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Configure list of force-installed Web Apps

Verified with Google Chrome — updated on September 2, 2026

Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later

Path in the GPO console

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Google\Google Chrome

Description

Setting the policy specifies a list of web apps that install silently, without user interaction, and which users can't uninstall or turn off. Each list item of the policy is an object with a mandatory member: url (the URL of the web app to install) and 6 optional members: - default_launch_container (for how the web app opens—a new tab is the default) - create_desktop_shortcut (True if you want to create Linux and Microsoft® Windows® desktop shortcuts). - fallback_app_name (Starting with Google Chrome version 90, allows you to override the app name if it is not a Progressive Web App (PWA), or the app name that is temporarily installed if it is a PWA but authentication is required before the installation can be completed. If both custom_name and fallback_app_name are provided, the latter will be ignored.) - custom_name (Starting with Google ChromeOS version 99, and version 112 on all other desktop operating systems, allows you to permanently override the app name for all web apps and PWAs.) - custom_icon (Starting with Google ChromeOS version 99, and version 112 on all other desktop operating systems, allows you to override the app icon of installed apps. The icons have to be square, maximal 1 MB in size, and in one of the following formats: jpeg, png, gif, webp, ico. The hash value has to be the SHA256 hash of the icon file. The url should be accessible without authentication to ensure the icon can be used upon app installation.) - install_as_shortcut (Starting with Google Chrome version 107). If enabled the given url will be installed as a shortcut, as if done via the "Create Shortcut..." option in the desktop browser GUI. Note that when installed as a shortcut it won't be updated if the manifest in url changes. If disabled or unset, the web app at the given url will be installed normally. See PinnedLauncherApps for pinning apps to the Google ChromeOS shelf. See https://chromeenterprise.google/policies/?policy=WebAppInstallForceList for more information about schema and formatting. Example value: [ { "create_desktop_shortcut": true, "default_launch_container": "window", "url": "https://www.google.com/maps" }, { "default_launch_container": "tab", "url": "https://docs.google.com" }, { "default_launch_container": "window", "fallback_app_name": "Editor", "url": "https://docs.google.com/editor" }, { "custom_name": "My important document", "default_launch_container": "window", "install_as_shortcut": true, "url": "https://docs.google.com/document/d/ds187akjqih89" }, { "custom_icon": { "hash": "c28f469c450e9ab2b86ea47038d2b324c6ad3b1e9a4bd8960da13214afd0ca38", "url": "https://mydomain.example.com/sunny_icon.png" }, "url": "https://weather.example.com" } ]

Registry

HKLM Software\Policies\Google\Chrome
HKCU Software\Policies\Google\Chrome

More options available

Options

URLs for Web Apps to be silently installed.
WebAppInstallForceList text

Export Builder

BETA

Configure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.

These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO.

Scope

.reg file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Configure list of force-installed Web Apps
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome]
"WebAppInstallForceList"=""
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure list of force-installed Web Apps
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later

$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'WebAppInstallForceList' -Value '' -Type String

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