Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will be retiring the Facebook Messenger app for Apple Watch in early June. According to 9to5Mac, some WatchOS users recently received a notification that the Messenger app will no longer be available after May 31.
This continues the app dying on the Apple Watch. Other major companies have stopped developing apps for the Apple Watch in the past, including Twitter, Instagram, Uber, Target, Trello, Slack, Hulu, and Evernote.
Messenger app end notification on WatchOS
The Apple Watch user amanda nova posted a screenshot on Twitter of the notification she received about the shutdown of Facebook Messenger on WatchOS.
After May 31, Messenger will no longer be available as an Apple Watch app, but you can still receive Messenger notifications on your watch
says the notification.
link to Twitter content
Meta has now also spoken out about the shutdown of Facebook Messenger for the Apple Watch. According to Review Geek, an unspecified spokesman for Meta has confirmed that Apple users should switch to the iPhone app, desktop or web version of the messenger starting in June:
Users can still receive Messenger notifications on their Apple Watch when paired, but by the end of May they won’t be able to reply from their watch. But they can still use Messenger on their iPhone, desktop, and the web.
(Editor’s note: The speaker later clarified that this change at the beginning of June
and not Still May
will be held).
Official statement from Meta
What do you think of the end of Facebook Messenger support for the Apple Watch? Do you have the app installed on your watch? How will you use Messenger in the future? And which app do you think should never be switched off? As always, let us know what you think in the comments.