RIP Messenger Desktop: Meta to shut down standalone app

Meta will officially shut down its standalone Messenger desktop applications for Windows and Mac on December 15, 2025, marking the end of a dedicated desktop experience for many users. After this date, users trying to log into the Messenger desktop apps will be automatically redirected to the Facebook website or Messenger.com to continue their conversations.

Meta plans to notify all current users through in-app alerts starting soon, giving them a 60-day window to transition before the apps become unusable. Users are advised to enable secure storage and set up a PIN within Messenger to preserve their chat history—including end-to-end encrypted messages—ensuring seamless access across all devices once they switch to the web-based platform.

The shutdown follows Meta’s 2024 replacement of the native Messenger app with a Progressive Web App (PWA), signalling a strategic move to consolidate messaging within web browsers and the main Facebook app. Windows users can still use the Facebook desktop app, while Mac users will access Messenger exclusively online.

While the decision has elicited concern from avid desktop app users who appreciated its multitasking convenience, Meta reassures that all core Messenger features, including encrypted messaging and media sharing, will remain fully supported on the web platform. Users should prepare for this transition to avoid losing access to or chat data.