Meta pulls the plug on Messenger desktop Apps for Windows and macOS
In a statement shared with several tech outlets, Meta said the move is aimed at streamlining its messaging platforms and focusing resources on mobile and web versions of Messenger.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has confirmed that it is shutting down its standalone Messenger desktop applications for both Windows and macOS.
The change will take effect on December 15, 2025, marking the end of a short-lived chapter for the social giant’s desktop communication tools.
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The company has already removed the Messenger apps from both the Microsoft Store and the Mac App Store, preventing any new downloads.
Existing users have begun receiving in-app notifications advising them that desktop support will end in December, with a 60-day grace period before logins are disabled completely.
In a statement shared with several tech outlets, Meta said the move is aimed at streamlining its messaging platforms and focusing resources on mobile and web versions of Messenger.
“We’re focusing on improving the Messenger experience across mobile and web, and are retiring the desktop applications for Windows and macOS,” a Meta spokesperson said.
That means after December, users will only be able to access Messenger through Messenger.com or the Facebook.com website, as well as via the company’s Android and iOS apps.
The overwhelming majority, over 80 per cent, use mobile devices, while around 15 per cent use browsers.
According to Dr Eric Mwangi, a digital platforms researcher at the University of Nairobi, Meta’s move reflects a cost-benefit realignment.
“Maintaining multiple native apps for different operating systems is expensive and redundant when web technologies can now deliver almost the same experience. Meta is following a trend we’ve seen across tech: simplify, consolidate, and cut down.”
Messenger’s desktop journey began in 2020, when Meta (then Facebook) launched standalone apps for macOS and Windows.
The rollout coincided with the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote work and online communication surged.
At the time, the company pitched the desktop version as a tool for professionals, offering larger video call screens, message notifications, and multitasking convenience.
However, as pandemic restrictions eased and people returned to hybrid or in-person work, usage of the desktop apps steadily declined.
After December 15, users who try to open the Messenger desktop apps will be greeted with an error message redirecting them to the web version.
Meta has also advised users to enable “Secure Storage” within Messenger’s settings to protect their encrypted chat histories before uninstalling the apps.
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