Is this an official YouTube app?
No. YouTube Desktop is an unaffiliated third-party client. We just wrap youtube.com in a desktop window — no scraping, no ad-blocking, no parsing of YouTube data.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions about YouTube Desktop, the free Windows client for YouTube.
Will it work with my YouTube Premium subscription?
Yes. The app loads the actual youtube.com, signed in as you. Premium, ad-free playback, background play, downloads (where Premium provides them), and all account features work normally.
Is it free?
Yes. The app is free. We may add an optional pro tier in the future with extra integrations, but the current feature set will stay free.
Where is my data stored?
YouTube cookies live on your machine in the same encrypted profile Electron uses for its session. We do not sync your YouTube account anywhere. Optional anonymous usage analytics (PostHog) and crash reports (Sentry) can be turned off from Settings → Privacy.
Does it run in the background?
Only while it is open. There is no Windows service, scheduled task, or auto-start unless you enable it in Settings → Startup. Closing to tray is opt-in (default on, switchable).
How do updates work?
On every launch the app checks for a newer signed release on our servers. If one is available it downloads in the background and applies on the next restart. You can change channels (stable/beta) and turn auto-download off in Settings → Updates.
Why Windows only?
We focus on getting one platform right before adding more. macOS and Linux are not on the immediate roadmap.
Can I use global media keys?
Yes. Play/pause, next, and previous on your keyboard media keys work even when the app is not focused. Toggle this in Settings → Hotkeys.