Meta has confirmed that Messenger’s standalone desktop apps for Windows and macOS will be shut down on December 15, 2025. After that date, users won’t be able to log into those apps; instead, they will be automatically redirected to Facebook.com or Messenger.com to access their chats.
Users will receive in-app notifications when the shutdown process begins, and will have a 60-day transition window before the desktop apps stop working entirely. “If you’re using the Messenger desktop apps, you’ll get an in-app notification once the deprecation process begins,” a Messenger help page reads.
Meta is advising Messenger users to enable secure storage and create a PIN to ensure their chat history is safely backed up before switching to the web-based version. Once the transition is complete, conversations will remain accessible across all platforms through Facebook.com.
To verify whether secure storage is active, you need to navigate and open the settings menu above your profile photo. Next, go-to Privacy & Safety and tap End-to-end encrypted chats. Next, you'll need to select Message storage. There, you can confirm that the “Turn on secure storage” option is enabled.
However, it's important to note that new installations of the desktop app have already been disabled. In other words, the app has been removed from the Mac App Store and, of course, the Microsoft Store. It's also worth noting that Meta has already shifted toward a Progressive Web App (PWA) version of Messenger in September 2024, which may have been a transitional step.
The reasons behind Meta's move to end Messenger app on Desktop for both Mac computers and Window computers are unknown yet. But some analysts suggest that the company might be doing it to reduce maintenance burden, enhance user flow control and ecosystem control, and focus on mobile and browser dominance.
The fact that Meta first replaced the “native” app with a PWA in 2024, then is now removing desktop apps, suggests a multi-phase plan to migrate users gradually so disruptions are minimized. Of course, Meta’s choice to retire the desktop versions is expected to draw some backlash from avid users of the apps.
What do you think about Meta's decision towards Messenger for Desktop and Mac? Is it a good one or bad one? Let's know your opinions in the comments section, and don't hesitate to share this article.
