Messenger for Windows: the Desktop App Has Been Discontinued

Messenger for Windows was the desktop app of Meta's Messenger service, and it was discontinued on 15 December 2025. The last version listed on this page is 2250.1.0.0, but there is no longer a working download: after the shutdown, the app stopped letting users sign in and Windows users were sent to the Facebook app to continue their conversations.

What was Messenger for Windows?

Messenger itself goes back to 9 August 2011, when Facebook launched it as a separate chat service. The Windows app brought those conversations to a window of its own, so people who spent the day at a computer did not have to keep Facebook open in a browser tab. It showed the chat list on the left and the active conversation on the right, sent files straight from folders, made voice and video calls with a webcam and showed notifications in the corner of the screen. Friends, family groups, Marketplace buyers and small businesses all used it. For many users it was simply the most convenient way to reply to messages while working. Meta decided to stop developing separate desktop clients and to keep messaging on the computer inside Facebook itself, and so the standalone app was retired.

When did it stop working?

On 15 December 2025. Since then the app cannot be used to sign in, and Meta recommends removing it. Installers that still circulate on download sites lead to a program that no longer connects, and unofficial copies may carry malware, so there is no reason to install them.

What happened to my chats?

Nothing was deleted with the app. Conversations belong to your account, not to the Windows program, so they remain available in the Facebook app for Windows, on facebook.com and in Messenger on your phone. End-to-end encrypted chats need their history restored with the secure storage PIN or backup method you set up; check it in the phone app's settings so that older messages do not appear empty on a new device.

How do I keep messaging on a PC?

1. Uninstall the old Messenger app through Settings, then Apps.
2. Install the Facebook app for Windows or open facebook.com in your browser and sign in.
3. Open the messages section: your chats, groups and calls are there.
4. Allow notifications for Facebook if you want alerts for new messages.

Meta's help centre article on the Messenger app explains the current options for each device.

What if I use Messenger without Facebook?

Some people created Messenger accounts without a Facebook profile. On the phone, the Messenger app continues to work for them. On a computer, follow the instructions Meta shows at sign-in, because they depend on how the account was set up.

Was it free?

Yes, the app was free, like the service. There is no paid version to switch to; the successor on Windows, the Facebook app, is free as well.

Pros and cons of the old app

• Pro: separate window for chats, outside the browser.
• Pro: calls and file transfers from the desktop.
• Con: discontinued, no sign-in or updates.
• Con: old installers are useless and potentially unsafe.

What are the alternatives?

The official path is the Facebook app for Windows. If your contacts use other services, messengers on our site include WhatsApp Desktop, Telegram Desktop, Signal, Viber and Discord, and for work calls Microsoft Teams and Zoom Meeting.