If you use Messenger through your browser, a major change is coming soon. Meta has confirmed that it will shut down the standalone Messenger website, messenger.com, starting April 2026. This means users will no longer be able to access their chats through the dedicated website. Going forward, anyone who wants to message from a computer will need to do so through Facebook instead of a separate site.
‘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.’
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The change doesn’t eliminate Messenger itself, but it does remove the independent web experience that many people preferred. Users who already stay logged into Facebook may not notice much difference, but those who used Messenger without actively using Facebook could find the shift frustrating.
If you use Messenger without a Facebook account, then you’ll only be able to continue your conversations on the Messenger mobile app. Meta says chat backups will remain accessible. Users can restore their message history on any platform using the PIN they created when setting up Messenger backups.
The update was first spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi. According to reports, Meta has been informing users directly through pop-up notifications on both the Messenger website and the app.
Messenger’s journey has seen several shifts over the years. It originally launched as Facebook Chat in 2008 before becoming a standalone Messenger app in 2011. In 2014, Facebook even removed messaging from its main mobile app to push users toward Messenger as a separate service. However, that changed in 2023, when Meta started integrating Messenger features back into the Facebook app again.
While the move has drawn criticism from users who enjoyed keeping Messenger separate, it will likely allow the company to simplify its ecosystem and reduce the number of platforms it needs to maintain.