Meta to Shut Down Messenger App on Mac and Windows by December 2025

Tech giant Meta has announced plans to discontinue the Messenger desktop app for both Mac and Windows computers starting December 15, 2025.

After this date, users will no longer be able to log in to the app and will instead be redirected to Facebook’s website to send and receive messages.

According to Meta, users who attempt to open the Messenger app after its discontinuation will see a notification informing them of the shutdown and directing them to use Facebook.com.

Mac users will have a 60-day grace period to continue accessing the app before it is permanently disabled, after which login access will be blocked completely. The company recommends uninstalling the app once it stops functioning, noting that there will be “no reason to keep unused software.”

Following the shutdown, Windows users will still be able to access Facebook’s desktop app, while Mac users will only be able to use Messenger via the Facebook web platform.

Meta has also urged users to securely back up their chat data and update passwords to ensure message continuity when transitioning to the web version.

The move aligns with Meta’s September 2024 restructuring plan, which aimed to replace standalone Messenger desktop apps with a web-based version integrated directly into Facebook.

Among the reasons behind the decision are the ease of maintenance and updates for the web app, its compatibility across all operating systems, lower storage requirements, and the ability to deliver a uniform experience on all devices whether desktop, mobile, or tablet.

With this shift, Meta continues its broader push toward simplifying its ecosystem and unifying communications under a single, streamlined platform.