Meta has confirmed a major shift for desktop users of its popular messaging platform: the company is officially shutting down the dedicated Messenger desktop applications for both Windows and Mac operating systems.
The stand-alone apps will cease to function, and users will be automatically directed to the primary Facebook website for messaging, marking the end of an era for those who preferred the separate desktop experience.
What You Need to Know: The Timeline
The deprecation process is set to begin soon, with the full shutdown scheduled for December 15. After this date, users will no longer be able to log in via the dedicated apps and will instead need to access the chat platform through the Facebook website.
Users who currently use the apps will receive an in-app notification alerting them to the upcoming change. Mac users, specifically, have a 60-day window to transition before the application becomes completely unusable. Meta is encouraging these users to delete the app once the 60-day period is over.
Where to Chat Now
With the dedicated apps going away, Meta is guiding users toward two primary alternatives:
- The Web: Both Mac and Windows users can access the full Messenger experience simply by navigating to Facebook.com.
- The Facebook Desktop App: For those on Windows, the main Facebook desktop application will remain a viable option for accessing their messages.
Critical Action: Securing Your Chat History
Before making the full transition to the web or a new platform, Meta is strongly advising users to ensure their chat history is saved. This requires users to activate Secure Storage and set up a PIN.
This proactive step ensures that all your conversation history is successfully transferred and available across all platforms, including the new web-based access point.
To check if Secure Storage is on, users can typically:
- Go to the settings icon (usually above the profile picture).
- Select Privacy & safety > End-to-end encrypted chats.
- Click on Message storage and confirm that the "Turn on secure storage" option is enabled.
Context and Anticipated Backlash
This move is seen by many as the final step in a process that began back in September 2024, when Meta started replacing the native desktop applications with a Progressive Web App (PWA).
While consolidating the messaging experience simplifies things for the company, the decision to discontinue the dedicated apps altogether is likely to face criticism from long-time, avid users who valued the simplicity and focus of the stand-alone application.
If you are currently a user of the Mac or Windows Messenger app, it's time to start preparing and making the move to the web to ensure a smooth transition of your chat history.