Meta is ending support for the Facebook Messenger app on Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac starting 2023-12-15. As a result, users will no longer be able to log into the standalone Messenger app and will be directed instead to the Facebook desktop app on Windows or the Facebook website on Mac for messaging services.
Transition Details for Users
Users on both Mac and Windows can continue to access Messenger services through alternatives. Options include using the Facebook desktop app for Windows users and the Facebook website for Mac users. Despite the deprecation of the standalone app, the chat functionality remains accessible on these platforms.
Ensuring Chat History is Saved
User chat history will remain intact if secure storage is enabled. To check or activate this feature, users should navigate on the desktop app to 'Privacy & Safety', then 'End-to-end encrypted chats', and finally 'Message storage'. It is imperative to verify that 'Turn on secure storage' is enabled. For those who have yet to activate secure storage, Meta encourages doing so to prevent loss of chat records.
Moreover, users are advised to set up a PIN on their desktop app, ensuring a seamless transition of their chat history to Facebook.com, where it will be accessible across all platforms in the future.
Meta's decision to discontinue the standalone Messenger app aims to streamline its messaging services and potentially reduce maintenance overhead by centralizing these functionalities.
