The standalone desktop application for Facebook Messenger on both Mac and Windows is officially retired as of today, December 15, 2025. Existing users attempting to access the popular messaging service are now being redirected to the main Facebook website to continue their chats.
While the app was originally launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it struggled to compete with rivals. The Messenger desktop app lacked essential features needed for business users, such as screensharing and easy-to-share URLs, and it could not handle as many video call participants as platforms like Zoom.
Signs of the app’s impending obsolescence were apparent before Meta announced its shutdown plans in October. In 2023, the company began merging Messenger’s functionality back into the flagship Facebook app.
The technical foundation of the app also faced issues. The Mac version, built with Catalyst technology—which allows developers to port iPad apps to Mac—drew criticism from both developers and users. Developers cited the extra required work, while users noted the resulting apps often lacked a “native feel”. The Mac app had previously migrated from an Electron app to a React Native Desktop app before landing on Catalyst.
On Windows, the app had previously transitioned to a progressive web app (PWA) last year. These technological downgrades likely impacted standalone app demand, suggesting Meta’s overarching strategy was to move Messenger back to Facebook to potentially bolster declining usage of the aging social network.
Meta had warned users this fall that the desktop app would be deprecated by year-end. The company encouraged users to set up a PIN to save their chat history before making the switch to the web interface. Users who access Messenger without a Facebook account are now being redirected to Messenger.com to log in.