Temporary workaround: install ChatGPT as a Chrome PWA
Since the Store desktop app is broken for me but chatgpt.com in Chrome works fine, I’ve been using ChatGPT installed as a Progressive Web App instead. It opens in its own window (no tabs or address bar), and you can pin it to the taskbar—close enough to the desktop app for day-to-day use until OpenAI ships a fix.
Steps (Windows, Google Chrome):
- Open Google Chrome and go to https://chatgpt.com. Sign in if you aren’t already.
- Open the ⋮ menu → Save and share → Install page as app… (on some builds it’s labeled Install ChatGPT…).
- Chrome opens ChatGPT in a standalone window. From that window’s ⋮ menu you can Pin to taskbar or Create shortcut… if you want it on the desktop or Start menu.
What to expect:
- Same account and session as your Chrome profile—not the isolated Store app profile, which is partly why this works while the Microsoft Store build doesn’t.
- Chats, projects, and sidebar icons load normally for me here.
- It’s still the web app under the hood, so you’re not getting Store-only features—but for basic ChatGPT use it’s a solid stand-in.
Worth a try if you’re stuck on the broken desktop client.