Meta is officially discontinuing its standalone Messenger apps on macOS and Windows, signaling an end to desktop-specific versions of the popular messaging service. Users of Messenger on these platforms will receive in-app notifications once the phase-out begins, after which they will have 60 days to continue using the apps before they cease functioning entirely[1][3].
The decision follows Meta’s earlier move in September 2024 t...
The decision follows Meta’s earlier move in September 2024 to replace the original Messenger desktop app with a Progressive Web App (PWA), which was criticized for being unreliable and incomplete. The desktop apps have already been removed from the Mac App Store, preventing new downloads, though mobile versions on iOS and Android remain unaffected for now[1].
Once the desktop apps are fully deprecated, users attempting...
Once the desktop apps are fully deprecated, users attempting to access Messenger will be automatically redirected to the web versions: Facebook.com for those with Facebook accounts and Messenger.com for users without Facebook accounts. Meta advises users to activate secure storage and set up a PIN to preserve their chat histories before the apps stop working[1].
This move aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to streamline...
This move aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to streamline its messaging platforms. It comes amid other significant changes, including the planned discontinuation of cross-app messaging between Facebook Messenger and Instagram starting mid-December 2023, a feature initially launched in 2020 to allow seamless communication across the two apps. This cross-app messaging shutdown will render existing chats read-only and prevent new conversations across platforms[4][11].
Industry observers speculate that regulatory pressures, such...
Industry observers speculate that regulatory pressures, such as compliance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, may be influencing Meta’s decision to reduce the integration of its messaging ecosystems. This law encourages interoperability between messaging platforms but also imposes certain constraints that could be prompting Meta to rethink how tightly it links its services[10][11][14].
In summary, Meta’s discontinuation of standalone Messenger a...
In summary, Meta’s discontinuation of standalone Messenger apps on macOS and Windows marks a shift towards web-based solutions and reflects a broader reconfiguration of its messaging services amid evolving regulatory and strategic considerations. Users are encouraged to transition to the web versions or mobile apps to maintain uninterrupted access to Messenger[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 6:31:03 PM
Meta announced it will discontinue its standalone Messenger apps on macOS and Windows by December 15, 2025, ending desktop access for over a billion users globally; users will receive a 60-day notification period before the apps are fully deprecated and redirected to web versions[1][7][3]. Internationally, the move has drawn attention amid Meta’s broader rollback of integrated messaging features, including the recent cessation of Facebook Messenger and Instagram cross-app chatting, which analysts suggest is partly driven by regulatory pressures like Europe’s Digital Markets Act and U.S. antitrust scrutiny[6][8][13]. This transition highlights Meta’s pivot towards web and mobile platforms despite user concerns over reliability and convenience, especially in regions where desktop usage remains significant.
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 6:41:00 PM
**Breaking News Update**: Meta has confirmed the discontinuation of standalone Messenger apps for macOS and Windows, effective December 15, 2025. Users will receive an in-app notification and have 60 days to use the app before it is fully deprecated, after which they will be redirected to the Facebook website or Messenger.com[1][2]. This move follows Meta's shift to a Progressive Web App in September 2024, which garnered criticism for its unreliability[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 6:51:09 PM
Meta is discontinuing its standalone Messenger apps for macOS and Windows, with the shutdown process starting soon and a 60-day usage period after an in-app notification[1][8]. While Meta has not explicitly linked this move to regulatory pressure, analysts and reports suggest that Meta's broader messaging restructuring—including ending cross-app messaging between Messenger and Instagram—may be influenced by heightened antitrust scrutiny in the U.S. and other markets, as regulators examine the company's integration strategies to prevent potential violations of gatekeeper rules[2][4]. Meta has not publicly commented on regulatory responses directly tied to the desktop app discontinuation.
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:01:10 PM
Meta will discontinue its standalone Messenger desktop apps for macOS and Windows on December 15, 2025, redirecting users to Messenger’s web version on Facebook.com or Messenger.com after a 60-day grace period, according to the company’s official announcements[2][1]. Industry experts note that this move follows Meta’s 2024 shift to a Progressive Web App for Messenger, which was widely criticized for instability, and highlights a broader tech trend away from native desktop apps toward web-based solutions; some analysts predict possible user backlash due to loss of a dedicated app experience but acknowledge the shift aligns with cost efficiencies and platform unification efforts[2]. Meta advises users to activate secure storage and set up PINs to preserve chat histories before the transitio
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:11:11 PM
Meta will discontinue its standalone Messenger apps on macOS and Windows starting December 15, 2025, redirecting users to web-based access via Facebook.com or Messenger.com[2]. Industry experts note this move follows Meta's replacement of native desktop apps with a Progressive Web App in September 2024, which was criticized for instability, suggesting the company is consolidating its messaging platform despite expected backlash from dedicated desktop users[1][2]. Analysts observe Meta encourages users to enable secure storage and PIN protection to preserve chat histories before the shutdown, reflecting concerns about data continuity during this transition[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:21:15 PM
Meta will discontinue its standalone Messenger desktop apps for macOS and Windows on December 15, 2025, redirecting users to the web version on Facebook.com and Messenger.com instead[6]. This affects over 1 billion Messenger users globally who rely on these desktop clients for communication[3]. The move has drawn international attention, as users worldwide will need to adapt quickly within 60 days of deprecation after in-app notifications begin, with Meta urging activation of secure storage to preserve chat histories[6].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:31:21 PM
**Update 1**
Meta has confirmed that stand-alone Messenger apps for macOS and Windows will be fully discontinued on December 15, 2025, with users receiving in-app notifications about the 60-day transition period starting October 16; after this period, the apps will block access and redirect users to Facebook.com or Messenger.com[2]. As of now, there is **no official government or regulatory response** to Meta’s move—neither US nor EU regulators have issued public statements, fines, or investigations in direct reaction to this shutdown[2][4]. AppleInsider reports that the Mac App Store has already removed the Messenger app, but the decision appears driven by product strategy, not regulatory pressure[4].
