Meta is killing Messenger on desktop, here’s what you need to do

Windows support ends December 14, Mac gets 60 days. Turn on secure storage to keep your chats.

By Paulo Vargas Published October 21, 2025

Meta Messenger — Meta

What’s happened? Meta is discontinuing its Messenger desktop apps for Windows and macOS. Both listings are gone from the Microsoft Store and the Mac App Store, and users are getting in-app notices with a clear timeline. The service itself stays live on the web.

On Windows, the desktop app stops working on December 14, 2025. A notification appears if you have it installed.
On macOS, users get 60 days from the start of deprecation, then the app is blocked and you are redirected to Facebook in the browser, according to this support page.
Messenger continues in the browser, and Meta plans a similar web-centric shift for WhatsApp on Windows.
If you’re migrating to browser use for Messenger on macOS, see what which browser best fits your needs.

This is important because: Meta is steering desktop messaging into the browser, not native clients. That gives it one code path to maintain, faster rollouts, and tighter alignment across Windows and macOS without separate app updates.

Windows users can message in the Facebook app or the browser version of Messenger, while macOS users move to the browser only.
WhatsApp on Windows is set to run as a WebView that loads web.whatsapp.com, reflecting the same simplification.

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Why should I care? Deadlines are firm, and your workflow will change if you rely on the native app for notifications or quick replies. Plan the switch now so history and access are ready when the cutoff arrives.

The listings are already gone from the Microsoft and Mac app stores.
On macOS, the app blocks after a 60-day deprecation window and redirects to Facebook in the browser.
On Windows, the desktop app shuts down on December 14, 2025, with the Facebook app or the browser as options.

Okay, so what’s next? Save your history, pick your new access point, and carry on in the browser. The web version keeps conversations going, and your messages carry over if you enable secure storage before deprecation.

Turn on secure storage and set a PIN. Go to Settings, Privacy and safety, End-to-end encrypted chats, then Message storage, and enable secure storage. Your history appears when you move to Facebook.com.
Choose your access point. On Windows, use the Facebook app or Messenger in the browser. On macOS, use the browser.
If you use Messenger without a Facebook account, sign in at Messenger.com and keep chatting.

News Writer

Paulo Vargas is an English major turned reporter turned technical writer, with a career that has always circled back to…

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