Meta is shutting down its Messenger website

Meta Is Shutting Down Its Messenger Website

Meta, the company that owns Facebook, has announced that it will stop offering a separate Messenger website. This means people will no longer be able to use Messenger through its own website, messenger.com. Instead, Facebook will be the main place to message friends on a computer.

What Is Changing?

Starting in April 2026, messenger.com will no longer be available. When users visit the site, they will see a pop-up message that explains the change. After that date, you will need to use Facebook’s site, facebook.com/messages, to send messages on a computer. The Messenger mobile app will still work for texting on smartphones.

What About the Messenger Desktop App?

Meta also recently shut down the Messenger desktop app for Windows and Mac. This was done last October. Now, Messenger is mainly available only on the Facebook website or via the mobile app.

Why Is Meta Making This Change?

Meta says it wants to make things simpler by reducing the number of platforms it has to support. Fewer platforms mean less work and lower costs. This move also reflects how Meta’s plans for messaging are changing.

In the past, Meta wanted Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram Direct to work together in one system. This would let users see all their messages in one place, no matter which app they used. But in 2023, Meta changed its plans. Instead, it is focusing on making messaging work better inside the main Facebook app. It also added a new message inbox for Threads, another app from Meta.

What Does This Mean for Users?

Even though the separate Messenger website and app are ending, users can still send messages. They just need to do it through Facebook.com/messages or the Messenger mobile app. People who use Messenger without a Facebook account can still chat through the mobile app.

Meta’s Future Plans

Meta had been working hard on connecting all its messaging platforms. However, with recent legal battles and a court ruling, Meta may have changed its plans. Meta fought a long legal case with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which wanted to separate its apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. Now, since Meta won the case, it might not need to keep its messaging systems separate or connected.

In Summary

• Messenger.com will shut down in April 2026.
• Users will message through Facebook.com/messages or the Messenger app.
• Meta is reducing the number of messaging platforms it supports.
• The company is changing its plans for how Messenger and other apps work together.

This big change shows how Meta is shifting its approach to messaging. Instead of separate platforms, it seems to be focusing on integrating messaging inside its main apps or keeping them simple for users.