Get Business Central Desktop App

If you have a Windows (PC) or macOS computer, you can install a Business Central app on your desktop.

Note

If you're using Business Central 2021 release wave 1 or earlier, get the app from Windows Store.

Why use the app?

The Business Central app resembles the web client, but it provides a few benefits like:

  • The app is readily available from the Start menu, you can easily pin it to the task bar, or have it launch by default when you start your computer.

  • In general, the app also is a faster and smoother to render on screen, with no performance differences, compared to running Business Central in the browser.

  • The app opens in its own window, independent of any browser windows. This feature makes it easier to find when running a large number many apps or browser tabs.

  • If you have more than one Business Central environment (online only), you can install the app separately for each environment.

    When you open the app for specific environment, the environment name is included in the window title. When working across multiple Business Central environments, each app window is displayed separately. The name makes it easier for you to see which window is associated with each environment.

Install the app

  1. Open the Business Central web client in either Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

  2. If the page for selecting the environment appears, you can do one of two things:

    • Select the environment and go to the next step to install the app. In this case, the installed app will open the environment you select.
    • Don't select the environment, and just go to next step to install the app. In this case, the installed app will open the environment selection page, instead of a specific environment.

  3. To install the app, depending on your browser, select Icon for installing an app in Edge. App available. Install Business Central or Icon for installing an app in Chrome. Install Business Central, then Install.

    Microsoft Edge Google Chrome
    :::image type="content" source="media/ui-edge-install-app-v2.png" alt-text="illustration of a button for installing an app in Edge."::: :::image type="content" source="media/ui-chrome-install-app-v2.png" alt-text="illustration of a button for installing an app in Chrome.":::
Tip

With Edge, you can also install the app by going to the Settings and more menu in the browser, then selecting Apps > Install this site as an app > Install.

Once installed, the app appears in the Start menu. If you've selected a specific environment for the app, the environment name is added to the app name in the Start menu.

For Business Central on-premises

Installing the app when you're using Business Central on-premises is basically the same as described above. If you only have one tenant, just open the Business Central in your browser, then select either Icon for installing an app in Edge. App available. Install Business Central or Icon for installing an app in Chrome. Install Business Central as shown above.

The difference is when you have multiple tenants. Unlike Business Central online, where you can install the app separately for different environments, with on-premises you can only install the app for one tenant. So, before you install the app when you have multiple tenants, be sure to switch to the correct tenant. Once installed, when you open the app, it will directly open the tenant.

See Also

Mobile Apps FAQ
Getting Ready for Doing Business
Working with Business Central