Partly. Meta has no Facebook Messenger desktop app for Linux, but the web version works in a Linux browser.
Meta shut down its Messenger desktop apps for Windows and Mac in December 2025, so the web version is the desktop option on every system.
Which install method should you use for Facebook Messenger?
Use in a web browser.
- In a web browser. Meta offers Facebook Messenger on the web, so no install is needed.
Use Facebook Messenger in a web browser
Meta offers Facebook Messenger on the web. Open it in Firefox, Chrome or Edge on Linux and sign in. Chrome and Edge can usually install web apps like this one in their own window.
Open Facebook Messenger on the web
Best Facebook Messenger alternatives for Linux
Signal
TelegramSources
Facebook Messenger on Linux: common questions
Does Facebook Messenger work on Linux?
Partly. Meta has no Facebook Messenger desktop app for Linux, but the web version works in a Linux browser.
What is the best Linux alternative to Facebook Messenger?
Signal and Telegram are the closest alternatives that run on Linux. Signal: Signal Foundation publishes an official Linux version of Signal. It’s on Flathub (1.8M installs) and in the Arch Linux repositories.