Be prepared to say goodbye to Facebook Messenger on your Galaxy Book

Meta has decided to shut down the Facebook Messenger app for macOS and Windows operating systems. This decision comes nearly half a decade after the app was first launched for Windows. To access Messenger from your Galaxy Book (or any other Windows device), you will be encouraged to use a web browser.

Meta will shut down the Facebook Messenger app on macOS and Windows on December 15. However, the mobile version of the app will remain available, allowing you to use it on your Galaxy phone and tablet. Additionally, the Facebook app (which is not a native app) will continue to be supported on Windows, and Messenger can be accessed from that app.

The company has not provided an explanation for the shutdown of the Messenger app for desktop. However, it is likely that most users access Messenger using its mobile app, and there might not be many users for the desktop app. Hence, Meta might not want to spend money on its development.

If you have important messages in the app, you must enable secure storage and add a PIN code to your account. Users of the desktop app will receive a notification about this change.

The Messenger app used to be part of the mobile app, but in 2014, Meta separated it into a standalone app. In 2023, the company attempted to merge Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct Messages, but these plans were abandoned after user backlash. Meta is now largely focusing on WhatsApp, which has become an all-in-one app.