Messenger.com Is Shutting Down in April 2026: What Changes and How to Keep Messaging on Desktop
Meta is retiring the standalone Messenger website. Here’s what happens next, who’s most affected, how redirects work, and how to restore chat history using your PIN.
TL;DR
- Messenger.com will no longer be available for messaging starting April 2026. Web messaging continues via facebook.com/messages. Source
- If you used Messenger without a Facebook account, Meta says you can continue on the Messenger mobile app (but desktop web access is effectively limited). Source
- Chat history restoration is tied to Messenger’s “secure storage” approach (often using a 6-digit PIN or a key stored in iCloud/Google Drive). Source
What’s changing in April 2026
Meta is shutting down Messenger.com, the standalone website many people used to message from a computer without opening the full Facebook experience. According to Meta’s help guidance and multiple reports, Messenger.com will stop working for messaging starting April 2026. If you visit Messenger.com after the change, you’ll be redirected to Facebook’s messaging page at facebook.com/messages. TechCrunch and Engadget both cite Meta’s wording.
What still works
- Messenger on mobile (iOS/Android) continues.
- Messaging on the web continues via facebook.com/messages.
- Your conversations can continue—depending on account type and restore settings.
What goes away
- The standalone Messenger.com web destination for messaging.
- A “clean” desktop entry point that avoided much of Facebook’s broader UI.
This isn’t a one-off move. Meta has already been trimming Messenger’s desktop footprint: the company previously confirmed it would discontinue the standalone Messenger desktop apps for Windows and macOS (effective mid-December 2025), pushing users toward web messaging. Source
Who’s most affected
Most people will still be able to message on a computer—just via Facebook’s messages page instead of Messenger.com. But the impact is uneven. The biggest friction hits users who intentionally chose Messenger.com to avoid Facebook’s main interface.
Practical reality: if you relied on Messenger.com to keep messaging separate from Facebook, you’re losing that separation. Even if you jump straight to /messages, you are still inside the Facebook web ecosystem.
Messenger.com vs Facebook Messages vs Mobile: what’s different
| Feature | Messenger.com (Old) | Facebook.com/messages (New default web) | Messenger Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop web access | Yes (standalone) | Yes (inside Facebook web) | No (mobile-first) |
| “Feed-free” feel | Strong | Mixed (depends on layout, shortcuts, and habits) | N/A |
| Account flexibility | Often used by people avoiding Facebook | Typically assumes Facebook login/session | Works broadly, including Messenger-centric users |
| Restoring chat history | Depends on secure storage setup | Depends on secure storage setup | Primary place to manage secure storage, PIN, restore |
| Best for | Quick, distraction-light desktop messaging | All-in-one web access + continuity for Facebook users | Everyday messaging + account/device management |
The biggest change is not “can you message?”—it’s where the web experience lives. Meta is consolidating desktop messaging under Facebook’s domain, consistent with its earlier decision to retire the native desktop apps and prioritize web + mobile. Source
Will you lose messages? Understanding “secure storage” and the PIN
This is the part that makes people nervous: when platforms change entry points, users worry about missing chat history. Meta has been evolving Messenger’s storage model as it rolls out end-to-end encryption more broadly. In Meta’s own explanation, the company recommends turning on secure storage so you can restore encrypted chat history when switching devices. Meta says you can access secure storage by setting a 6-digit PIN or storing a key in Google Drive or iCloud. Source
Plain-language explanation
Think of secure storage like a “locked backup.” If your chats are end-to-end encrypted, Messenger needs a way to prove it’s really you when you restore messages on another device or session. That’s why a PIN (or cloud key) can matter when switching devices, reinstalling apps, or re-syncing history.
Reports on the Messenger.com shutdown note that users can restore chat history after switching by entering a PIN—and that the PIN can be reset if you can’t remember it. Source
Important: this post is not claiming your history will vanish in April. The point is that restore and continuity are smoother when secure storage is set up—and that’s why Meta keeps pointing users to PIN-based recovery in related transitions. Meta overview
How to switch (step-by-step): desktop + mobile
A) Switch on a computer (web)
- Open facebook.com/messages in your browser.
- Log in to your Facebook account (if prompted).
- Pin or bookmark the page so it behaves like your old Messenger.com workflow.
- Optional: create a dedicated browser profile (Work / School / Personal) to keep sessions clean.
Meta’s stated behavior is that Messenger.com will redirect to this page after the shutdown. Source
B) Confirm restore settings on mobile
- Open the Messenger app.
- Go to Settings and look for privacy/security options related to end-to-end encrypted chats or message storage.
- Confirm you have a recovery method set (often a PIN or a cloud key).
- If you forgot your PIN, use the in-app option to reset it.
Meta’s encryption explainer describes the PIN/key approach for secure storage. Source
Pro desktop tip: make Facebook Messages feel “standalone” again
- In Chrome/Edge: open facebook.com/messages.
- Menu (⋮) → More tools → Create shortcut.
- Check Open as window.
