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ISLAMABAD: Meta has begun deprecating the desktop version of its Messenger app, confirming that users on Windows and Mac computers will no longer be able to access the service through a standalone application.&nbsp;According to Meta, the Messenger app for Windows is being phased out as part of a deprecation process. Once the process is complete, users will no longer be able to log into the app and will be automatically redirected to use Facebook&rsquo;s desktop platform or the web-based version of Messenger for messaging.&nbsp;Meta said users can continue all their conversations through Facebook&rsquo;s desktop app or web platforms, with the same features previously available on the Messenger desktop app, including desktop calling.&nbsp;Will users be notified about the change?Meta said users of the Messenger desktop app will receive in-app notifications once the deprecation process begins.&nbsp;Users will have 60 days to continue using the Messenger desktop app before it is fully disabled. After the 60-day period, access to the app will be blocked.&nbsp;&ldquo;We encourage you to delete the app since it will no longer be usable,&rdquo; Meta said in its Help Center guidance.&nbsp;When did the app become unavailable?While Meta has not publicly announced a specific shutdown date, media reports, including by TechCrunch, indicate that the Messenger desktop app became unavailable earlier this week.&nbsp;Attempts to download the Windows version now redirect users to Facebook.com or Messenger.com. Meta has not provided an official explanation for discontinuing the standalone desktop app.&nbsp;Will chat history be saved?Meta has assured users that their chat history will remain intact, provided certain steps are followed.&nbsp;Users who have not enabled secure storage in Messenger are advised to turn it on and set up a PIN through the desktop app before transitioning to the web version. Once secure storage is enabled, chat history will be accessible across platforms after logging into Facebook.com or Messenger.com.&nbsp;Meta said users can check secure storage by navigating to Settings, then Privacy &amp; Safety, followed by End-to-end encrypted chats, and Message storage.&nbsp;What about Messenger-only users?Meta clarified that users who use Messenger without a Facebook account will continue to have access to the service.&nbsp;Such users will be redirected to Messenger.com, where they can log in without creating a Facebook profile.&nbsp;The change affects only users who relied on the standalone Messenger application on desktop computers. Messenger will remain available through web browsers and on mobile devices.

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According to Meta, the Messenger app for Windows is being phased out as part of a deprecation process.

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Meta discontinues Messenger app for Windows and Mac

Meta discontinues Messenger app for Windows and Mac