Meta is officially winding down its Messenger desktop apps for Windows and macOS, marking the end of standalone access to Facebook’s messaging service on computers.
The company confirmed that the apps will be shut down on December 15, 2025, as part of its ongoing effort to streamline its platforms and focus on web-based experiences. This move comes just months after Meta began consolidating its messaging tools across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Starting December 15, users will no longer be able to log into the Messenger desktop apps. Instead, Meta says they will be automatically redirected to Facebook to continue their conversations.
According to a report by AppleInsider, users who use Messenger without a Facebook account will be redirected to Messenger.com instead.
The shutdown affects both Windows and Mac versions of Messenger, which allowed users to chat, share files, and make voice or video calls outside of their browsers.
The Messenger app has already been pulled from the Mac App Store, making it unavailable for new downloads, though current installations will remain usable until the deprecation date.
“If you’re using the Messenger desktop apps, you’ll get an in-app notification once the deprecation process begins,” Meta said in its Help Center.
“You will have 60 days to use the Mac Messenger app before it is fully deprecated. Once the 60 days are over, you’ll be blocked from using the Mac Messenger app. We encourage you to delete the app since it will no longer be usable.”
Messenger Users Should Back Up Their Chats
Meta is advising users to activate secure storage and set up a PIN before the shutdown to ensure their chat history remains accessible after transitioning to the web. Once users move to the web version of Messenger, their messages will still be available across all supported devices.
Users can check their secure storage settings by clicking the settings icon above their profile picture, selecting Privacy & Safety > End-to-End Encrypted Chats, and navigating to Message Storage to verify that “Turn on secure storage” is enabled.
This feature helps protect and back up chats in an encrypted format, ensuring that important messages remain intact after the desktop apps go offline.
Meta has recently emphasized cross-platform messaging, where users on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp can seamlessly communicate through one integrated system.
Those who relied on Messenger for work or business communication, especially for quick replies or customer engagement, will need to adapt to the web version or use the Facebook desktop app.
While desktop users are losing their standalone apps, Messenger on iOS and Android will continue to function as usual. Mobile users will still have access to the same features, including end-to-end encrypted chats, media sharing, and group calls.
