Meta announced the termination of Messenger desktop apps for Windows and macOS by 2025-12-15, redirecting users to web platforms.
Transition Timeline and User Impact
By mid-December 2025, Meta will discontinue its standalone Messenger desktop apps. Users opening these apps will be redirected to continue their chats on the Facebook website. Meta has started notifying users via in-app alerts, with a 60-day period before the apps are blocked and users are urged to uninstall them.
- Messenger desktop apps for Windows and macOS end on 2025-12-15.
- Users will be redirected to Facebook web for messaging.
- In-app alerts notify users ahead of the deadline.
- Alternatives: Facebook desktop app and web-based Messenger.
Web-Based Alternatives and Security
Meta suggests alternatives such as the Facebook desktop app for Windows and the web version of Messenger, which is available for both macOS and Windows. Users with Messenger-only accounts can access Messenger web without a Facebook account.
To protect chat history, Meta advises enabling secure storage and setting a PIN, a feature of Messenger's end-to-end encrypted chats found in settings under Privacy & Safety. This move aligns with Meta's focus on web-based messaging and platform consolidation efforts.
Meta's strategy includes improving privacy and device syncing, highlighted by their release of a Messenger Progressive Web App (PWA) in September 2024.
