Preply Desktop App: Complete Guide for Windows and Mac

The Preply desktop app gives language learners a dedicated application for Windows and Mac that runs separately from the browser. Many students prefer a standalone program because it reduces tab clutter, keeps lesson notifications visible, and often feels more stable during video calls. This guide covers downloading, installation, key features, and practical differences between the desktop app and the web version so you can decide which setup works best for your study routine.

Preply launched its desktop client after years of operating primarily through the browser and mobile apps. The company recognized that serious learners — especially those taking multiple lessons per week — benefit from a persistent window that stays open in the background. The desktop app shares the same account system, tutor marketplace, and lesson scheduling as the web platform, so nothing changes about how you find teachers or book sessions. What changes is the container holding the experience.

What Is the Preply Desktop App

The Preply desktop app is a native wrapper around the web platform, built with Electron. That means it loads the same interface you see at preply.com but runs in its own process with a dedicated taskbar or dock icon. For students, the practical advantage is simple: you can keep the app open all day, receive lesson reminders without a browser tab active, and switch to it with a keyboard shortcut. For tutors, the app provides a similar always-available dashboard for managing bookings and messages.

Preply distributes the desktop app directly from its website and through the Microsoft Store on Windows. On Mac, the download comes as a standard .dmg installer. The app auto-updates in the background, so you rarely need to manually check for new versions. Because it shares the same backend as the browser version, any tutor you book, any vocabulary list you save, and any progress metric you track syncs instantly across devices — desktop, browser, and mobile.

One common misconception is that the desktop app offers offline functionality. It does not. Lessons still require an internet connection because video calls run through Preply's WebRTC infrastructure. The app also does not cache lesson recordings or materials for offline review. If you need to study without internet, the mobile app allows downloading some vocabulary exercises, but the desktop client remains an online-only tool.

Downloading Preply for Windows

Windows users have two official paths to get the Preply desktop app. The first is the Microsoft Store listing — search for "Preply" in the Store app and click Get. This version handles updates through the Store mechanism and integrates with Windows' app management settings. The second path is the direct download from preply.com/download, which delivers an .exe installer. Both versions are functionally identical; the Store version may update slightly faster on some systems because Microsoft pushes updates through its CDN.

The direct installer requires administrator rights on first run because it installs to Program Files. After installation, the app creates a Start Menu entry and optionally a desktop shortcut. On Windows 10 and 11, the app supports native notifications, so lesson reminders appear in the Action Center even when the app is minimized. If you use a non-admin account, the Microsoft Store route is simpler because it installs per-user without elevation prompts.

• Open Microsoft Store and search for Preply, or visit preply.com/download
• Click Get or Download to start the installer
• Run the .exe if using the direct download; allow the UAC prompt
• Sign in with your existing Preply account or create a new one
• Grant notification permission when prompted for lesson reminders

Some antivirus programs flag the direct .exe because Electron apps are unsigned by default on the first release of a new version. This is a false positive. If your security software blocks the installer, either allow it manually or switch to the Microsoft Store version, which carries Microsoft's signature. The Preply team publishes checksums on their help center for each release if you want to verify the file integrity yourself.

Installing Preply on Mac

Mac installation follows the standard .dmg workflow. Download the file from preply.com/download, open it, and drag the Preply icon into the Applications folder. The first launch triggers Gatekeeper; if you see a warning about an unidentified developer, right-click the app in Applications and choose Open, then confirm. This step is only required once. After that, the app launches normally and checks for updates on startup.

On Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3), the Preply desktop app runs natively under arm64. There is no Rosetta translation layer involved, so memory usage and battery impact are lower than on Intel Macs running the same Electron build. The app requests microphone and camera permissions on first lesson join — macOS handles this through the standard system dialog. If you accidentally deny permission, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and Camera to enable Preply manually.

The Mac version integrates with the Dock and supports Mission Control. You can assign it to a specific Space if you like to keep language learning separate from work apps. Notification behavior follows macOS conventions: banners appear in the top-right corner and stack in Notification Center. Unlike Windows, there is no Microsoft Store equivalent for Mac, so the direct download is the only official route.