- Pin that window to your taskbar/dock. Now it behaves like an app.
This won’t recreate Messenger.com exactly, but it restores the “single-purpose window” habit that people loved.
Troubleshooting: the issues you’re most likely to hit
1) I’m being redirected, but my messages look incomplete
If chat history appears missing, it may be related to how history is restored across sessions/devices under secure storage. Confirm your recovery method (PIN or cloud key) is set. Meta recommends enabling secure storage so you can restore chat history if you switch devices. Source
2) I forgot my PIN
Reports on the shutdown note that the PIN can be reset if you can’t remember it. Source
In the Messenger app, look for settings related to End-to-end encrypted chats and Message storage, where Meta provides options to manage or reset PIN-based recovery. (Exact menu labels may vary slightly by region/app version.)
3) Facebook Messages keeps logging me out
- Clear cookies for facebook.com (or use a dedicated browser profile).
- Disable conflicting privacy extensions for Facebook domains (test with a clean profile).
- Check if your account uses 2FA and ensure your browser session is trusted.
4) I used Messenger without Facebook—can I still message on desktop?
The reported guidance states Messenger-only users can continue conversations on the Messenger mobile app. If your workflow depends on desktop messaging, this is the moment to decide whether you will (a) use Facebook’s web endpoint or (b) migrate key conversations elsewhere. Source
Why Meta is doing this (what we know vs what’s likely)
What we know
- Meta is retiring Messenger.com for messaging and redirecting web use to Facebook Messages. Source
- Meta previously confirmed the shutdown of standalone Messenger desktop apps for Windows/macOS, pushing web usage. Source
- Meta emphasizes secure storage and recovery methods (PIN or cloud key) in the context of encrypted messaging continuity. Source
Likely reasons (inference)
- Surface consolidation: fewer separate endpoints to maintain, test, and secure.
- Consistent identity layer: centralizing messaging sessions under Facebook’s domain simplifies logins and rollout cadence.
- Product focus: Meta appears to prioritize mobile + web over dedicated desktop clients, as shown by prior app retirements.
These are reasoned interpretations based on Meta’s direction and the sequence of retirements—not a direct quote of Meta’s internal rationale.
If you’re wondering “why remove something that works?”—that’s exactly why people are upset. Messenger.com wasn’t flashy, but it was useful: a stable, single-purpose message screen. When platforms delete “quiet tools,” power users feel it immediately.
If you hate this change: realistic alternatives (and what you give up)
If Messenger.com was your preferred desktop messenger, you now have three practical routes. Each has tradeoffs.
Option 1: Stay with Meta (recommended for continuity)
- Use facebook.com/messages on desktop.
- Use Messenger mobile for recovery settings and account management.
- Create an “open as window” shortcut to keep it distraction-light.
Option 2: Migrate key chats to another app
- WhatsApp (Meta-owned, strong adoption, desktop support).
- Signal (privacy-focused, widely trusted).
- Telegram (great groups, but E2E is not default for all chats).
Migration is social, not technical: it only works if your people move too.
Option 3: Split the difference
- Keep Messenger for legacy contacts.
- Move work/school coordination to a tool your team already supports.
- Document the change so nobody is surprised in April.
Do this before April 2026 (quick checklist)
- Bookmark: facebook.com/messages
- Create a desktop shortcut window (Chrome/Edge) for a Messenger-like experience.
- Open Messenger mobile and confirm your secure storage recovery method (PIN or key). Source
- If your PIN is forgotten, reset it in Messenger settings (Meta notes reset is possible). Source
- If you are Messenger-only without Facebook, decide now whether mobile-only is acceptable or if you need to move conversations. Source
FAQ
When does Messenger.com shut down?
Meta’s guidance (as reported) states Messenger.com will no longer be available for messaging starting April 2026. Source
Where will Messenger.com redirect me?
You’ll be redirected to facebook.com/messages for messaging on a computer, according to Meta’s help wording cited by major outlets. Engadget
Can I still use Messenger on desktop?
Yes—web messaging continues via facebook.com/messages. Source
What if I used Messenger without a Facebook account?
The reported guidance indicates you can continue your conversations on the Messenger mobile app. Source
What is “secure storage” and why does the PIN matter?
Meta explains that secure storage can save your end-to-end encrypted chat history so you can restore messages on other devices. Meta says you can access secure storage with a 6-digit PIN or by storing a key in Google Drive or iCloud. Source
Sources
- TechCrunch (Feb 19, 2026): Meta is shutting down Messenger’s standalone website
- Engadget (Feb 2026): Messenger’s standalone website is being shuttered
- Meta Newsroom (Mar 28, 2024): End-to-End Encryption on Messenger Explained
- TechCrunch (Oct 16, 2025): Meta to shut down Messenger desktop apps for Mac and Windows
Tip for readers: if Meta’s menu labels differ slightly on your device, search in Messenger Settings for “secure storage,” “message storage,” or “end-to-end encrypted chats.”