How to Use Google Tasks on Desktop

Google Tasks does not have an official desktop app from Google. The two realistic ways to use Google Tasks on desktop are: install tasks.google.com as a Progressive Web App so it runs in its own window, or use a dedicated native app like KiteTasks on Mac. Each option works differently and comes with different limits.

Option 1: Install tasks.google.com as a Progressive Web App

Google has a standalone web app for Google Tasks at tasks.google.com. You can install it as a Progressive Web App on Chrome or Edge so it runs in its own dedicated window on your desktop, separate from your browser tabs.

tasks.google.com running as a Progressive Web App in a dedicated window on macOS
  1. 1Open Chrome or Edge and go to https://tasks.google.com
  2. 2Sign in with your Google account if you are not already signed in
  3. 3Click the install icon on the right side of the address bar. On Chrome it looks like a small monitor with a down arrow. On Edge it shows an "App available" badge
  4. 4Confirm the install. A dedicated window opens and a launcher shortcut is added to your Applications folder on macOS or Start menu on Windows
  5. 5Pin the window to your Dock or Taskbar for quick access

This is free, cross-platform, and the closest thing Google ships to a desktop app. What you do not get: full-text search across lists, a dedicated Today view that groups work from every list, natural-language date parsing, a system-wide keyboard shortcut for quick capture, or multi-account switching without swapping browser profiles. If any of those matter to your workflow, the PWA will feel thin.

Option 2: Use a native Mac app with KiteTasks

KiteTasks is a native macOS app that connects to your Google Tasks data over the official Google Tasks API using OAuth 2.0. It is not an Electron wrapper and not a web view. It runs as a real Mac app, launches instantly, and plays nicely with macOS features like Notification Center, the menu bar, and system-wide keyboard shortcuts.

KiteTasks running natively on macOS showing the Kanban board view across multiple lists
  1. 1Download KiteTasks from the Mac App Store for a one-time purchase of $9.99
  2. 2Open the app and sign in with your Google account using OAuth 2.0, the same authentication flow Google's own apps use
  3. 3Your existing lists and tasks sync automatically in both directions

What the native app gives you beyond the PWA: full-text search across every list, a dedicated Today view, an Upcoming view that overlays your Google Calendar events, natural-language date parsing like "call mom tomorrow 3pm", a system-wide Quick Capture shortcut you can press from any app, multi-account switching in one click, and integration with macOS Notification Center and the menu bar. No subscription and no telemetry inside the app.

Frequently asked

Is there an official Google Tasks desktop app?
No. Google has not released an official Google Tasks desktop app for any operating system. The closest official option is tasks.google.com, which you can install as a Progressive Web App so it runs in its own window. KiteTasks is a third-party native Mac app that connects to your Google Tasks data using the official Google Tasks API and OAuth 2.0.
Can I use Google Tasks on Windows?
Yes, through the tasks.google.com PWA. Install it on Chrome or Edge and it runs as a standalone desktop app on Windows, with a shortcut added to your Start menu. There is no official native Google Tasks app for Windows. KiteTasks is Mac-only today.
Does the Google Tasks PWA work offline?
Partially. The PWA caches your most recent tasks, but edits made offline may not sync reliably once you reconnect. Native apps that talk directly to the Google Tasks API tend to handle offline edits and sync conflicts more predictably than a browser-backed PWA.