Meta has confirmed that the desktop applications of Messenger for Mac and Windows cease to be operational. As of December 15th 2025, those who try to log in using the native client will be sent to the browser to continue their conversations.
The transition will be phased: users will receive a notice in the app and will have a 60-day grace period since that notification. In the meantime, the service will continue to be available normally at Facebook.com or Messenger.com and there will be no changes to the mobile apps.
Timing and scope of closure
Meta has begun communicating the withdrawal via in-app messages that activate a countdown. Once this time limit is reached, the desktop application will be disabled. blocked and no access, so the company recommends uninstalling it when it stops working.
In addition to the blockade, the firm has proceeded to remove downloads from official stores, preventing new installations in Mac App Store and Microsoft StoreThose who already have the program will be able to use it only during the period specified in the notice.
After shutdown, login attempted from the native client will result in a automatic redirection to the browser. If you use Messenger linked to your Facebook account, you'll go to Facebook.com; if not, you'll access Messenger.com with your usual credential.
Meta did not detail the reasons in the statement, but the measure fits with its goal of focusing efforts on experiences web and mobile, where usage is concentrated. You can compare it with desktop app closures Recent
What changes and what remains the same
The change affects native desktop apps only; messaging will remain accessible from the browser with essential features, including messages, calls and files. The iOS and Android versions are not affected.
On the web, notifications depend on browser and system permissions, so they may behave differently from an app. 100% native. Even so, the experience covers the day-to-day without major compromises.
As a preliminary step, in 2024 Meta replaced the Mac app with a progressive web application (PWA), a movement that already anticipated the shift towards the browser as the main channel of use on computers.
If you find it more convenient to have your own icon, you can “install” the site as a web application from Chrome or Edge, and take advantage Chrome extensions to be more productive, or add it to the Dock in Safari; the result behaves as a separate window.
Those who alternate between mobile and computer will not lose the thread: the history is synchronized between platforms as long as the security recommendations indicated by the company are followed.
How to save your conversations step by step
To ensure your messages remain available on the web and mobile, Meta recommends enabling the secure storage and protect it with a PIN before the desktop client is permanently shut down.
quick steps from the desktop app (if you still have access):
- Open Messenger and tap your profile picture.
- Sign in Privacy & Security and then in “End-to-end encrypted chats”.
- Go to “Message Storage” and activate the secure storage.
- Create and confirm a PIN to protect access to your conversations.
Once set up, your history will be available on all platforms and protection will be maintained through end-to-end encryption in supported conversations.
If you haven't received the notification within the app yet, wait for it to appear to start the 60 day period and complete the migration with margin.
Options to continue on desktop
The easiest way is to use Messenger from the browser: Facebook.com or Messenger.com They offer virtually all everyday features, with the exception of notifications, which depend on browser permissions.
If you prefer “one-click” access, turn the website into a standalone app: Chrome/Edge, use “Install this site as an app”; in Safari, select “Add to Dock.” The resulting window behaves like an app.
There are also third-party solutions that bundle several services (e.g., multi-messaging managers), useful if you centralize your chats in a single interface. Evaluate their security and privacy before adopting them.
Within the Meta ecosystem itself, the desktop app of WhatsApp It can be an alternative if your contacts also use it; it doesn't replace Messenger, but it covers similar communication tasks on a computer.
Impact on companies and professionals
Those who served customers or coordinated tasks from the desktop app will have to adapt flows to the web or evaluate corporate tools that make it easier to manage multiple conversations at once.
In SMEs and remote teams, the absence of a native client can affect the productivity At the beginning, it's a good idea to prepare for the transition, test notification permissions, and document the new process.
quick questions
Will I lose my chats? No, as long as you activate secure storage and set a PIN before closing; you can then access them on the web and mobile.
When does it stop working? The reference is the December 15; from your notification within the app, you have 60 days to complete the change without any problems.
What if I don't have a Facebook account? You will be able to log in to Messenger.com to continue chatting from the browser without creating a new account.
Can I prevent the shutdown? There is no official option. Alternatively, create a web apps from the browser or use a third-party integrator at your discretion.
With the date already marked and the redirection to the browser as the norm, the most practical thing is to activate the secure storage, verify web access, and decide whether to create a web app or adopt alternative tools to maintain your work pace.
