Moodle Desktop
Note: Moodle Desktop is officially discontinued since May 2021.
Moodle Desktop discontinued
Moodle HQ officially discontinued the development and support of the native Moodle Desktop apps (for Windows, macOS, and Linux) in May 2021.
Historically, Moodle Desktop allowed learners to view course activities, download materials for offline use, attempt quizzes, and receive push notifications directly on their computers. However, to ensure the highest security standards and focus development on mobile and web experiences, the desktop app project was retired. No new versions or security patches are being released.
Recommended way to use Moodle on a computer
For the absolute best, safest, and most complete desktop experience, you should access your Moodle site directly through a standard web browser (such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari).
The modern web interface of Moodle is completely responsive, automatically scales, and functions flawlessly on large computer monitors and laptops.
How to get a desktop "app-like" experience (the PWA Workaround)
If you want Moodle to feel like a desktop application, with its own window and a launching icon on your desktop or taskbar, you can easily convert the web version into a Progressive Web App (PWA).
This method works across Windows, macOS, and Linux using:
- Google Chrome / Chromium: Open your Moodle site in Google Chrome browser. Look at the right side of the address bar at the top—click the Install icon (a small monitor with an arrow) or click the three-dot menu and choose Cast, save, and share > Install page as app.
- Microsoft Edge: Open your Moodle site. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, navigate to Apps, and click Install this site as an app.
Once installed, Moodle will open in a clean, dedicated window without browser tabs, and you can pin it to your Windows Taskbar, Mac Dock, or Linux Desktop.
Run the Moodle Mobile App on my desktop instead
Because Moodle continues to heavily develop the Moodle App for mobile devices (iOS & Android), you might wonder if you can run that mobile app on your computer. Depending on your operating system, the feasibility varies greatly.
Please note the Moodle app is not tested in those devices so it might not work as expected.
macOS (Apple Silicon Macs)
If you are using a modern Mac powered by Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, etc. chips), you can run the mobile app natively. Open the Mac App Store, search for "Moodle", and switch the search filter from Mac Apps to iPhone & iPad Apps. You can download and run the mobile app directly on your desktop.
Windows (Windows 11 / Windows 10)
Not recommended. Microsoft officially retired the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), meaning Windows no longer natively supports running Android apps. While third-party Android emulators exist, they are highly discouraged for accessing educational platforms due to security vulnerabilities and severe performance lags.
Linux
Not supported. Linux distributions do not have a built-in mobile application compatibility layer. Linux users should exclusively use the web browser or the Chrome/Chromium PWA method mentioned above.
