Meta has announced plans to discontinue its standalone Messenger desktop applications for Windows and Mac on December 15, redirecting users to the web version of the service instead.
Starting that date, users will no longer be able to log into the desktop apps and will be automatically redirected to Facebook’s website to access Messenger. According to an in-app notification and a Messenger help page, Mac users will have 60 days to continue using the app before it is fully deprecated, after which they will be blocked from accessing it. Meta has advised users to delete the app once support ends.
The company is encouraging users to activate secure storage and set up a PIN to preserve their chat history before moving to the web version. Once the transition is complete, messages will remain accessible across platforms. Windows users can alternatively use the Facebook desktop app, while both Windows and Mac users can use Messenger through Facebook.com.
The phase-out comes a year after Meta replaced its native Messenger app with a Progressive Web App in September 2024. The decision to discontinue the desktop apps entirely may prompt backlash from users who rely on the native experience.
