Meta is shutting down its standalone desktop Messenger apps for Windows and macOS by December 2025. The Mobile App is Safe. The standalone Messenger apps for iOS (iPhone/iPad) and Android will remain unaffected and continue to work as usual.
The desktop apps will no longer be supported by December 2025, with Windows users losing access as early as December 14, 2025, and macOS users having a 60-day transition period. Users will need to switch to the web version at messenger.com or the Facebook website to continue using the service after the shutdown date.
To ensure chat history is saved, users are encouraged to enable secure storage and set up a PIN before the deadline.
How to enable secure storage?
- Open Messenger: Launch the Messenger desktop application on your Mac or Windows PC, or go to Messenger.com in your browser.
- Go to Settings:
- Click on your Profile Picture or the Gear icon (Settings), usually located in the top or bottom-left corner.
- Navigate to Privacy:
- Click on Privacy & safety.
- Find Encrypted Chats:
- Select End-to-end encrypted chats.
- Access Message Storage:
- Click on Message storage.
- Turn On Secure Storage:
- You should see a section for Secure storage.
- Click Turn on secure storage.
- Create Your Security Method:
- You will be prompted to choose a security method. To ensure you can restore your chats after the desktop app is gone, you should choose to Create a PIN or a 40-character code.
- Select “Create a PIN” and follow the on-screen instructions to set a strong, easy-to-remember 6-digit PIN.
The apps have already been removed from the Microsoft Store and Mac App Store.
Meta’s decision is a move to consolidate its desktop messaging experience to the web (via Messenger.com and Facebook.com) and streamline development, not to eliminate the platform entirely.
