Meta has announced that it will shut down its standalone Messenger apps for both Mac and Windows. Users are being directed to switch to Facebook or Messenger.com as the desktop applications will stop functioning within 60 days. Notifications have already begun appearing in the app to alert users about the upcoming change.
Once the deprecation period starts, users will have two months to transition to the web-based version. After this time, logging into the desktop app will no longer be possible, and Meta advises deleting it entirely.
Users concerned about losing their chat history can rest assured that messages will remain accessible if secure storage is enabled. This Meta feature ensures encrypted conversations are safely saved and synced across devices. To check, users can navigate to Settings → Privacy & Safety → End-to-end Encrypted Chats → Message Storage and confirm that secure storage is active.
Messenger-only users who do not have a linked Facebook account will not be affected. They will be redirected to Messenger.com, where they can continue chatting without creating a Facebook profile.
The decision is part of Meta’s effort to simplify its desktop experience and consolidate its messaging ecosystem around web and mobile platforms. The Messenger app for Mac was launched in 2020, followed by a Windows version shortly after. However, both apps saw limited usage compared to the mobile app and browser-based chat.
By phasing out desktop clients, Meta aims to streamline development and maintenance while encouraging users to adopt Messenger’s encrypted web platform. The web experience now includes features such as secure PIN setup and synced chat backups, enhancing privacy and continuity across devices.
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