Overview
- Messenger’s standalone website will stop sending messages in April 2026, with visitors automatically redirected to facebook.com/messages.
- One outlet cites April 15, 2026 for the shutdown based on Meta’s Help Center guidance.
- The Messenger mobile app will continue to operate normally, including for people without a Facebook account.
- Meta previously discontinued the desktop Messenger apps for Windows and macOS, steering users to Facebook’s web interface.
- Users with encrypted backups must use their Messenger PIN to restore chat history, and reports note pushback from people who preferred an independent web option.