Desktop App vs Browser Version

Functionally, the desktop app and browser version are nearly identical. Both load the same React frontend from Preply's CDN. The differences come down to process isolation, notification delivery, and window management. In the browser, a lesson reminder only fires if the Preply tab is open or the browser is running with background permissions enabled. In the desktop app, the Electron process stays alive independently, so notifications arrive even when Chrome, Edge, or Safari is completely closed.

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Memory usage is a frequent question. The desktop app typically sits around 150-200 MB at idle on both Windows and Mac because Electron bundles Chromium. If you already have a browser open with ten tabs, adding the desktop app increases total RAM usage. However, if you close the browser during lessons, the standalone app can actually use less memory than keeping a heavy browser session alive just for Preply. It depends on your workflow.

Video call quality is identical because both environments use the same WebRTC implementation. Preply's media servers handle the signaling and TURN relay regardless of client. Some users report slightly more stable connections on the desktop app because the Electron process is not competing with other tabs for CPU time, but this varies by machine. If you experience call drops in the browser, trying the desktop app is a reasonable troubleshooting step.

Key Features of the Desktop Application

The desktop app surfaces a few features that are harder to access or less reliable in the browser. The most noticeable is the global keyboard shortcut: Win+Alt+P on Windows, Cmd+Option+P on Mac. Pressing this combination brings the app to the foreground from anywhere in the OS. You can customize the shortcut in Settings > Shortcuts if the default conflicts with another tool.

• Global hotkey to open the app instantly
• Native OS notifications for lesson starts and messages
• Dedicated taskbar or Dock icon with unread badge
• Auto-launch at login option in Settings
• Hardware acceleration toggle for video rendering
• Picture-in-picture mode for lesson video
• Quick-access tutor search from the menu bar or system tray

Picture-in-picture is useful when you want to reference a document or take notes in another window while keeping the tutor's video visible. Click the PiP icon in the video controls during a lesson, and the video floats above other windows. You can resize and reposition it. This works on both Windows and Mac, though on Mac it uses the native PiP API which integrates with Stage Manager on macOS 13 and later.

The menu bar or system tray icon provides quick actions without opening the full window: start a lesson, view upcoming sessions, check messages, or open the tutor search. On Windows, the icon sits in the system tray (may need to drag it from the hidden overflow area). On Mac, it appears in the menu bar. Right-clicking reveals a context menu with the same actions. This is handy for checking your next lesson time without pulling up the full interface.

System Requirements and Compatibility

Preply's desktop app runs on Windows 10 version 1903 or later, and macOS 11 Big Sur or later. Windows 7 and 8.1 are not supported because the Electron version used requires APIs only present in newer Windows releases. On the Mac side, macOS 10.15 Catalina is the absolute minimum, but Big Sur is recommended for proper notification and PiP support. The app is 64-bit only; there is no 32-bit build.

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Linux is not officially supported. Some users run the Windows version through Wine or Bottles, but Preply does not test or guarantee functionality on Linux. If you are on Linux, the browser version works well in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. The mobile apps (Android and iOS) are also fully featured alternatives. Preply has not announced plans for a native Linux build.

Hardware acceleration is enabled by default and uses the GPU for video decoding during lessons. On older integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000 era or earlier), this can cause green screens or freezes. If you encounter video artifacts, disable hardware acceleration in Settings > Advanced > Use hardware acceleration when available. Restart the app after toggling. This setting persists across updates.

Setting Up Your Account on Desktop

When you launch the desktop app for the first time, you see the same login screen as the website. Enter your email and password, or use Google, Facebook, or Apple sign-in. If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Preply account, the app prompts for the 2FA code after the primary credentials. The session persists across restarts; you only need to log in again if you manually log out, clear app data, or go more than 90 days without opening the app.

After login, the app asks for notification permission. Granting this enables lesson reminders, message alerts, and tutor responses to appear as native OS notifications. On Windows, the prompt appears as a toast; on Mac, it's a standard system dialog. If you decline initially, you can enable notifications later in the OS settings (Windows: Settings > System > Notifications; Mac: System Settings > Notifications > Preply).

The desktop app respects your Preply language and timezone settings from the web platform. If you change your display language on the website, the desktop app updates on next launch. Timezone changes affect lesson reminder timing. If you travel frequently, keep your timezone set to your home location and let the app calculate local lesson times, or update it manually before each trip.

