Facebook Messenger desktop version for Windows and MacOS will shut down in December 2025

Meta has officially confirmed to TechCrunch that the Messenger desktop apps for Windows and macOS will be shutting down on December 15, 2025. After that date, users will not be able to log in to their accounts – when they try to launch the app, they will be automatically redirected to the Facebook website, where they can continue using Messenger via a browser.

According to the Messenger support page, notifications about the quick disconnection will appear directly in the app 60 days before its closure. After this period, the app will become completely inaccessible. The company recommends uninstalling it from your computer.

Meta explained that users will be able to continue communicating via the web version of Messenger or the Facebook Desktop App, which is available for Windows. To preserve your correspondence history, the company recommends enabling the “secure storage” feature and setting a PIN code – this will allow you to transfer encrypted chats when switching to the web interface.

The closure of the desktop versions of Messenger was another step by Meta towards the transition to web technologies. Back in September 2024, the company replaced the native Messenger program for Windows with a PWA version (Progressive Web App). The decision to completely abandon individual desktop clients is probably due to duplication of functionality and a decrease in interest from users.

However, part of the audience is already expressing dissatisfaction on social networks – many note that the desktop application was more convenient for working with messages than the browser alternative.