Meta is preparing to pull the plug on Messenger’s standalone website, marking another shift in how users access the messaging service online.
According to an update posted on a company help page, Messenger.com will shut down in April 2026. After that date, anyone attempting to visit the site will be redirected to Facebook’s main platform to continue messaging from a desktop browser.
“After messenger.com goes away, you will be automatically redirected to use facebook.com/messages for messaging on a computer,” the help page reads. “You can continue your conversations there or on the Messenger mobile app.”
Users who rely on Messenger without an active Facebook account will still have access through the mobile app. Meta says chat histories can be restored on any supported platform using the PIN created when setting up a backup. If that PIN is forgotten, it can be reset.
The change follows Meta’s earlier decision to discontinue Messenger’s dedicated desktop apps for Windows and Mac. At the time, users were already being steered toward Facebook’s website for continued access, signaling a broader consolidation effort.
The update was first flagged by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, and notifications are now appearing as pop-up messages within Messenger.
Some users have voiced frustration online, particularly those who deactivated Facebook but still used Messenger on the web.
Messenger began as Facebook Chat in 2008 before launching as a standalone app in 2011. Over the years, the service expanded beyond Facebook, though integration returned in 2023.
