A major change is coming for Messenger users on desktop as Meta has officially discontinued the Facebook Messenger app for Mac and Windows. Going forward, users will be directed to the Facebook website and Messenger.com to continue messaging.
This move is part of Meta’s broader push toward web based experiences and follows its earlier decision to merge Messenger back into the main Facebook app. Users are now being asked to move away from the standalone desktop application and remove it once it stops working.
Users are currently receiving in app notifications informing them about the shutdown. Meta has provided a 60 day transition period, after which access to the desktop app will be blocked. The company has also advised users to delete the app once it becomes unusable.
“The Messenger app for Mac is being deprecated,” Meta stated on its support page. “After deprecation, you won’t be able to log into this app and will be automatically redirected to use Facebook website for messaging.”
The Messenger desktop app struggled to compete with business focused platforms such as Zoom, mainly due to the absence of features like screen sharing and support for large group video calls. In 2023, Meta had already started reintegrating Messenger into the Facebook app, signalling a reduced focus on standalone desktop software.
On Mac devices, the Messenger app was built using Apple’s Catalyst framework. This approach drew criticism for requiring additional development effort and for delivering apps that did not feel fully native to the platform.
The decision may disappoint users who preferred a dedicated desktop app for multitasking and work related communication. However, Meta has assured users that the web version of Messenger will continue to support essential features, including encrypted messaging and media sharing.
With this shift, Meta is reinforcing its strategy to simplify its product ecosystem while relying more heavily on browser based platforms for everyday communication.
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