GOG Galaxy for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)

Your PC games are scattered across half a dozen launchers, and every time you want to play something you first have to remember which app owns it, wait for that app to update, and click through its store before reaching your library. Keeping track of what you own — and where — becomes a chore of its own.

This guide shows you how to download GOG Galaxy for PC from the official GOG website, install it on Windows 11 or 10, and connect your other game libraries into one list. Key features, system requirements, and honest answers about what is free and what is not are covered below.

What Is GOG Galaxy?

GOG Galaxy is the desktop client of GOG.com, the game store run by CD Projekt, the group behind The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. The store is famous for selling games completely DRM-free: you truly own the files, can back them up, and can even install them without the client using standalone offline installers.

Galaxy itself is the optional companion app that makes the store convenient: it downloads and updates your GOG games, adds cloud saves, achievements and multiplayer matchmaking, and — uniquely — can connect to your accounts on other platforms so your games from everywhere appear in a single combined library with unified friends, playtime tracking and one place to launch everything you own.

Key Features of GOG Galaxy

One combined library: Connect other platforms and see your games from everywhere in a single list.
DRM-free downloads: Every GOG game can also be downloaded as a standalone offline installer — the client is optional.
Cloud saves: Your progress syncs between PCs for supported games.
Achievements and playtime: Track achievements, hours played and progress across your collection.
Update control: Choose automatic updates, or roll back to an earlier game version when a patch breaks something.
Cross-platform friends and chat: See friends from connected platforms and chat in one place.
Rich game pages: Customise your library with covers, backgrounds and sortable tags for each game.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 11 or Windows 10 (Windows 8 also supported by recent builds)
Processor: Any modern Intel or AMD CPU
RAM: 4 GB recommended
Storage: A few hundred MB for the client, plus space for the games you download
Internet: Required for downloads, cloud saves and connecting other platforms
Account: A free GOG account is required to buy and download games
Optional: Accounts on other game platforms if you want to connect those libraries

How to Download GOG Galaxy (Official Method)

Game clients are prime targets for fake installers, so download GOG Galaxy only from the official GOG website linked below. The client is free, and the account costs nothing to create.

Official Website: Download GOG Galaxy from the official website

Step-by-Step Installation

Open the official GOG Galaxy page linked above and click the download button for Windows.
Save the installer file (named like GOG_Galaxy_x.x.exe) to your Downloads folder.
Double-click the installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.
Choose your language and keep the default installation folder.
Click Install and wait for the client to set itself up.
Click Finish; GOG Galaxy launches automatically.
Sign in with your GOG account, or create a free one from the login screen in a couple of minutes.

First-launch note: Galaxy scans nothing on your PC without permission. Your GOG purchases appear instantly after sign-in; games from other platforms appear only after you connect those accounts yourself, as shown below.

How to Connect Your Game Libraries in GOG Galaxy

Open GOG Galaxy and click the settings (cog) icon near the top.
Choose “Add games & friends” → “Connect platforms”.
Select a platform from the list of available integrations and click Connect.
Sign in to that platform in the window that opens — Galaxy never sees your password; it uses the platform’s own login.
Repeat for any other platforms you use.
Return to the library view: your games from every connected platform now appear in one combined list, ready to install and launch.

Is GOG Galaxy Really Free?

The client is completely free: downloading, installing and using GOG Galaxy costs nothing, and the GOG account is free too. What you pay for, as on any store, are the games themselves — each title is bought individually, many are discounted in frequent sales, and some are given away free. The important GOG difference is ownership: everything you buy is DRM-free, and you can always download standalone offline installers from the website and keep your games forever, with or without the client.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GOG Galaxy safe to download and use?
Yes, from the official GOG website linked above. GOG is a major, long-established store operated by the CD Projekt group, and Galaxy is its official client. Connecting other platforms uses each platform’s own secure sign-in window, so Galaxy does not handle your passwords.

Do I need GOG Galaxy to play GOG games?
No — that is GOG’s defining promise. Every game can be downloaded from the website as a standalone offline installer and played without the client, an account check or any DRM. Galaxy simply adds convenience: auto-updates, cloud saves, achievements and library organisation.

What does DRM-free actually mean for me?
It means the game contains no copy-protection system that phones home or limits you. You can back up the installer, install on your own PCs, and keep playing even if the store ever disappeared. There is no activation limit or always-online requirement.

Which other platforms can I connect to Galaxy?
Galaxy offers official and community integrations for major platforms such as Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, Epic and others, though availability changes over time as platforms update their systems. Check the Connect platforms screen in the app for the current list.

Conclusion

GOG Galaxy is the friendliest way to own PC games: a free client, one combined library, and games that are genuinely yours thanks to DRM-free offline installers. Download it from the official GOG website, sign in, and connect your libraries into one home for everything you play.

Download GOG Galaxy from the Official Website

GOG Galaxy for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)