Meta to Shut Down Messenger Desktop Apps on macOS and Windows

Meta has confirmed it will shut down its Messenger desktop apps for macOS and Windows on December 15. After that date, users will no longer be able to access the standalone Messenger apps and will be directed to the Facebook app on Windows or the Facebook and Messenger websites to use the service.

The company hasn’t provided an official reason for discontinuing the desktop apps. This move likely reflects usage patterns — many users already rely on mobile apps or web interfaces — but Meta did not offer a detailed explanation in its announcement.

What you need to do to preserve your chats

If you want to ensure your chats are saved going forward, Meta says you must enable secure storage and add a PIN to your account. Follow these steps in the Messenger app or web settings:

• Click the gear icon above your profile picture.
• Go to Privacy & Safety, then End-to-end encrypted chats.
• Under Message storage, make sure Turn on secure storage is toggled on and add a PIN.

These settings help archive end-to-end encrypted conversations so they remain accessible after the desktop apps are removed.

Background and context

Messenger was split out of Facebook in 2014 to create a focused messaging experience. Meta later explored deeper integration with Instagram Direct but stepped back from that plan in 2023. The shutdown of desktop clients appears to be part of Meta streamlining how users access messaging — favoring web and mobile platforms.

For more details, read the original news report on Engadget or visit the Messenger web app at https://www.messenger.com.

Discussion: How will you adapt to the desktop app shutdown — switch to the web, use the Facebook Windows app, or move to a different messaging platform?