You can set up a CBS download on a Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC in about a minute. Open cbs.com in Microsoft Edge, install it as an app, and CBS gets its own window, Start menu entry and taskbar icon.
On a Mac, Safari adds the same site to the Dock. iPhone, iPad and Android phones get the full CBS app free from the App Store and Google Play, and the latest episodes play with no log-in.
Below are the official links, the setup steps for each device, what a TV provider or Paramount+ unlocks, and fixes for videos that will not play.
Which CBS download do you need?
Match the device in front of you to a row. The CBS app works in the United States only.
| Your device | What to get | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC | cbs.com installed as an app from Edge | Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome |
| MacBook, iMac or Mac mini | cbs.com added to the Dock from Safari | Safari on macOS Sonoma 14 or later |
| iPhone or iPad | CBS on the App Store | iOS or iPadOS 17.0, 251.8 MB |
| Android phone or tablet | CBS on Google Play | Google Play on the device |
| Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV or Roku | CBS supported devices list | The device’s own app store |
Windows and Mac have no native CBS build. The browser route plays the same episodes and live TV once you sign in.
Download CBS from its official sources
Every official copy of CBS comes from Paramount through one of these addresses.
- Where can I download the CBS app? — the CBS Help Center page naming the App Store, Google Play and Amazon
- Watch on cbs.com — the PC and Mac route, and the page to install as an app
- CBS on the App Store — 251.8 MB · iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, seller CBS Mobile
- CBS on Google Play — Android phones and tablets, developer CBS Interactive, Inc.
On Google Play, the listing named Paramount+ is a different app. The free CBS app is the one titled CBS with the subtitle Watch New Episodes & Live TV.
Check the CBS requirements before you sign in
The desktop route needs only a current browser and a steady connection.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Software | CBS |
| Developer | CBS Interactive (Paramount) |
| Latest version | 16.1.0 on iPhone and iPad; the web app updates itself |
| License | Free app; live TV needs a TV provider sign-in |
| Supported OS | Windows 11 and 10 and macOS through a browser; iOS 17.0 or later; Android |
| Architecture | Browser-based on PC and Mac: x64, ARM64, Intel and Apple silicon |
| Download size | No desktop file; 251.8 MB on iPhone and iPad |
| Internet speed | 2 Mbps minimum |
| Offline installer | No |
| Mac app | None; add cbs.com to the Dock from Safari |
| Region | United States only |
| Last verified | 2026-09-25 |
One CBS account works on as many devices as you like, with up to three streams playing at the same time.
How to install CBS on Windows 11 and 10
Microsoft Edge turns cbs.com into an installed app with its own window.
- Open Microsoft Edge and go to cbs.com.
- Select Settings and more (the three dots) at the top right of the browser.
- Select More tools, then Apps, then Install this site as an app.
- Select Install in the dialog that opens.
- Right-click the new CBS icon on the taskbar and select Pin to taskbar.
- Select TV PROVIDER at the top of the page if you want live TV and full seasons.
- Choose your provider, sign in, then select Start Watching.
In Google Chrome, open the three-dot menu, then Cast, save and share, then Install page as app. The installed app shows up under edge://apps in Edge.
How to watch CBS in a browser without installing anything
Nothing has to be installed to stream. A browser tab plays the same shows on any PC, Mac or Chromebook.
- Open cbs.com in Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
- Pick a show from Latest Full Episodes to watch it free with no log-in.
- For live TV, open the CBS live TV page.
- Choose your TV provider from the list.
- Sign in with that provider’s username and password, then select Start Watching.
Which CBS download do you need for your Mac?
There is no Mac app. The App Store listing covers iPhone, iPad and Apple TV only.
| Your Apple device | What to do | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| Mac on macOS Sonoma 14 or later | Open cbs.com in Safari, then Share and Add to Dock | Safari |
| Older Mac, Apple silicon or Intel | Watch at cbs.com in a browser tab | A current browser |
| iPhone, iPad or Apple TV | The App Store listing | iOS or iPadOS 17.0 or later |
To add it on a Mac, open cbs.com in Safari, click Share, choose Add to Dock and click Add.
Install the CBS app on iPhone, iPad and Android
The phone and tablet apps are free and play new episodes the day after they air.
- On an iPhone or iPad, open App Store and search for CBS.
- Check that the developer reads CBS Interactive and the subtitle reads Watch New Episodes & Live TV, then tap Get.
- On Android, open Google Play, open the CBS listing from CBS Interactive, Inc. and tap Install.
- Open the app and pick an episode to watch free.
- For live TV, select Sign In With TV Provider, then tap Select TV Provider.
- Choose your provider, sign in, and tap Start Watching.
The iPhone and iPad build needs iOS 17.0 or later. Google Play marks the Android app as containing ads.
Is CBS free?
The app costs nothing on any device, and part of the catalog needs no account at all.
The CBS app and cbs.com are free. Live TV and full seasons need a TV provider sign-in, which adds no extra fee. The App Store and Google Play both list CBS as a free install. The latest episodes stream with no log-in and no credit card. Signing in with your cable, satellite or streaming TV provider unlocks your local CBS station live and full current seasons. Any site selling a CBS desktop installer or a paid CBS pass is not selling anything real.
No provider? The GET PARAMOUNT+ button on cbs.com leads to Paramount+, a separate paid subscription.
Should you use the CBS app or Paramount+?
Both come from Paramount, and both play CBS shows. They answer different situations.
Use CBS if you have a TV provider or only watch recent episodes; use Paramount+ if you have no provider and want live CBS or the back catalog. The CBS app streams the latest episodes free and adds live TV and full seasons through a TV provider sign-in. Paramount+ is a paid subscription with CBS, Paramount movies, originals and other networks. Its Premium plan includes your local CBS station live, according to the Google Play listing.
