Meta To Shut Down Messenger Desktop Apps For Mac And Windows

Meta is shutting down Messenger’s standalone desktop apps for Windows and Mac connected December 15, nan institution confirmed to TechCrunch connected Thursday.

Starting December 15, users will nary longer beryllium capable to log into nan apps and will beryllium automatically redirected to nan Facebook website to entree Messenger.

“If you’re utilizing nan Messenger desktop apps, you’ll get an in-app notification erstwhile nan deprecation process begins,” a Messenger help page reads. “You will person 60 days to usage nan Mac Messenger app earlier it is afloat deprecated. Once nan 60 days are over, you’ll beryllium blocked from utilizing nan Mac Messenger app. We promote you to delete nan app since it will nary longer beryllium usable.”

Meta’s scheme to upwind down these desktop apps was first spotted by Appleinsider.

The institution is now alerting users of nan upcoming alteration to springiness them clip to familiarize themselves pinch different options. For example, Windows users tin usage nan Facebook desktop app, and some Windows and Mac users tin entree Messenger online.

Meta is encouraging users to activate unafraid retention and to group up a PIN to prevention their chat history earlier moving to nan web version. Once users modulation to Facebook.com, their chat history will beryllium disposable connected each platforms. Users tin cheque if they person unafraid retention turned connected by clicking nan settings icon supra their floor plan image and past selecting “Privacy & safety, and past clicking “End-to-end encrypted chats.” From there, they request to click “Message storage” to cheque if “Turn connected unafraid storage” is turned on.

The move comes a twelvemonth aft Meta replaced nan autochthonal Messenger app pinch a Progressive Web App backmost successful September 2024. Of course, Meta’s determination to discontinue nan desktop apps altogether will apt spot immoderate backlash from avid users of nan apps.