Meta Discontinues Messenger Desktop Apps for Windows and Mac: What Users Need to Know

Meta has officially ended support for its standalone Messenger apps on Windows and macOS, pushing users toward web-based alternatives for a more secure and streamlined experience. This change, effective around December 15, 2025, marks the close of a chapter for desktop users who relied on native apps for messaging, calls, and sharing.

Timeline of the Shutdown

The discontinuation unfolded with precise deadlines: Messenger on Windows stopped working on December 14, 2025, while the Mac version entered a 60-day deprecation process, fully blocking access afterward and redirecting users to Facebook. By December 15, 2025, both apps were no longer available for login, with Meta removing them from the Microsoft Store and Mac App Store.

• Windows users receive notifications urging a switch to the Facebook app or messenger.com.
• Mac users are automatically directed to the Facebook website post-deprecation.

Reasons Behind Meta's Decision

Meta's move aligns with a strategy to reduce maintenance across multiple platforms, enabling faster updates and greater consistency between web, mobile, and desktop experiences. The desktop apps, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, faced limitations like fewer video call participants and no screen sharing compared to rivals like Zoom.

Technical shifts played a role too: the Mac app used Catalyst technology, criticized for lacking a native feel, while Windows transitioned to a progressive web app. This reflects broader efforts to integrate Messenger more closely with Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.

What This Means for Users

Your chats, contacts, and groups remain intact, only the native desktop apps are retiring. However, users lose features like taskbar icons, startup options, and native OS notifications, now replaced by browser tabs.

• Windows: Access via the native Facebook app or messenger.com.
• Mac: Restricted to the browser version of Messenger or Facebook.
• Non-Facebook account users: Redirected to messenger.com for login.

Steps to Transition Smoothly

To preserve your data, enable secure storage with a PIN before the cutoff: Go to Settings > Privacy and Safety > End-to-End Encrypted Chats > Message storage. For Mac users, delete the app after deprecation, and consider exporting key conversations via screenshots or tools.

Pin messenger.com as a browser shortcut for quick access, mimicking the old app feel.

Conclusion

Meta's discontinuation of Messenger desktop apps prioritizes efficiency and security through web-centric access, adapting to modern user needs amid evolving tech landscapes.

In summary, while the native apps are gone, seamless messaging continues via browser or integrated apps, update your habits now to stay connected without interruption.