Facebook announces new Messenger app for Mac and Windows

Facebook Messenger Desktop
Facebook Messenger Desktop (Image credit: Facebook)

What you need to know

  • Facebook has just announced a brand new Messenger app for macOS and Windows.
  • It will enable Facebook users to make video calls from a desktop on their computers.
  • Facebook says it saw a 100% increase in audio and video calling messenger last month.

Facebook has today announced its new Messenger app for Mac and Windows, which will allow users to make video calls from their desktop. In a blog post it stated:

Today we're launching a Messenger app for macOS and Windows so you can video chat on your computer and stay connected with friends and family all over the world.Now more than ever, people are using technology to stay in touch with the people they care about, even when physically apart. Over the past month, we saw more than a 100% increase in people using their desktop browser for audio and video calling on Messenger. Now with apps for macOS and Windows, the best of Messenger is coming to desktop, including unlimited and free group video calls.

Benefits highlighted by Facebook include a larger screen for video calling compared to the mobile app, easy connection with anyone you are friends with on Facebook (no need for emails or phone numbers), multitasking, notifications, chat sync across mobile and desktop, and of course Dark Mode!

The new App is available from both the Microsoft Store and the Mac App store now. Of course, because this is Facebook messenger, it will also support text chat, just like the mobile version. On macOS, you'll need OS X 10.10.0 or later, Windows users will need Windows 10 version 10240.0 or higher.

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.

Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9