Meta has announced plans to phase out its standalone Messenger applications for both Mac and Windows platforms. This decision marks a significant shift in the company’s approach to desktop messaging services.
Users of these desktop applications will receive in-app notifications informing them of the impending discontinuation. Once notified, they will have a 60-day period to continue using the apps before they are fully deprecated. After this period, the applications will cease to function. To preserve chat histories, Meta advises users to activate secure storage and set up a PIN before the apps become inoperative.
Following the deprecation, attempts to access the desktop apps will redirect users to Facebook.com. For those who utilize Messenger without a Facebook account, redirection will lead to Messenger.com. Notably, the Messenger app has already been removed from the Mac App Store, preventing new downloads. However, mobile versions for iOS and Android are expected to continue functioning as usual.
This move is not entirely unexpected. In September 2024, Meta replaced the original Messenger desktop application with a Progressive Web App (PWA). This PWA quickly garnered a reputation for being unreliable and lacking in functionality.
The discontinuation of the desktop apps is part of a broader trend by Meta to streamline its messaging services. In May 2023, the company ended support for the Messenger app on Apple Watch, citing a shift in focus towards enhancing the Messenger experience on iPhone, desktop, and web platforms. Additionally, in September 2023, Meta shut down Messenger Lite for Android, a lightweight version of the app designed for less powerful devices. Users were encouraged to transition to the standard Messenger app or Facebook Lite to continue their conversations.
These changes reflect Meta’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its messaging platforms and focus on delivering a more unified and reliable user experience across its services.
