One prominent example was "YouTube Web," but the community favorite quickly became "SmartTube." These weren't official Google products, but they acted like them. They were built on the Windows App SDK, running natively on 64-bit architecture. They weren't just bookmarks; they integrated with the Windows 11 media controls. When a user hit "Play," the media art appeared on the lock screen. When a notification popped up, it was styled in the Windows 11 fluent design language.
While there is no "native" .exe installation file for YouTube like traditional software, you can still get a full desktop experience on . By using Progressive Web App (PWA) technology, you can install YouTube as a standalone application that sits in your Start Menu, pins to your taskbar, and runs in its own window without browser clutter. Why Install YouTube on Windows 11? youtube for windows 11 64 bit