Meta has announced that its Messenger desktop apps for macOS and Windows will be decommissioned on December 15, 2025, directing users to web platforms. This decision affects users globally, forcing them to transition to Facebook.com or Messenger.com for messaging services.
Transition to Web Platforms
The company will begin notifying desktop app users in-app, offering them a 60-day period to adjust to web-based alternatives before the apps become inaccessible. During this time, users are encouraged to back up their chat history through Secure Storage, ensuring continuity of end-to-end encrypted conversations. Unfortunately, a dedicated native replacement is not provided, leaving Windows users with only the Facebook app, lacking a focused Messenger interface.
Implications and User Guidance
As the transition progresses, Meta is emphasizing the importance of enabling Secure Storage. This can be done by navigating to Settings > Privacy & Safety > End-to-End Encrypted Chats > Message Storage, which prompts users to create a PIN for backing up chat histories. Despite the deprecation of desktop apps, users without a Facebook account will still be able to use Messenger.com for their messaging needs.
Background and Criticism
Prior moves by Meta include replacing the native Mac Messenger app with a Progressive Web App (PWA) in September 2024, a decision met with criticism due to concerns over performance and reliability. Meanwhile, mobile Messenger apps for iOS and Android remain unaffected by this shift, maintaining their current operation for mobile users.
