Install the ChatGPT desktop app for Windows from the Microsoft Store or chatgpt.com/download. It runs on Windows 10 and 11 (x64 and ARM64) and is free on every plan. The new app bundles Chat, Work and Codex. The older app, now called ChatGPT Classic, still has the Alt+Space companion window.
OpenAI shipped its first Windows app in October 2024 as a paid-only preview, opened it to free users a month later, and then replaced it on July 9, 2026 with a unified desktop app that merges ChatGPT, the Work agent and Codex. The old app didn't disappear. It was renamed ChatGPT Classic and still sits in the Microsoft Store. Most install guides online were written before that split, which is why people end up with the wrong app and a shortcut that does nothing.
Does ChatGPT have a desktop app for Windows, and which one should you install?
There are two official OpenAI apps for Windows right now. Pick the new app if you want Codex or the Work agent. Pick ChatGPT Classic if you mostly chat and want the small Alt+Space window that floats over other apps.
| New ChatGPT desktop app | ChatGPT Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | July 9, 2026 | October 2024 (renamed July 2026) |
| What's inside | Chat, Work (agent), Codex | Chat only |
| Microsoft Store ID | 9PLM9XGG6VKS | 9NT1R1C2HH7J |
| Quick window | Pop-out window, hotkey under Settings > Keyboard shortcuts | Companion window, Alt + Space |
| Floats over other apps | Users report it drops behind other windows | Yes |
| Plans | All, including Free | All, including Free |
| Agent runs commands | Yes, in PowerShell with a Windows sandbox, or WSL2 | No |
The "drops behind" row comes from user reports, not OpenAI docs. A GitHub issue opened on September 4, 2026 (openai/codex #42750) asks OpenAI to bring back the Classic companion window because the new Quick Chat opens inside the main app and, once detached, goes to the background as soon as another app gets focus. Another report (#44096) says the global pop-out shortcut opens Codex mode instead of a plain chat. Both were still open when we checked in October 2026.
How do you install the ChatGPT app on Windows?
- Check your Windows version. OpenAI lists Windows 10 version 17763.0 or later on x64 or ARM64. Press Win + R, type
winverand press Enter. Any Windows 11 PC qualifies. - Open the Microsoft Store listing. Go to chatgpt.com/download and choose Windows, or search "ChatGPT" in the Store. Check that the publisher is OpenAI. Third-party apps with ChatGPT in the name also show up in search results.
- Or install from a terminal. The new app installs with
winget install --id 9PLM9XGG6VKS -s msstore, as documented in OpenAI's Windows app docs. For Classic, swap in9NT1R1C2HH7J. - Sign in. Use the same account as chatgpt.com. Your chat history syncs, so nothing needs importing.
- Set your shortcut before you need it. In Classic, open Settings > App > Companion window hotkey. In the new app, open Settings > Keyboard shortcuts and look for the pop-out window hotkey.
What goes wrong: in July 2026 a user reported the Store install hanging before deployment for the ChatGPT/Codex package and worked around it by installing the MSIX directly (openai/codex #32281). If the Store sits at "Pending" for more than a few minutes, try the winget command. IT admins can push either app with Intune or another MDM tool.
What does the Windows app do that the browser tab doesn't?
Less than you might expect for plain chat, and a lot more for agent work. If all you do is type questions, chatgpt.com in Edge gives you the same models and the same history.
The desktop app earns its place in four spots:
- A global hotkey. You can summon ChatGPT from any app without hunting for a browser tab. This is the main reason most people install it.
- Screenshots. Classic hands screenshots to the Windows Snipping Tool, so you can grab a window, the full screen or a region and drop it straight into the chat.
- Codex and Work. In the new app, the agent can run commands on your PC. OpenAI says it uses PowerShell with a native Windows sandbox by default and can be switched to WSL2 in Settings. Choose "Ask for approval" under the composer if you want to confirm each command.
- File handling. Drag files from Explorer into the window instead of using an upload dialog.
Why doesn't Alt+Space open ChatGPT?
