Starting Google Chrome in application mode

Question

How do I start Google Chrome in application mode?

What I want is to surf to a website, such as www.facebook.com, directly without borders or address bar, etc.

**Note** The answer changes over time, as this feature changes. — Nils von Barth, Oct 24 '18 at 18:22

score 86 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 07 '17 at 05:12

86

The easiest way is to browse to the website in Chrome, and then follow these steps:

Click the Chrome menu button (⋮ or ☰)
Select More tools → Add to desktop...
Edit the name if you wish, and click OK

Alternatively, in earlier versions of Chrome:

Click the page menu.
Select Tools → Create application shortcuts.
In the Gears dialog box, select the checkboxes for the locations where you want shortcuts to be placed.
Click OK.

The other way is from the command line:

"path\to\chrome\chrome.exe" --app=http://facebook.com

edited Aug 07 '17 at 05:12

Dolph

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answered Sep 01 '09 at 11:23

jweede

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Looks like easiest way change since this was initially posted and requires a change in chrome flags now : https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chrome/3A5ZTe-HrVE – ROunofF Nov 02 '15 at 01:16
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stackoverflow [Run standalone web app in Google Chrome without borders or toolbars](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19229235/run-standalone-web-app-in-google-chrome-without-borders-or-toolbars) has an answer which suggests using the `--kiosk http://example.com/` option when starting Chrome rather than `--app`. – Richard Chambers Apr 08 '16 at 13:52
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It seems that if an existing Chrome session is running, the `--app` option is ignored. – Michael Scheper Sep 18 '16 at 15:36
Also, can you explain the 'page menu'? Right-clicking on a page in Chrome 53 under Linux brings up a menu, but it doesn't have a 'Tools' or 'Create application shortcuts' option. – Michael Scheper Sep 18 '16 at 15:39
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@MichaelScheper This answer needs updating methinks. In Chromium 53, go to main menu (three vertical dots) -> More tools -> Add to desktop... – piedar Oct 01 '16 at 00:11
@piedar: Thanks. I've edited the answer. I'm surprised that you couldn't, since I only have slightly more rep than you on this site, but perhaps it's my rep elsewhere that allows me to edit. – Michael Scheper Oct 04 '16 at 16:54
@MichaelScheper My edit was [rejected](https://superuser.com/review/suggested-edits/579163), apparently because it "deviates from the intent" of the original. So the answer remains obsolete. Fantastic. – piedar Oct 04 '16 at 17:11
@piedar, just FYI, edits can be used to update an answer as a supplement to the original answer (and it doesn't hurt to cite a reference in the edit comment so the reviewer can verify it). The problem with your edit was you replaced the answer. – fixer1234 Oct 04 '16 at 18:30
@piedar: I suggest you try editing it again, leaving the original answer this time (even though not many people would find the outdated information useful). The additional notes you included look useful. – Michael Scheper Oct 04 '16 at 21:00
@MichaelScheper On Windows it also says "Add to desktop..." so I don't think my platform notes are actually necessary. Nice one with the Unicode dots - much better than hotlinking to Google's image server. – piedar Oct 04 '16 at 21:05
**OUTDATED**------------ – cipricus Jan 12 '21 at 10:21
In the Windows 10 we can use "start chrome --app=https://google.com" in Linux "chromium --app=https://google.com" They work nicely. Does anyone know for Mac? – Ben Dev Jun 06 '21 at 07:22
The -app feature is working great but I can't seem to do it manually. However, Chrome allows you to add website shortcuts "as an app" and it is brilliant. https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/3060053?hl=en – Slink Nov 11 '22 at 19:46

score 13 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 24 '18 at 18:21

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As of Chrome 67, it has changed again. The following works in Chrome 70:

Click the Chrome menu button (⋮ or ☰)
Select More tools → Create shortcut...
Go to chrome://apps and find your new shortcut
Right-click on icon, and select “Open as window”
Optional Right-click again, and select Create shortcuts... to create desktop or menu icons.

answered Oct 24 '18 at 18:21

Nils von Barth

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**Note**: `--app` doesn’t have the same behavior. – Nils von Barth Oct 24 '18 at 18:23
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indeed `--app=path/to/etc` just removes tabs and buttons, while the above really creates an app with specific options. There are other differences. I'll post a complementary answer. – cipricus Jan 12 '21 at 10:36

score 10 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 04 '19 at 13:48

10

On windows with chrome 73, I can get app mode in the presence of existing chrome windows complete with extensions running like this:

chrome.exe --app=https://duckduckgo.com --new-window

Without --new-window, the --app argument is ignored if there is a running instance of chrome already.

answered Apr 04 '19 at 13:48

LOAS

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"Without --new-window, the --app argument is ignored if there is a running instance of chrome already." this may not be the case anymore. At least, I didn't need the `new-window` argument on ubuntu just now, with a running chrome open. – Him Oct 28 '20 at 15:38

cipricus · Answer 4 · 2021-01-12T13:34:13.347

As a complement to this answer mentioning two different ways of creating an "app".

The first method is to create a shortcut with the --app-id parameter

For a Google app like Youtube, go to chrome://apps/, right click the icon and select "Create shortcuts"

For any page, go to that page and — under the menu button, More tools > Create shortcut:

The shortcut to the desktop contains the following command (testing in Linux with Chromium browser):

path/to/chromium-browser "--profile-directory=Profile 1" --app-id=bojccfnmcnekjgjhcaklmcgofnngpjcl

The result is something closer to a separate app with integrated buttons for back/history, refresh, extensions (if installed) and a few other options:

Only basic options are available, like print and find, an option to start the normal window of the browser and also an option to "Uninstall Google Docs", which deletes the app shortcut:

The second method is to create a shortcut with the --app parameter

Using a shortcut with a command like

path/to/chromium-browser "--profile-directory=Profile 1" --app=https://docs.google.com/document

we get a page stripped of tabs and buttons.

The extensions associated with a specific profile are running in background (if that profile was used to sign in), but no browser settings are accessible unless they are related to the page address itself (e.g. if that is a Goggle page like Googles Docs, you will be able to access profiles and Google apps. Clicking a Google app icon will open that app in the main window of the browser).