Meta is discontinuing its standalone Messenger apps for macOS and Windows, with full deprecation scheduled for December 15, 2025.
After this date, users will be unable to log into the apps and will be redirected to either Facebook.com or Messenger.com for continued messaging.
The change was quietly confirmed through updated Facebook Help Center pages and later officially acknowledged via statements to the media. According to Meta, users of the desktop apps will receive an in-app notification once the deprecation process begins. From that point, they’ll have 60 days of continued access before being permanently locked out of the application.
Meta began alerting users ahead of the cut-off date to give them time to transition to web-based alternatives. While the company has not offered a direct replacement for the native apps, users can access Messenger via Facebook.com or Messenger.com. For Windows users, the Facebook desktop app remains available, though it does not provide a dedicated Messenger interface.
Messenger, initially introduced as a standalone desktop app to provide a lightweight, chat-focused alternative to the full Facebook experience, has seen reduced focus in recent years. In September 2024, Meta replaced the native Mac app with a Progressive Web App (PWA), a move that drew criticism from users for performance and reliability issues. That version was effectively the writing on the wall for the standalone Messenger clients.
Meta, formerly Facebook, is the parent company of Messenger and oversees the broader family of messaging services, including WhatsApp and Instagram Direct. While Messenger remains popular on mobile platforms, desktop use has likely declined as Meta consolidates its services and directs users toward unified, browser-based experiences.
The company is advising all Messenger desktop users to enable Secure Storage to preserve their chat history before the shutdown. This feature, which protects end-to-end encrypted conversations, must be turned on manually from the app's settings. Users should navigate to Settings > Privacy & Safety > End-to-End Encrypted Chats > Message Storage to confirm that “Secure Storage” is active. They will also be prompted to create a PIN to ensure chat histories are backed up and accessible once they migrate to web platforms.
Those using Messenger without a Facebook account will still be able to log in via Messenger.com, preserving support for standalone messaging accounts not linked to a Facebook profile.
While the shutdown may frustrate users who prefer a native desktop experience, Meta’s move aligns with its broader trend toward consolidating services under fewer platforms and leaning into web-based delivery. For now, Messenger’s mobile apps for iOS and Android remain unaffected and will continue to function as usual.
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