3a9fa13ccc0fd549ea7c218.jpeg) If you want to take it one step further, you can even change the icon for your shortcut to match the web app, instead of the default Chrome icon. Look for details on how to do that in a future article. ## ENJOY & HAPPY LEARNING! 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Penny\_Trey\_Shun](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/penny_trey_shun/32/21407_2.png) [@Penny\_Trey\_Shun](https://onehack.st/u/Penny_Trey_Shun)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 6:13am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/2 "2019-11-21T06:13:58Z")
Thanks a lot bro. what other apps are compatible with this command? ---
**Author:** ![ismael360](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/ismael360/32/994_2.png) [@ismael360](https://onehack.st/u/ismael360)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 9:19am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/3 "2019-11-21T09:19:24Z")
I have learned so much from you Sam. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Aina](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/aina/32/167469_2.png) [@Aina](https://onehack.st/u/Aina)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 11:01am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/4 "2019-11-21T11:01:36Z")
> [@Penny\_Trey\_Shun](#): > > what other apps are compatible with this command? Not tested other rest, but you can try, I’m sure it will get works if not then no harm while you make changes, it won’t destroy anything. Cheers ---
**Author:** ![Max11](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/max11/32/13452_2.png) [@Max11](https://onehack.st/u/Max11)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/5 "2019-11-21T17:49:10Z")
how to do it in MacOS ---
**Author:** ![BadFella](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/badfella/32/88045_2.png) [@BadFella](https://onehack.st/u/BadFella)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/6 "2019-11-21T19:12:24Z")
**On Mac,** Open a website, for eg. let’s say **Spotify**. ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/4/5/45bbaefea4b319e7a0470bb2932a27681dcc4b4f.png) After the website opens, go to the Icon infront of the web address. Click on it, then hold it and drag it onto your desktop. There you have a shortcut for the website on your Mac. ---
**Author:** ![ni554n](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/ni554n/32/24731_2.png) [@ni554n](https://onehack.st/u/ni554n)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/7 "2019-11-21T20:48:06Z")
Or, you could just: 1. Go to the website. 2. Press Chrome Menu button and select _More Tools_ \> _Create shortcut…_. 3. Check _Open as window_ and _Create_. That should do the same thing essentially, plus it will have the proper icon. The shortcut will also show up on the Chrome Apps page. ---
**Author:** ![viyone](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/viyone/32/21061_2.png) [@viyone](https://onehack.st/u/viyone)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 5:14am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/8 "2019-11-23T05:14:22Z")
That was brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Shyam\_Sundar](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/shyam_sundar/32/22770_2.png) [@Shyam\_Sundar](https://onehack.st/u/Shyam_Sundar)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/9 "2019-11-23T22:05:12Z")
@Aina I hope this site would be live forever. Beause of your work, I feel very technical and satisfied. ---
**Author:** ![harry785](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/harry785/32/150606_2.png) [@harry785](https://onehack.st/u/harry785)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 5:33am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/10 "2026-08-29T05:33:31Z")
> [@Aina](#): > > ## The Problem with Web Apps > > However, there is one big problem facing web apps – the browser. If your desktop Microsoft Word also had a web address bar, a bookmarks bar, a bunch of extensions showing, and a row of tabs on top, you would probably get really frustrated with the clutter. That’s exactly what happens with web apps in the browser. > > It gets worse when you want to have other websites open at the same time, so you have a few web apps running in the same browser under several different tabs. > > A lesser problem is having to open the browser and click on the bookmark for your web app just to start it up. > > ## Make a Web App Run Like a Desktop App > > There is a way to eliminate those problems and enjoy your web app as much as you enjoyed the desktop version. Let’s go through the steps of making that happen. > > ### What You’ll Need > > You’ll need Google Chrome installed and set as your default browser. It can be downloaded from [https://www.google.com/chrome/](https://www.google.com/chrome/). At the time of writing this, we only know of one browser that works for this. If you’d like to see this functionality in your favorite browser, go to their homepage and find a way to request it. > > You’ll also need the web address or URL of a web app that you use frequently. For our purposes, we’ll use Google’s Messages for Web app. If you’ve got an Android-based phone, you should look into using Messages for Web. It’s a great way to send and receive text messages on your computer. Go check it out at [https://messages.android.com/](https://messages.android.com/). > > ### Steps to Take > > Open **Windows Explorer**. The quickest way to do this is to hold down the **Windows** key and press **E** on your keyboard. > > Navigate to where Chrome is installed on your computer. It will likely be in: _C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application._ If you can’t find it there, search for Chrome.exe in Windows Explorer. > > Right-click on the chrome.exe file and click on **Create shortcut**. > > You’ll likely get an error message saying _“Windows can’t create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead?”_ Select **Yes** , and open [happymod apk](https://happymodz.com.mx/). > > Go to your desktop and find the shortcut. It will look like the following image. > > Right-click on the shortcut and click on **Properties**. A new window will open. > > The **Shortcut Properties** window should open with the focus on the **Shortcut** tab and in the **Target:** field. This is where we will add the flag that makes your web app open up in a Windows-like window with none of the clutter of the browser. Move your cursor to the end of the text that is already in the field. > > Now, type the following: **–app=[https://messages.android.com](https://messages.android.com)** /. Notice that there are two dashes in front of app. The **–app** tells Chrome to open without the location bar, bookmarks, or any other elements. > > The **=[https://messages.android.com](https://messages.android.com)** part tells Chrome to open up directly to that website, or web app. You can substitute that address with the web address of any web app you like. Click **Apply**. > > It is recommended that you change the name of the shortcut, so you can easily identify it as the one that opens your web app. In the **Shortcut Properties** window, click on the **General** tab. > > At the top of the tabbed-page, you’ll see the name is set as **chrome.exe – Shortcut**. Delete that and enter the name of your web app. Click on the **OK** button at the bottom of this window. > > Now, double click on that shortcut and enjoy your web app in a nice, big, open window. I have learned a lot from this. Thanks man. ---
**Author:** ![remo\_rocks](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/remo_rocks/32/25436_2.png) [@remo\_rocks](https://onehack.st/u/remo_rocks)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/make-a-web-app-run-like-a-desktop-app-by-doing-these-few-steps/62459/11 "2026-08-31T06:09:40Z")
If you are using brave browser the web app showing like in the image if you press to install that web app shortcut automatically creates on desktop. ![web app with brave browser](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/optimized/3X/2/d/2dee041703f7dfbc99c4dc3283270647b6b28d25_2_690x34.png) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()Result: ![One hack web app](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/4/a/4a18a30b29c34643c4cace9c343277895e02d1ff.jpeg)