YouTube Music hasn’t launched an official desktop app yet. Although the web version works in your browser, it often feels clunky and lacks the smoothness of a dedicated player. Thankfully, three free third-party apps offer a polished, enhanced YouTube Music experience.
YTMDesktop
YTMDesktop was one of the first popular third-party apps offering a streamlined YouTube Music desktop experience. It wraps the web interface into a clean, native-feeling app that runs independently of your browser.
What stands out about YTMDesktop is its focus on core functionality without unnecessary extras. Media key support works reliably, allowing seamless control with your keyboard’s play, pause, and skip buttons. Desktop notifications notify you when tracks change, delivering the familiar feel of a dedicated music player.
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Minimizing the app to the system tray keeps your music playing in the background, just like any proper desktop player. The built-in lyrics feature covers most functions found in YouTube Music’s web version.
One drawback is that media keybindings apply system-wide, which can interfere with typing if you use common keys like the spacebar. However, this is easily avoided by assigning unique key combinations such as Ctrl + Spacebar for play/pause or Ctrl + arrow keys for volume control.
Overall, YTMDesktop offers a solid desktop alternative to YouTube Music’s web app. While it doesn’t add much beyond what a Progressive Web App provides, its reliable media key support, polished taskbar controls, and true background playback create a more natural desktop music experience.
Custom YouTube Music Desktop
The Custom YouTube Music Desktop app, created by th-ch on GitHub, offers a unique, plugin-driven experience rather than just wrapping YouTube Music. This full-featured desktop app lets you personalize nearly every aspect of your listening.
Its standout feature is the plugin system. It includes a built-in ad blocker that removes all YouTube ads without setup and a downloader plugin to save tracks as MP3s for offline use—features that alone make it worth choosing over the web version.
Additional plugins enhance your experience: SponsorBlock skips non-music parts of videos, Discord Rich Presence shares your current track with friends, and Crossfade smooths transitions between songs for a seamless playlist.
Visual customization is impressive, too. The Album Color Theme changes the app’s look based on album art, and Ambient Mode adds subtle lighting effects around your screen.
For streamers, the Equalizer plugin offers detailed sound control, while OBS integration displays track info during broadcasts.
The app maintains YouTube Music’s familiar interface, so navigation feels natural despite the added features.
The trade-off is higher system resource use and potential confusion from multiple active plugins. However, sticking to plugins you understand keeps the experience smooth and enjoyable.
Venipa’s YouTube Music Desktop App
Venipa’s YouTube Music Desktop App balances simplicity and useful features, offering a smooth music experience with thoughtful enhancements. It delivers a solid YouTube Music interface without feeling cluttered.
Its key highlight is full Last.fm scrobbling support, which tracks your listening habits and helps discover new music—ideal if you already use Last.fm’s social or discovery tools. I had no trouble syncing my Last.fm account with the app.
Additional features include Discord Rich Presence to share your current track and a mini-player with an always-on-top option, perfect for multitasking. For advanced users, custom CSS lets you personalize the app’s look, and OBS integration provides easy ways to display track info during streams.
While the app performs well overall, signing into YouTube was inconsistent during testing, working about half the time due to known Google authentication issues with Electron apps. A recent update (v0.17.1) aims to fix this, showing active developer support even though the problem isn’t fully resolved yet.
My Personal Recommendation
After testing all three apps, I recommend Custom YouTube Music Desktop for its powerful plugin system. The built-in ad blocker alone is a game-changer, and features like track downloads, sponsor skipping, and visual customization elevate YouTube Music far beyond the standard web version.
YTMDesktop is a reliable choice if you want a straightforward desktop app, especially with media key support. Even without dedicated keys, customizable shortcuts work well.
I suggest holding off on Venipa’s app for now. Despite its attractive Last.fm integration, ongoing authentication issues limit its usability. Version 0.17.1 shows promise but isn’t yet stable for daily use.
Whether you prefer simplicity or deep customization, these desktop apps highlight the creativity within the YouTube Music community. Try one and enjoy your favorite tracks directly from your desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use a desktop app for YouTube Music instead of the web version?
Desktop apps offer smoother playback, media key support, background playback, and additional features like ad-blocking and customization that the web version lacks.
Are there official YouTube Music desktop apps available?
No, YouTube Music does not currently offer an official desktop app, which is why third-party desktop apps have become popular alternatives.
What are the best third-party YouTube Music desktop apps?
Popular options include YTMDesktop, Custom YouTube Music Desktop, and Venipa’s YouTube Music app—each offering unique features like plugin support, media key integration, and Last.fm scrobbling.
Can these desktop apps block YouTube ads?
Yes, some apps like Custom YouTube Music Desktop include built-in ad blockers that eliminate ads during playback without extra setup.
Is it safe to use third-party YouTube Music desktop apps?
Most apps are open-source and community-driven, but always download from trusted sources like GitHub and review user feedback to ensure safety.
Do these apps support offline listening?
Certain apps, such as Custom YouTube Music Desktop, offer plugins to download tracks as MP3 files for offline use.
How do desktop apps improve music discovery on YouTube Music?
Features like Last.fm scrobbling track your listening habits, helping recommend new songs tailored to your taste.
Are these apps compatible with streaming software like OBS?
Yes, many desktop apps offer OBS integration to display your current track during streams.
What should I do if I face login issues with these apps?
Login problems can occur, especially with Electron-based apps due to Google authentication restrictions. Keep apps updated and check developer forums for fixes.
Can I customize the appearance of YouTube Music desktop apps?
Yes, some apps provide custom themes, CSS support, and visual plugins that adapt the app’s look based on album art or other effects.
Conclusion
YouTube Music’s lack of an official desktop app has opened the door for powerful third-party solutions that enhance your listening experience. Whether you prefer the simplicity of YTMDesktop, the deep customization of Custom YouTube Music Desktop, or the social features of Venipa’s app, each offers unique benefits. While some apps face occasional login issues, ongoing updates show strong community support. Choosing the right desktop app lets you enjoy YouTube Music with better controls, ad-free listening, and tailored features—right from your desktop.
