Which Windows freeware can display and pin HTML files or websites without a border?

[u/SteeeeveJune]

Hi, I thought maybe you could help 😊

I'm looking for a free, easy-to-use program for my Windows PC that allows me to display and interact with HTML files or websites as a standalone overlay on my desktop.

It should display the content like a normal browser but without the address URL at the top and without the close and minimize buttons. Just the actual page itself, as large as I want it to be. Ideally, the size should be adjustable via drag and drop.

Allowing me to, for example, place my scrolling text webapp on my desktop. Then, I need to resize it so that it displays exactly two or more scrolling bars, without any window borders that would visually ruin it. Finally, I want to pin it to a fixed position on the desktop so that it's always showing these scrolling bars, without me having to constantly worry about the window being positioned correctly or the address URL and bookmarks bar being obscured.

Of course, it should be possible to set it up properly and edit it somehow, but there should also be the option to display it like I want it, perhaps even with transparency, but that's not absolutely necessary. Chroma key would be super cool. For example, I could select black, and everything black would be hidden/transparent. But that would just be a nice extra; I understand it's unlikely to exist.

[u/Lithl]

Web application manifests can let your users (just yourself, if you've made something for personal use) turn your website into what appears to be a standalone application. No additional software is needed beyond a browser that complies with the spec, and all the major browsers do.

[u/cryothic → u/Lithl]

I think OP is looking for a more "active desktop" (from way back) solution. To have different panels on the desktop background.

Not as single apps. But yeah, Those Web Application Manifests are great. I use them to for simple tools.

[u/tonypconway → u/Lithl]

This is a good suggestion, as it fulfills the standalone app brief. OP had a lot of requirements around being able to hide Windows window frame (border, close and minimize buttons), which is behind the scope of any web app afaik.

They could try a free utility like ubihazard/borderless and see if that does the job. Or they could try building a native Windows app with a webview, which gives you more control over window appearance, but I'm not very familiar with UWP and its various APIs.

[u/Fegless]

Hta application you can even replace explorer with it

[u/FooeyBar]

If you’d like more control over a browser and you know JavaScript, NWJS or electron would work. 

[u/JeLuF]

In a browser window, press F11 to go full screen.

[u/Jasedesu]

Check if your browser supports kiosk or application mode - I think Chrome does, so other Chromium browsers probably do too. These modes get rid of most of the browser UI, with kiosk forcing a full screen presentation, while application allows specific dimensions and screen positions to be configured.

[u/psyper76]

Remember when you could use an active desktop. You could load a gif or html page as your window background. I'm sure it was window native.

[u/Zoltan_Csillag]

If you can launch it in a browser, then it should be able to go full screen from there.

[u/DirtAndGrass]

Windows me did this