Meta confirmed it is discontinuing its standalone Messenger desktop applications for Windows and Mac, with the shutdown scheduled for December 15. Following this date, users attempting to log in will be unable to access the apps and will be automatically redirected to the Facebook website to use Messenger.
The company is informing users of the change through an in-app notification that signals the start of the deprecation process. A Messenger help page clarifies the timeline for Mac users, who will have a 60-day period to continue using the application after the notification appears. Once this timeframe expires, access to the Mac Messenger app will be blocked permanently. The help page further advises users to delete the application, stating, “We encourage you to delete the app since it will no longer be usable.” The plan to wind down the desktop clients was first reported by AppleInsider.
Meta is alerting its user base ahead of the December deadline to provide time to transition to other methods of access. For individuals on the Windows operating system, the company suggests using the Facebook desktop application as an alternative. Users on both Windows and Mac platforms can also access Messenger through its web interface on the main Facebook site. The advanced notice is intended to give people time to familiarize themselves with these options before the standalone apps are terminated.
To ensure chat history is preserved during the transition, Meta recommends users activate secure storage and establish a Personal Identification Number (PIN). This action will make their chat logs accessible across all platforms after moving to the web-based version. Users can verify their secure storage status by navigating through the application’s settings menu. The specific path requires selecting the settings icon, then “Privacy & safety,” followed by “End-to-end encrypted chats,” and finally “Message storage.” Within this menu, they should confirm that the option to “Turn on secure storage” is enabled.
This discontinuation follows a related platform change from the previous year. In September 2024, Meta replaced its native Messenger application with a Progressive Web App (PWA).
