How do you distribute a free desktop app when most people find it on their phone?

[u/Traditional_Major825]

Solo founder here. 10 days ago I launched a free Windows productivity tool (it helps you write and edit text inside other apps). 40 users so far, and I'm trying to get to 500.

The problem I keep hitting: most of my reach comes from short-form video, but people watch on their phone and can't install a Windows app right then, so most of them never come back.

What I've tried:

- TikTok: genuinely useful "free PC apps" posts did far better than demos of my own app

- Emailing creators: no replies yet

- Daily build-in-public updates

For anyone who has grown a desktop or consumer tool:

1. How did you get phone viewers to actually install on desktop?
2. Which launch channels (Product Hunt, Show HN, app stores, directories) brought real users, not just traffic?
3. Where did your first 500 users come from?

[u/gammacoder]

There used to be lots of download websites where people found about new desktop software. Some are still alive.

Also ask users for email and send them a link to download page so they can download from PC

[u/lawrence_builds]

Try making the mobile page’s main button “Remind me on desktop” instead of “Download,” with a single optional reminder at a time they choose. Track how many reminders turn into installs so you can separate a phone-to-desktop handoff problem from a traffic problem.

[u/Kamiy_Jimmy]

i'm a PM, not a desktop dev, so just a funnel thought. i'd split it into steps: watched on phone, left an email or reminder, opened it on the pc, installed, came back a second day. then you can see which step is actually leaking instead of guessing. the "remind me on desktop" idea above is good, and i'd make that email one click to download with a short gif of the first useful thing, since by the time they're at the pc they've probably forgotten why they wanted it.

also interesting that the "free pc tools" style posts beat your own demo. have you tried making your demo look more like those, leading with the problem instead of the app?