Meta is pulling the plug on its desktop Messenger apps for Windows and macOS, quietly removing them from app stores and warning existing users they'll stop working on December 14th. The move forces millions of desktop users to switch to web-based messaging, marking another step in Meta's broader strategy to streamline development across its messaging platforms.
Meta just delivered an unwelcome surprise to desktop users who rely on its standalone Messenger apps. The company has quietly started the shutdown process for both Windows and macOS versions, with existing users now receiving notifications that their apps will stop working completely on December 14th. The apps have already vanished from the Microsoft Store and Mac App Store, leaving current users in a countdown to forced migration.
The timing caught users off guard, but the writing was on the wall. A Meta support page first spotted by Apple Insider confirms Mac users will have exactly 60 days to use their apps before a complete block kicks in. Windows users are seeing similar warnings through the app itself, according to reports from Windows Latest.
The shutdown creates different migration paths for different platforms. Windows users can fall back to the Facebook desktop app or switch to Messenger's web version at messenger.com. But macOS users get squeezed into a single option - the web interface - since Meta doesn't offer a Facebook desktop app for Mac. That's going to sting for users who prefer native app experiences over browser tabs.
This isn't an isolated move by Meta. The company is simultaneously preparing to drop its native WhatsApp Windows app in favor of a web wrapper version, suggesting a broader strategic shift away from platform-specific native development. The pattern reveals Meta's push to consolidate its messaging infrastructure around web technologies rather than maintaining separate codebases for Windows and macOS.
From a development perspective, the move makes financial sense. Maintaining native desktop apps requires dedicated engineering resources, platform-specific testing, and constant updates to match OS changes. Web-based solutions let Meta deploy updates once and push them everywhere, while reducing the complexity of supporting multiple platforms with different technical requirements.
