deprecation process Archives

Winsage

August 19, 2026

Microsoft removes WMIC tool from Windows 11

Microsoft has removed the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool from Windows 11 builds 24H2 and 25H2, as well as beta releases, as part of a deprecation process that began several years ago. WMIC was first deprecated in Windows Server 2012 and Windows 10 and was later made a Feature on Demand in Windows 11 22H2 before its complete removal. The tool had been exploited by malware, including ransomware, for harmful actions such as deleting Shadow Volume Copies and querying security software. Microsoft recommends IT administrators use alternatives like PowerShell, WMI's COM API, or .NET libraries for management tasks.

AppWizard

October 18, 2025

Meta to shut down Messenger desktop app for Windows

Meta is discontinuing its standalone Messenger desktop applications for Windows and macOS, effective December 15, 2025. After this date, users will be redirected to the Facebook website for messaging. Users will receive a 60-day notice before the apps are fully deprecated. During the transition, the apps will remain functional but access will be blocked after the deadline. Meta suggests uninstalling the applications once they are non-functional. Users can access Messenger through the Facebook desktop app or website, and chat functionality is available for Messenger-only accounts via the web version. Meta recommends enabling secure storage and a PIN to protect chat history. This decision is part of a broader strategy to shift towards web-based messaging, following the introduction of a Progressive Web App (PWA) version of Messenger in September 2024.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Meta is discontinuing Windows and Mac Messenger apps

Meta has announced the discontinuation of its Messenger desktop applications for Windows and Mac. Users will be notified upon logging in that the apps will become inoperable in 60 days, requiring them to transition to the Messenger feature on the Facebook website. Users are encouraged to delete the app after it is fully deprecated, as it will no longer be usable. Chat history can be saved if users enable secure storage. Users with a Messenger-only account will be redirected to Messenger.com.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Messenger App Is Out—And Your Chats Need a Safety Plan

Meta has confirmed the discontinuation of the Messenger desktop applications for Windows and macOS, effective December 15, 2025. After this date, users will no longer have access to the app or unsecured chats, and they are advised to uninstall the app. Users will be redirected to the Facebook website for messaging. Meta encourages a transition to the web or mobile versions of Messenger, and for Windows users, the standalone Facebook app is available as an alternative. To save conversations, users should enable secure storage and establish a PIN to archive or migrate chats to the web or mobile versions. The reasons for the shutdown have not been specified, but it may relate to a declining user base or limited development resources.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Meta is Killing Messenger’s Mac app. Here’s what to do next

Meta is discontinuing the Messenger application for Mac, directing users to the web version for messaging. New downloads of the app have been halted, and existing users will have approximately 60 days before the app is fully deprecated. Users will receive an in-app notification about this change, and after the 60-day period, access to the app will be blocked. Meta advises users to enable secure storage and set up a PIN to safeguard chat history before transitioning to the web version. Users are encouraged to back up important data and adapt their workflows accordingly.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Facebook Messenger app closing on billions of devices as users told to save DMs

Meta is discontinuing the Messenger app for desktop users on both Mac and Windows operating systems, with complete shutdown by mid-December. Users will need to transition to the Messenger website, as the desktop app will be deprecated and inaccessible. Meta will notify users through in-app alerts, providing a 60-day grace period before the app becomes unusable. Users are advised to save their chat histories and secure their data before the shutdown. The decision likely stems from declining usage rates, and the mobile version of Messenger will remain unaffected. There are over 1.4 billion PCs running Windows and approximately 100 million Mac users impacted by this change.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Meta to End Messenger Desktop Apps for Windows and Mac by December 15

Meta will close its standalone Messenger desktop applications for Windows and Mac on December 15. After the shutdown, users will be redirected to Facebook.com or Messenger.com if they don't have a Facebook account. Desktop app users will receive an in-app notification and have a 60-day grace period to use the Mac Messenger app before it becomes inoperable. Users are advised to activate secure storage and set up a PIN to safeguard their chat history before transitioning to the web version. Their chat history will remain accessible across all platforms after migrating. Secure storage can be checked in the settings under Privacy & Safety > End-to-end Encrypted Chats.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Meta To Shut Down Messenger App For Desktop On 15 December

Meta will shut down the Messenger desktop app on macOS and Windows effective December 15. Users will receive notifications during a 60-day grace period to transition to the browser-based version. After this period, access to the desktop app will be blocked, and users are advised to uninstall it. The mobile versions of the Messenger app will remain operational.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Meta is Sunsetting its Messenger Apps for Windows and Mac

Meta is discontinuing its Messenger applications for Windows and macOS. Users will receive in-app notifications about the deprecation, with a 60-day grace period for the Mac version before it becomes obsolete. The Mac Messenger app has been removed from the Mac App Store, while the Facebook Messenger app is still available for download from the Microsoft Store. Meta transitioned its native Messenger desktop applications to progressive web apps last year, allowing continued access through Facebook.com and messenger.com for users with and without a Facebook account, respectively.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Meta Shuts Down Messenger Desktop Apps for Mac and Windows

Meta is discontinuing its standalone Messenger desktop applications for Mac and Windows, effective December 15. Mac users will have a 60-day grace period to use the app before it becomes inoperative, after which they are encouraged to uninstall it. Following the shutdown, users will be redirected to Facebook.com for messaging. Windows users can still use the Facebook desktop app, while Mac users will need to rely on the web version of Messenger. This change follows Meta's earlier decision to transition to a Progressive Web App in September 2024.