If you are a fan of having a dedicated window for your chats, it is time for a change of habit. Meta has officially retired the Facebook Messenger desktop app for both Mac and Windows. As of December 15, anyone trying to open the app is being met with a polite but firm nudge toward their web browser.
What’s Changing for You?
The days of clicking a separate blue icon on your desktop are over. The app shutdown means that the standalone software has been deprecated. Instead of a native experience, you will now be automatically redirected to the Facebook website or Messenger.com.
For many, this marks the end of a tool that became a staple during the pandemic. Launched in 2020, it helped us stay connected when the world went remote. However, it struggled to find its footing against giants like Zoom because it lacked heavy-duty tools like screensharing and support for massive video call groups.
Protecting Your Memories
Before you hit uninstall, there is one crucial step to take. Meta is urging everyone to enable secure storage to ensure their chat history isn’t lost in the shuffle. Because the desktop app often stored encryption keys locally, you need to set up a PIN in your settings under Privacy and safety to keep your messages synced across the web and mobile versions.
The Move to Browser-Based Chatting
So, why the sudden exit? It seems Meta is leaning into a web-based messaging future. By moving users to the browser, they can simplify their tech and focus on the Facebook Messenger mobile app, which remains untouched.
If you don’t have a Facebook account and only use the chat service, don’t worry—you can still log in at Messenger.com to keep the conversation going without needing a full social media profile. It is a bit of an adjustment, but your chats are still there; they just have a new home in your browser tab.
