• Chats to Move to Facebook Instead of Independent Site in 2026
• Change Affects Web Users Only, Mobile Apps Unchanged

Meta has announced its plan to shut down the standalone Messenger website starting April 2026, as part of an effort to simplify its digital services and integrate them more fully into its main platform, Facebook.

Under the decision, users trying to access messenger.com will be automatically redirected to Facebook’s Messages page, while Messenger apps on iOS and Android will continue functioning without any changes.

The company had previously discontinued Messenger apps for Windows and Mac last year, signaling its move toward service unification.

The biggest impact will be on users who rely on Messenger via the web without an active Facebook account, as they will now need to log in through the main platform to access and manage their chats, potentially losing the quick access they previously had via the standalone site.

Messenger was originally launched as a separate app in 2011, after years of offering chat within Facebook, before becoming one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms, competing with apps like WhatsApp, also owned by Meta. As the company continues to integrate its services, users are advised to check their Facebook login details and back up important chats in case of future changes.