Meta has announced it will discontinue its standalone Messenger Apps for Windows and Mac, aiming to simplify support across its platforms.
Once deprecated, users of the Messenger desktop app for Mac will no longer be able to log in, as per Meta’s Help page. Instead, redirected to the Facebook website to message.
Official Notice and Transition Details
As reported by Appleinsider, on Meta’s Help page for its Messenger desktop apps, there’s now an explainer outlining the retirement of the apps and your alternatives.
As per Meta:
“The Messenger app for Mac is being deprecated. After deprecation, you won’t be able to log into this app and will be automatically redirected to use Facebook website for messaging.”
Meta says that users of its desktop apps will soon receive an in-app notification about the deprecation process, from which they’ll have 60 days to use the app before it’s removed.
“Once the 60 days are over, you’ll be blocked from using the Mac Messenger app. We encourage you to delete the app since it will no longer be usable.”
You can read the same for the Windows version here.
Chat History and Data Storage
Meta says in a blog explaining the new features:
“For people using the new secure storage system and using the desktop app, chat history will be preserved by proxy (it is stored with an optional PIN).”
While most conversations remain available in the app, we recommend all users update their storage settings out of an abundance of caution.
Desktop Messenger Background
Messenger desktop apps were launched in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic to boost video calling and communication as more people shifted to remote interaction.
Zoom and Facebook experienced exponential growth in video conferencing that year, with 2X more video calls on Messenger and WhatsApp.
Declining Usage Leads to App Retirement
Video chat has proven a massive bust since then, and people are not using the desktop Messenger apps as well. Meta’s move is in line with this trend, refining its messaging suite for core platforms and eliminating separate desktop clients.
Via Facebook’s web interface, desktop users will still be able to message. That means Messenger functionality is not lost, just the dedicated Mac and Windows Messenger apps.
Bottom Line
It is a small change overall, but may be a rattle for anyone who likes to sign into a standalone desktop app, as opposed to going through the browser.
