Meta will discontinue its standalone Messenger desktop applications for Windows and Mac on 2023-12-15. Users will then need to transition to web versions available at Facebook.com or Messenger.com.
Transition to Web-Only Access
The shutdown affects all users of the Messenger apps on both operating systems. According to Meta, users are encouraged to move to the web-based alternative, which has already been available since September 2024 as a Progressive Web App replacement for Messenger.
Meta has started notifying users, providing a 60-day notice period during which in-app alerts will guide the transition. After this period, apps will cease functioning and must be deleted.
Data Preservation and Security
Meta assures that chat histories can be preserved if the secure storage feature is enabled. To activate it, users should navigate to Settings → Privacy & Safety → End-to-end Encrypted Chats → Message Storage and ensure the secure storage option is turned on. Additionally, setting a PIN will help users sync encrypted conversations across devices.
Windows users can switch to the existing Facebook desktop app, which allows continued desktop engagement beyond the web interface.
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