Meta will discontinue its Messenger desktop apps on December 15, asking users to use Facebook or the Messenger website instead.
CALIFORNIA: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Oct,17, 2025) Tech giant Meta has announced that it will shut down the Messenger app for macOS and Windows on December 15, ending support for the desktop version of the popular messaging platform.
After this date, desktop users will only be able to access Messenger through Facebook or the Messenger website, Meta confirmed. Users will also receive notifications before access to the desktop app is completely blocked.
The company has not explained the reason behind the decision to retire Messenger’s desktop apps. However, Meta’s support page states that users who wish to retain their chat history must enable secure storage and set up a PIN code to archive their messages safely.
To enable secure storage, users should click the gear icon above their profile picture, go to Privacy and Safety → End-to-End Encrypted Chats → Message Storage, and then turn on Secure Storage.
Messenger was separated from Facebook in 2014 to provide a standalone messaging experience. Later, Meta attempted to integrate Messenger and Instagram under one platform but eventually abandoned the plan.
The decision to close desktop apps suggests that Meta is shifting focus toward mobile and web platforms, as most users now prefer accessing Messenger via their smartphones or browsers.