Because something else grabbed it first. Windows hands a global hotkey to whichever running app registers it first, and Alt+Space is popular. OpenAI's help article says the shortcut won't work if another app has already registered it.
| App | Uses Alt+Space for | How to free it |
|---|---|---|
| Windows itself | Opens the title-bar system menu (Restore, Move, Size, Close) | Apps override it while running; no setting needed |
| PowerToys Run | App launcher (default shortcut) | PowerToys Settings > PowerToys Run > Activation shortcut |
| Microsoft Copilot app | Opens Copilot or push-to-talk, depending on version | Copilot > Settings, turn off the Alt+Space option |
| Google Gemini app (Sept 2026) | Opens Gemini over your current window | Gemini app settings, change the shortcut |
| ChatGPT Classic | Companion window | Settings > App > Companion window hotkey |
The fix is to give each app its own combination. We'd move ChatGPT rather than PowerToys, since muscle memory for a launcher is harder to retrain. If you also run Claude desktop, note that its quick entry shortcut on Windows defaults to Ctrl+Alt+Space, so don't pick that one either. Our Claude desktop guide covers that collision.
What are the limits of the ChatGPT Windows app?
| Limit | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| One provider | It only talks to OpenAI models. Comparing with Claude or Gemini means another app or tab. |
| No always-on-top setting | The main window behaves like any other window. Classic's companion window floats; the new app's quick window reportedly doesn't. |
| Visible in screen share | Share your whole screen in Zoom or Teams and the app is in the stream like everything else. |
| Plan limits still apply | The app is free to install, but message caps and tools depend on your ChatGPT plan. Plus is $20 a month (checked October 2026). |
| Projects reported missing | One Windows user reported that existing Projects didn't show in the new app at launch. Check before you uninstall Classic. |
The screen share row catches people out more than any other. The app has no setting to exclude itself from capture, so if you keep ChatGPT open during calls, share a single window instead of the entire screen. Our guide to hiding a window from screen share compares the options.
Want ChatGPT pinned on top and left out of screen shares? AuraCloak loads it in an overlay with your normal login.
Get AuraCloakWhere does AuraCloak fit next to the ChatGPT app?
AuraCloak isn't a replacement for the ChatGPT app if you use Codex or the Work agent. It covers the gaps in the table above. It's a Windows overlay that stays on top of other windows and sets the Windows capture-exclusion flag on itself, so Zoom, Teams, Google Meet in a browser, OBS and Snipping Tool leave it out of shares and screenshots. A phone camera pointed at your monitor still sees it, and so does a hardware capture card.
Two ways to get ChatGPT into it:
- Browser mode loads chatgpt.com inside the overlay with your normal login, so your Plus subscription works and you pay nothing extra for AI usage.
- Bring your own key mode calls the OpenAI API directly with your key. The same dropdown switches to Claude, Gemini, GitHub Copilot, Azure OpenAI or a local model.
Press Ctrl + Alt + Space to show or hide it, Alt + S to screenshot your monitors into the chat, and Alt + V for voice input. It costs $9 a month or $49 once (pricing), with every feature in both plans.
FAQ
Is the ChatGPT desktop app for Windows free?
Yes. Both the new ChatGPT desktop app and ChatGPT Classic are free to download and work on the Free plan. Usage limits and some tools depend on your plan, and ChatGPT Plus costs $20 a month as of October 2026.
Does the ChatGPT app work on Windows 10?
Yes. OpenAI lists Windows 10 version 17763.0 or later on x64 or ARM64 hardware. Windows 11 meets that on every edition. Install it from the Microsoft Store or with winget.
How do I change the ChatGPT Alt+Space shortcut?
In ChatGPT Classic, open Settings, then App, then Companion window hotkey, and press a new combination. In the new desktop app, the pop-out window hotkey is under Settings, then Keyboard shortcuts.
What is ChatGPT Classic?
ChatGPT Classic is the original ChatGPT Windows app from 2024. OpenAI renamed it in July 2026 when it released a new desktop app that combines Chat, Work and Codex. Classic still has the floating Alt+Space companion window.
Can people see the ChatGPT app when I share my screen?
Yes, if you share your entire screen. The ChatGPT app has no option to hide itself from screen capture. Share a single window instead, or use an overlay that excludes itself from capture.