Run chrome webpage as desktop application

Question

I am looking to run a couple web pages as desktop applications in Gnome shell. These are the requirements:

1. It must run with Google Chrome.
2. It must be available as a separate app icon when pressing Alt+Tab.

I have looked at a program called Webby, but it does not seem to use Google Chrome as the underlying browser. So far I created my .desktop file and have been able to get the application and icon to show in the launcher:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Gmail
Exec=google-chrome-stable --app=https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox
Icon=gmail-icon
Type=Application
Categories=GTK;GNOME;Office;

This works and allows me to launch the application in a separate window, however, when I press Alt+Tab everything is still combined under the google chrome icon. I have tried creating a symlink as well for the exec path, this didn't work either. Anyone have any ideas?

Solution

This might not be what you're looking for. But if you want to pin a Google Chrome website to the desktop as a web application you can do the following:

• Click the 3 dots on the top-right corner
• Click More tools
• Click Create shortcut...
• Select the Open as window checkbox

Hope I helped!

Chrome > Version 70

Update for new versions of Chrome, where no Open as window checkbox appears:

• Click the 3 dots on the top-right corner
• Click More tools
• Click Create shortcut...
• Click Create
• Navigate to chrome://apps
• Right-click on the new app
• Click Open as window

Comments

[Gocht]

And how do I remove this?

[still_dreaming_1]

@Gocht you should be able to see apps created this way and remove them from chrome://apps/

[ronenmiller]

The 'Open as window' does not show anymore (ubuntu 18.04). How can I force it?

[wjandrea]

@ronenmiller Regarding your edit suggestion, it would be better to post a separate answer, and you can link to this answer if it helps.

[David Stone]

With chrome 72 In order to make it a full fledged app with separate icons and distinct entry in alt+tab, I had to go to chrome://apps right click on the app and choose 'create shortcuts'

[artu-hnrq]

Some idea about how to do this via command line, I mean in a non-interactive way?

[artu-hnrq]

Some idea for how to do this via command line?

[Sajad Torkamani]

Thanks so much, been looking to do this for a while!

[Jake]

not working in Ubuntu 20.04 and latest Chrome. The launcher icon is merged together. Can you update the answer?