Meta announced that it will permanently shut down the standalone Messenger desktop app on 2023-12-15. Users will need to access Messenger via Facebook.com as the company shifts focus to mobile and web versions.
Transition to Progressive Web App
The shutdown is part of Meta's move to replace the desktop app with a Progressive Web App (PWA), a process initiated earlier in 2024. The desktop app has already been removed from the Mac App Store, marking the final steps of this transition. This change reduces maintenance efforts by Meta and aligns the user experience across various platforms.
Secure Storage and User Notification
Users will receive an in-app notification 60 days before the shutdown to back up their chats and switch to the web version of Messenger. Meta suggests enabling secure storage to protect encrypted chat histories. Users can activate this through the following steps: Privacy & Safety → End-to-End Encrypted Chats → Message Storage → Turn on secure storage.
Mobile Apps Remain Unchanged
While the desktop version is ending, the Messenger apps for mobile devices are unaffected. Meta continues to support these along with the new web version, focusing on a unified and streamlined user experience without the desktop distraction.