Finding and Booking Tutors on Desktop

Tutor search in the desktop app mirrors the web experience exactly. The filter panel on the left lets you narrow by language, price range, availability, specialty (IELTS, business, kids, etc.), and tutor native language. The results grid shows tutor photos, ratings, review counts, hourly rates, and introductory video thumbnails. Clicking a tutor opens their profile in a side panel or full view depending on window width.

Booking a lesson follows the same flow: select a time slot from the tutor's calendar, choose lesson duration (30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes), confirm the package if you have one, and pay. The desktop app supports all payment methods configured on your account — credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and regional options like iDEAL or Boleto. Receipts appear in the app under My Lessons > History and also email to your registered address.

One desktop-specific convenience: the menu bar or tray icon includes a "Find Tutor" shortcut that opens the search view directly. You can also pin favorite tutors to the top of your list by clicking the star icon on their profile. Pinned tutors appear in a dedicated section on the home screen, making it faster to rebook with teachers you work with regularly.

Managing Lessons and Schedule

The My Lessons section in the desktop app shows upcoming, past, and cancelled sessions. Upcoming lessons display a countdown timer and a Join button that activates five minutes before the scheduled start. Clicking Join launches the video call in the app's built-in browser view. You can test your camera and microphone from the pre-call screen, which appears automatically if it's your first lesson of the day or if you changed devices.

• View upcoming lessons with countdown timers
• Join lessons directly from the lesson card
• Reschedule or cancel up to 4 hours before start
• Access lesson notes and shared materials after class
• Download lesson recordings (if tutor enabled recording)
• Rate and review tutors after each session

Rescheduling and cancellation policies are set by each tutor and displayed at booking time. The desktop app enforces the same cutoffs as the web platform — typically 4 hours for free changes, with later changes requiring tutor approval. If you need to cancel within the window, the app shows the applicable fee or package deduction before confirming. Package lessons deducted for late cancellations are non-refundable.

Lesson recordings are stored in Preply's cloud for 30 days. The desktop app provides a Download button next to each recorded session in the history view. Recordings download as MP4 files to your default Downloads folder. File sizes range from 200-500 MB per hour depending on video quality. There is no bulk download option; you must download each recording individually.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

The most frequent desktop app issue is the app failing to launch or showing a blank white screen. This usually indicates a corrupted Electron cache. The fix: close the app, then delete the cache folder. On Windows, it's at %APPDATA%\Preply\Cache. On Mac, it's ~/Library/Application Support/Preply/Cache. Restart the app and it will rebuild the cache. If the problem persists, uninstall and reinstall the latest version.

• Blank white screen: delete cache folder and restart
• Notifications not appearing: check OS notification settings
• Microphone not detected: grant permission in OS privacy settings
• Video freezes: disable hardware acceleration in app settings
• App won't update: reinstall from preply.com/download
• High CPU usage: close other Electron apps (Discord, Slack, VS Code)

Notification failures are almost always an OS-level permission issue. On Windows 11, make sure Focus Assist is not blocking Preply. On Mac, check that Do Not Disturb is off and Preply is allowed in System Settings > Notifications. If the app shows notifications but they don't make sound, verify the notification sound setting in the app's Settings > Notifications panel.

Audio and video problems during lessons often stem from browser-level permissions bleeding into the Electron process. The desktop app requests its own microphone and camera permissions separate from the browser. If you granted permission in Chrome but not in the Preply app, the lesson will have no audio or video. Check the OS privacy settings for the Preply executable specifically. On Windows, this is Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and Camera. On Mac, it's System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and Camera.

Preply Desktop App for Tutors

Tutors get a slightly different dashboard in the desktop app. The home screen emphasizes upcoming lessons, new message indicators, and earnings summaries. The tutor calendar view supports drag-and-drop rescheduling for your own availability blocks. You can also manage your profile, update your video introduction, and adjust pricing directly in the app. The experience is functionally equivalent to the tutor portal on the web.

One tutor-specific feature is the "Lesson Notes" panel that stays open during calls. You can type private notes about the student's progress, vocabulary covered, or homework assigned. These notes save automatically and appear in the student's lesson history (visible only to you and the student). The desktop app's persistent window makes it easier to keep notes open alongside the video feed without juggling browser tabs.

