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 Install.
- At the top right of Google Chrome, click More Install Google Chat.
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 Chat.
- In Windows, click Start Chat.
- In MacOS, go to the Applications folder 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.
- Select Launch at startup.
Uninstall the Chat standalone app
Uninstall the standalone app on Mac, Windows, or Linux- On your computer, open Chrome.
- In the address bar, enter chrome://apps.
- Right-click on the Chat standalone app.
- Select Uninstall Remove.
- On your computer, open Launcher.
- In the search bar, search for Google Chat.
- In the search results, right-click on the Chat standalone app.
- Click Remove from Chrome Remove.