Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Messenger, has announced that its standalone Messenger desktop application and the Messenger.com website will no longer be available starting April 2026. The move marks the final phase in Meta’s gradual retirement of desktop‑focused messaging interfaces.

Meta confirmed that users attempting to access messaging services via Messenger.com on desktop computers after the shutdown date will be automatically redirected to Facebook.com/messages to continue their conversations or will need to use the Messenger mobile app on iOS and Android devices.

The Messenger desktop app for macOS and Windows had already been discontinued in December 2025, with Meta removing the apps from official stores and encouraging users to transition to web‑based messaging well before April 2026. This policy change reflects a broader strategic shift by Meta toward browser‑based and mobile messaging, rather than maintaining separate native desktop clients, which historically saw less usage compared to mobile versions.

Meta has advised users to enable features like secure storage and PIN protection in their Messenger settings to ensure that encrypted chat history remains accessible across devices once the desktop and standalone web service are gone. This is especially relevant for users who relied on Messenger without a Facebook account, as they will still be able to access chats on mobile.

The retirement of the desktop app and separate web interface is part of Meta’s effort to simplify its communication ecosystem and focus on unified, browser‑first platforms that are easier to update and integrate with new features. Industry analysts see this trend as part of a larger move away from traditional native clients toward centralized web and mobile experiences.

Users and tech communities have shared mixed reactions online, with some lamenting the loss of the standalone desktop experience while others adjust to using Messenger through web browsers or mobile devices.