Paramount+ installs on its own from the App Store and Google Play. It is not an upgrade inside the CBS app.
Check which devices run CBS
The CBS Help Center lists these devices for free streaming and TV provider streaming alike.
| Device family | Where the app comes from |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 and 10 PCs | cbs.com, installed as an app from Edge or Chrome |
| Mac | cbs.com in Safari, or added to the Dock |
| iPhone and iPad | App Store, iOS 17.0 or later |
| Apple TV (4th generation and later) | App Store on the Apple TV |
| Android phones, tablets and Android TV | Google Play |
| Fire TV and Kindle Fire tablets | Amazon, from the device’s own app store |
| Roku | The Roku device’s own app store |
On a TV device, select Sign in with TV Provider and enter the on-screen code at cbs.com/tv/appletv, cbs.com/tv/androidtv, cbs.com/tv/firetv or cbs.com/tv/roku.
How to check your CBS version and update it
The PC and Mac route loads the current site every time, so only the phone and TV apps need updates.
- On an iPhone or iPad, open App Store, tap your profile picture and tap Update next to CBS.
- To read the latest version, open the CBS listing in the App Store and check Version History.
- On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps & device, then Updates available.
- On Windows, update Microsoft Edge from Settings and more, then Help and feedback, then About Microsoft Edge.
- On a Mac, update Safari through System Settings, then General, then Software Update.
The iPhone and iPad app reached 16.1.0 on 10 September 2026, and the Android app was updated on 16 September 2026.
Fix CBS not working on Windows 11, 10 or Mac
Most failures come from an ad blocker, the browser itself or the TV provider sign-in.
Video shows a black screen or keeps loading
An ad blocker, tracking protection or an old browser is blocking playback.
- Turn off any ad blocker extension for cbs.com.
- In Edge, open Settings, then Privacy, search, and services, and set Tracking prevention to Basic.
- Clear the browser’s cache and cookies, then reload the page.
- Update the browser, or try a different one such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge.
Live TV will not start after the provider sign-in
The provider session expired, or the connection is too slow.
- Sign out of your TV provider on cbs.com and sign in again.
- Check that your connection runs at 2 Mbps or more.
- Unplug the modem and router for about 10 seconds, then plug them back in.
- Reopen the CBS live TV page and select your provider.
The Install this site as an app option is missing in Edge
Edge is out of date, or the page has not finished loading.
- Open Settings and more, then Help and feedback, then About Microsoft Edge to install updates.
- Restart Edge and open cbs.com again.
- Wait for the page to finish loading, then open More tools, then Apps.
A playback error on a phone usually clears after you force close the CBS app and open it again.
How to uninstall CBS
Removing the app does not change your TV package or a Paramount+ plan.
- On Windows, open Microsoft Edge and go to edge://apps .
- Select Details on the CBS card, then select Uninstall.
- Choose whether to clear app history and data, then select Uninstall again.
- On a Mac, drag the CBS icon out of the Dock, then delete it from the Applications folder in your home folder.
- On an iPhone or iPad, press and hold the icon, then tap Remove App and Delete App.
- On Android, press and hold the icon and tap Uninstall.
Chrome users remove it from chrome://apps by right-clicking the tile and choosing Remove from Chrome.
Which other CBS app should you install?
Paramount publishes more apps that overlap with CBS.
| App | Pick it when | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ | You have no TV provider and want CBS live plus the full catalog | App Store |
| CBS News | You want CBS news coverage in a native Windows app | Microsoft Store |
| cbs.com | You only watch the latest episodes on a computer | cbs.com |
Frequently asked questions
Is the CBS app free to download?
Yes. CBS installs free from the App Store and Google Play, and cbs.com costs nothing to open. The latest episodes play with no log-in, while live TV and full seasons need a TV provider sign-in at no extra fee.
Where is the official CBS download for PC?
The official route on a Windows PC is cbs.com. Open it in Microsoft Edge and choose Install this site as an app to get a desktop icon. CBS does not publish a Windows setup file or a Microsoft Store app.
Does CBS work on Windows 11?
Yes. CBS runs in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox on Windows 11 and Windows 10. Installed from Edge, it opens in its own window with a Start menu entry and a taskbar icon.
Is there a CBS app for Mac?
No. The App Store listing covers iPhone, iPad and Apple TV only. On a Mac, open cbs.com in Safari, then click Share and Add to Dock on macOS Sonoma 14 or later.
How big is the CBS download?
On a PC or Mac there is no file to download, because CBS runs from cbs.com. The iPhone and iPad app is 251.8 MB and needs iOS or iPadOS 17.0 or later.
Is there a CBS offline installer?
No. CBS offers no offline installer, .exe or .dmg for Windows or Mac. Any CBS setup file offered on another site does not come from Paramount, so use cbs.com or the official app stores instead.
Can I watch CBS live without a TV provider?
Not in the CBS app, which needs a provider sign-in for live TV. The Paramount+ Premium plan streams your local CBS station live as a paid subscription. Without either, cbs.com still plays the latest episodes free.
Is the CBS app safe?
Yes, when it comes from the App Store, Google Play or cbs.com. The iPhone app is developed by CBS Interactive and sold by CBS Mobile, and the Android app comes from CBS Interactive, Inc. Avoid unofficial desktop installers.
What is the latest version of CBS?
The iPhone and iPad app is version 16.1.0, released on 10 September 2026. The Android app was updated on 16 September 2026. The PC and Mac route always loads the current cbs.com.
Why won’t CBS play on my computer?
An ad blocker or tracking protection is the usual cause. Turn the blocker off for cbs.com, clear the cache and cookies, and update the browser. Live TV also needs at least 2 Mbps and a valid provider sign-in.
