Meta has announced that Facebook’s Messenger Apple Watch app will be discontinued at the end of this month, May 31, 2023.
Messenger is Facebook’s messaging app which allows users to send texts, leave voice notes and make audio and video calls to friends, family, or followers. Launched in 2015, the Messenger Apple Watch app allows iPhone users with an Apple Watch to view text messages, respond to them via text, stickers, reactions, and more, listen to voice notes, or answer audio calls directly from the wrist.
The app was recently updated on May 9 with performance improvements and bug fixes but it may be its last update.
After May, users will not be able to respond to messages via the Messenger Apple Watch app
According to a screenshot shared on Twitter, Meta has been sending notifications to users that the Messenger Apple Watch app would not be available after May 31 and they would only be able to receive Messenger notifications on the smartwatch.
Reviewgeek reached out to Meta for clarification and the company’s spokesperson confirmed the news in the following statement:
“People can still receive Messenger notifications on their Apple Watch when paired, but starting at the end of May they will no longer be able to respond from their watch. But they can continue using Messenger on their iPhone, desktop and the web.”
However, Meta did not provide reasons for discontinuing the Messenger Apple Watch app. Users speculate the company is ending support of the app on Apple Watch because of the reduction in users’ time spend on Messenger.
In November 2022, Meta announced the closure of the development of smart displays and smartwatches. The company was going to launch its smartwatch this year as part of Zuckerberg’s ambition to control the next computing platforms but it lacked support for the two biggest platforms, iOS, and Android.
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