Meta has announced that it will discontinue its standalone Messenger desktop applications for both Windows and Mac platforms, effective December 15, 2023. After this date, users trying to access Messenger will be redirected to the Facebook website.
Transition Details for Users
Mac users will receive an in-app notification about this change and will have a 60-day period following this alert to continue using the Messenger app. After the grace period, access will be blocked, and Meta advises users to uninstall the app. For Windows users, Meta suggests using the Facebook desktop application as an alternative.
For both Mac and Windows users, Messenger will remain accessible through the Facebook website. To ensure chat history is preserved during this transition, users are encouraged to enable secure storage and set a Personal Identification Number (PIN) following these steps: go to Settings > Privacy & safety > End-to-end encrypted chats > Message storage.
Background and Implications
Meta had previously replaced its native Messenger applications with a Progressive Web App in September 2024. This move aims to streamline user experience and security by consolidating Messenger access through the web.
- Meta plans to discontinue Messenger desktop apps on 2023-12-15.
- Mac and Windows users to be redirected to Facebook website post shutdown.
- Mac users notified in-app; 60-day use window post-notification.
- Users advised to enable secure storage for chat history preservation.
- Transition aligns with replacement of native app by a Progressive Web App in September 2024.
