Meta to discontinue standalone Messenger.com web access from April 15

Meta has announced that, starting April 15, users will no longer be able to access Messenger.com as a standalone web app. Instead, anyone wishing to use Messenger in a web browser will need to log in via Facebook’s full interface. This marks a significant change in how users interact with Messenger outside dedicated mobile apps.

Meta had previously ended support for its standalone Messenger client for Windows. The company directed users to the Facebook desktop app, which retains core messaging features including computer-based calls. These moves indicate Meta’s broader strategy of consolidating its messaging ecosystem into the main Facebook platform.

While the main Facebook site still provides direct access to conversations, the removal of Messenger.com signals a shift from commitments made by Meta to the European Commission. In early 2024, Meta had enabled Europeans to log into Messenger and Facebook independently, allowing users to create Messenger accounts not tied to Facebook and access basic messaging, voice, and video services. These latest changes appear to roll back some of those customer autonomy options introduced under the Digital Markets Act.