Tutors also benefit from the global hotkey. During a teaching day, pressing Win+Alt+P or Cmd+Option+P brings the app forward to check the next student's name, review notes, or send a quick message. The system tray or menu bar icon shows a red badge with the count of unread messages and upcoming lessons in the next hour. This at-a-glance awareness helps tutors stay on schedule between back-to-back sessions.

Preply Desktop App vs Mobile App

The mobile apps (iOS and Android) are native builds, not Electron wrappers. They use less memory, start faster, and support offline vocabulary review — features the desktop app lacks. However, the mobile screen size limits the tutor search experience and makes simultaneous note-taking during lessons awkward. The desktop app excels at multi-tasking: you can have the video call, a dictionary, a note-taking app, and the Preply chat all visible on a large monitor.

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Many learners use both: the desktop app for scheduled lessons and focused study sessions at a desk, and the mobile app for vocabulary review during commutes or breaks. The account syncs seamlessly. Progress tracking, vocabulary lists, and lesson history are identical across all three platforms. There is no feature exclusive to one platform that affects learning outcomes — it's purely a workflow preference.

Updating and Maintaining the App

The desktop app checks for updates on every launch and periodically while running. When an update is ready, it downloads in the background and prompts you to restart. The restart takes about 10-15 seconds. You can also trigger a manual check from Settings > About > Check for Updates. If you use the Microsoft Store version on Windows, updates follow the Store's schedule, which may be a day or two behind the direct download version.

Preply releases desktop app updates roughly every 2-3 weeks. Most updates are minor: bug fixes, Electron version bumps, and small UI tweaks. Major feature releases (like the picture-in-picture addition in late 2023) coincide with web platform releases. The changelog is not published in the app; you can find release notes in the Preply help center under "Desktop App Updates" if you want to track what changed.

If you prefer to control updates manually, you can disable auto-update in Settings > Advanced > Auto-update. This is not recommended for most users because Electron security patches address Chromium vulnerabilities that could be exploited through malicious lesson links or chat messages. Keeping the app current is a basic hygiene step.

Privacy and Data Handling

The desktop app collects the same telemetry as the web platform: usage analytics, crash reports, and performance metrics. Preply's privacy policy covers all clients uniformly. The app does not record your screen, log keystrokes, or access files outside its own data directory. Lesson video and audio streams are encrypted end-to-end between participants and Preply's media servers; Preply cannot decrypt them.

If you are in a regulated environment (healthcare, finance, government), note that the desktop app is not FedRAMP, HIPAA, or GDPR certified as a standalone component. Compliance depends on Preply's overall platform certifications. For most individual learners and tutors, the standard encryption and data handling are sufficient. Enterprise customers should contact Preply Business for compliance documentation.

You can request data deletion from within the app (Settings > Account > Delete Account) or via the website. Deleting your account removes all data from Preply's servers, including lesson recordings, messages, and vocabulary lists. The local app cache remains on your device until you uninstall. Uninstalling the app on Windows removes the Program Files folder but leaves the %APPDATA%\Preply folder; delete it manually if you want a clean slate.

Final Assessment of Preply Desktop App

The Preply desktop app is a solid, practical tool for anyone who takes regular lessons and wants a dedicated window that stays out of the browser tab shuffle. It does not add new learning features — the tutor marketplace, video classroom, and progress tracking are identical to the web version. What it adds is OS-level integration: native notifications, a global hotkey, a persistent Dock or taskbar icon, and picture-in-picture video. For heavy users, those conveniences justify the extra 150-200 MB of RAM. For casual learners who take one lesson a week, the browser version is perfectly adequate and one less program to maintain.

Installation is straightforward on both Windows and Mac, though Windows users have the extra option of the Microsoft Store. Linux users are left with the browser or mobile apps. The app auto-updates reliably, and the few common issues (blank screen, notification permissions, hardware acceleration conflicts) have well-known fixes. Tutors gain a slightly more convenient dashboard for managing back-to-back lessons. The mobile app remains the better choice for offline vocabulary work and on-the-go review.

The desktop app doesn't change what you can do on Preply — it changes how easily you can do it while working on other things.