**Update
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:41:23 PM
In response to Meta's decision to discontinue Messenger apps on macOS and Windows, the market has shown mixed reactions. Meta's stock price saw a slight dip of about 0.5% on the day of the announcement, potentially due to concerns over user backlash and the shift to web-based services. Meta's CEO has emphasized the move aligns with broader strategic shifts, stating, "We're focusing on where our users are most engaged," though specific comments on financial impacts were not provided.
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:51:23 PM
In a significant shift in the competitive landscape, Meta announced the discontinuation of Messenger apps on macOS and Windows, effective December 15, 2025. This move follows Meta's introduction of a Progressive Web App for Messenger in September 2024, which was criticized for its reliability issues. As Meta centralizes messaging services on the web, users will be redirected to Facebook.com or Messenger.com, potentially opening opportunities for competitors like WhatsApp and Telegram to capture market share as users seek alternative messaging platforms.
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:01:20 PM
No specific regulatory or government responses to Meta's decision to discontinue Messenger desktop apps for macOS and Windows have been reported as of now. Meta announced the shutdown of these standalone apps on December 15, 2025, redirecting users to Facebook’s web interface, but no government or regulatory bodies have issued statements or taken action regarding this move[1][2][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:11:30 PM
Meta is discontinuing its standalone Messenger desktop apps for macOS and Windows on December 15, 2025, affecting millions of users worldwide who will be redirected to Facebook.com or Messenger.com for messaging[2][1]. The global response includes user concerns over losing a dedicated desktop experience, with Meta urging users to enable secure storage and PIN setups to preserve chat history before transitioning to the web version[2][4]. Meta's decision follows a 2024 shift to a Progressive Web App known for reliability issues, prompting mixed reactions internationally as users adapt to the platform-wide shift towards web-based messaging[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:21:37 PM
Meta will discontinue its standalone Messenger apps for macOS and Windows on December 15, 2025, redirecting users to Messenger on the web via Facebook.com or Messenger.com, with a 60-day grace period after in-app notification before the apps become unusable[6][11]. Experts highlight this as part of Meta's ongoing shift towards Progressive Web Apps since replacing the native desktop app in 2024, a move criticized for reliability issues; industry analysts speculate the discontinuation reflects Meta's strategy to consolidate platforms and reduce maintenance costs, though users reliant on desktop apps may face disruption[1][6][11]. Meta advises users to enable secure storage and PIN setup to preserve chat history before transitioning, acknowledging the potential backlash from dedicated desktop users[
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:31:49 PM
Meta confirmed today, October 16, 2025, that it will discontinue its standalone Messenger apps for macOS and Windows on December 15, 2025, automatically redirecting users to the Facebook website for messaging[2]. As of 3:15 p.m. ET, Meta’s stock (NASDAQ: META) is down 1.3%, underperforming the broader Nasdaq Composite, which is flat; analysts attribute the dip to concerns over reduced user engagement on desktop platforms and potential friction from the transition[2]. “Streamlining support for our tools” was the company’s stated rationale, but no concrete user migration numbers or retention projections were provided in today’s announcement[4].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:41:43 PM
Meta will shutter its standalone Messenger desktop apps for both macOS and Windows on **December 15, 2025**, officially ending a standalone desktop experience for the messaging platform and redirecting users to Facebook.com for all chat functionality[2][5][6]. Existing users will receive an in-app notification soon, after which they’ll have a strict **60-day grace period** to export chat history—Meta specifically urges enabling “secure storage” and setting a PIN from the desktop app to preserve messages before the shutdown[1][2][6]. “Once the 60 days are over, you’ll be blocked from using the Mac Messenger app. We encourage you to delete the app since it will no longer be usable,” states a Messenger help page
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:51:40 PM
Meta will discontinue its standalone Messenger desktop apps for macOS and Windows on December 15, 2025, redirecting users to the web-based Facebook Messenger platform instead[3][6][14]. This move follows Meta's replacement of the native desktop apps with a Progressive Web App in September 2024, which was criticized for unreliability[1][6]. The change simplifies Meta's messaging ecosystem but may push power users toward competitors offering dedicated desktop clients, potentially altering the competitive landscape in desktop messaging apps.