How to Get Gmail on Desktop (Windows & Mac)

You want to improve your email experience. You want to make your work better and easier. You are in the right place. We will explain how to get a Gmail desktop app for your computer.

Gmail is the most popular email service. You can use Gmail on your computer, but you need a workaround. Google has not made an official app for it.

In this article, we will look at ways to set up Gmail on your computer. We will also talk about the best Gmail app alternatives in 2024. These alternatives work for both Windows and Mac.

We will cover these points:

1. Is There an Official Gmail Desktop App for Windows?
2. Is There an official Gmail Desktop app for Macs?
3. The Gmail Desktop Shortcut Hack
   • Using Chrome
   • Using Edge
   • Using Safari
4. Best Alternatives for a Gmail Desktop App on Windows
5. Conclusion

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Is There an Official Gmail Desktop App for Windows?

The answer is no. As of January 2024, there is no official desktop app for Windows users. There are many alternatives that you can use. You can also use a shortcut trick that provides similar results.

Keep reading, or skip to Gmail Desktop Alternatives.

Is there an official Gmail Desktop app for Macs?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Gmail has not made a desktop app for Mac as of January 2024. However, you can still have a good email experience on your computer. Keep reading to find out about alternatives and methods for easy Gmail access.

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The Gmail Desktop Shortcut Hack:

Even if there is no official Gmail desktop app, you can use an easy workaround. This method is free. It does not need downloads. It is simple to set up. Gmail does not have an official app. You can add a shortcut to your desktop. You can do this on both Windows and Mac. This helps you access Gmail fast. It gives you an experience similar to using an app.

Gmail desktop app with Chrome

Follow these steps to make Gmail a desktop app with Chrome:

1. First, open Chrome. Then, sign into your Gmail account.
2. When Gmail loads, click the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
3. Choose “More tools” from the dropdown list. Then click “Create shortcut.”
4. A pop-up box will open. Type a name for your shortcut in the box.
5. You must check the “Open as window” box.
6. Click “Create” to put the Gmail shortcut on your desktop.

Gmail desktop app with Edge

Follow these steps to make Gmail a desktop app with Edge:

1. Start Edge and go to Gmail.com.
2. Log into your Gmail account.
3. Click the three dots at the top right. This opens the browser menu.
4. Choose “Apps” from the menu. Then click “Install this site as an app.”
5. A prompt will show up. Rename the app in the prompt. You can also change its icon. Select “Edit” and upload an image.
6. Click “Install” to finish the process.

Now, your Gmail app is ready. You can use the shortcut to open Gmail from your desktop directly.

Gmail desktop app with Safari

Follow these steps to make Gmail a desktop app with Safari:

1. First, open Safari and resize the window. You need to see your desktop.
2. Go to the Gmail website.
3. Select the URL from the address bar.
4. Drag the URL or the small icon next to it to your desktop.
5. A shortcut will pop up with a generic name and icon.

To change it, follow the 6th steps onwards:

1. Right-click on the shortcut. Choose “Get Info” or press Command + I.
2. In the “Get Info” panel, expand the “Name & Extension” section.
3. Rename the shortcut, but do not change the “.webloc” part.
4. To hide the extension, you click on the desktop. Then, you press Command + Comma. Or you can open Finder. After that, you go to Finder > Preferences from the Apple menu.
5. In Preferences, you look under the Advanced tab. You uncheck “Show all filename extensions.”
6. If you want to change the icon, you will find a logo on the site. This site is for your shortcut.
7. Right-click the logo. Then you select “Save Image As”.
8. Open the saved image in Preview.
9. Use Command + A to select the whole image.
10. Then, you press Command + C to copy it.
11. Go back to the “Get Info” window of the shortcut.
12. Click the current icon. After that, you press Command + V to paste the new one.
13. Your shortcut now has a new name and a custom icon.

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To add the Gmail Shortcut to your Windows Taskbar:

You right-click the shortcut. Then, you select “Pin to taskbar.”

Alternatively, you can drag and drop the icon onto the taskbar.

To add the Gmail App to Your Mac Dock:

You open your new shortcut. Then, you right-click (or alt-click) the Gmail icon in the dock. You select “Options” and choose “Keep in Dock.”

There is not an official Gmail desktop app for Windows or Mac. However, there are some alternative email clients. They provide better functions and interfaces for a better Gmail experience. If there is something wrong, do not hesitate to get in touch with the Google Gmail customer service team.

Here are four good options to think about:

1. Kiwi for Gmail (Windows & MacOS): Kiwi has many useful Gmail features. It helps you manage multiple Google accounts in one place. This is good for personal and work emails. It makes you more productive with system notifications. It also helps you integrate files easily and offers keyboard shortcuts. Kiwi gives you quick access to other Google services like Google Calendar and Google Docs. Kiwi is not free, but it starts at $2.75 each month. It has different plans with more features and customization choices.

2. Mailbird (Windows & MacOS): Mailbird is a friendly email program. It works well with Gmail accounts. The interface is sleek and clean. Mailbird has many tools for better work. It puts Gmail labels in folders. It also supports keyboard shortcuts for Gmail. Mailbird shows email threads as conversations. You can manage your emails more easily this way. You can handle many email accounts with Mailbird. It lets you see tasks, documents, and calendar events in one place. Mailbird allows you to customize a lot, and it costs $3.25 each month after a free trial.

3. Thunderbird (Windows & MacOS): Thunderbird is an email program from Mozilla. Many people like it, especially Windows 10 users. It is free to use. Thunderbird has tools to help you work better. You can use tabs for easier email navigation. Thunderbird has strong filtering options for better email management. There are many add-ons and themes to customize Thunderbird. Best of all, you do not have to pay for it.

4. Mimestream (MacOS): Mimestream is for Gmail users who use MacOS. It has a simple interface that feels like Gmail. You can use labels, filters, and keyboard shortcuts. It supports many Gmail accounts. Mimestream connects well with Google Contacts and Google Calendar. It also has automatic email tracking protection. You can use profile pictures from Apple Contacts, too. Mimestream has a free trial for 14 days, and you can subscribe for $4.99 each month.

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Conclusion

Everyone likes fewer problems in their lives, especially with many emails. A simple shortcut for a desktop can make inbox management easy. Even with Gmail’s useful shortcuts, there is no official desktop app yet.

If you like to use apps, you can bring Gmail to your desktop. This will make email management easier. It can help you work better and allow you to customize your Gmail on Windows and Mac. You need to learn how to manage your email. It is important to be efficient and organized. Having Gmail on your desktop helps you a lot. It can improve your workflow. It can also improve your overall productivity.