Meta to Discontinue Messenger Lite on September 18th, Directs Users to Main Apps for Messaging Needs

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is set to shut down its Messenger Lite service on September 18th. While the lightweight platform is no longer available for new users on the Play Store, existing users can still download it. Messenger Lite, known for its minimalistic design and small download size, is an alternative to the main Messenger app. Despite lacking some advanced features, it has garnered a dedicated user base globally, especially in India.

Meta confirmed this closure and stated that starting from August 21st, Messenger Lite users on Android will be directed to either Messenger or FB Lite for messaging. The move aligns with Meta's efforts to streamline its product offerings.

This news comes shortly after another change in the Messenger landscape, where Meta announced that Messenger would no longer function as the default SMS app on Android after September 28th. Similar to other tech giants, Meta is focusing on core products and services, leaving behind non-critical offerings. The shutdown underscores a trend of such actions by industry leaders like Google and Amazon.

It's worth noting that while Messenger Lite for Android is being discontinued, its iOS counterpart was removed in 2020. Additionally, earlier this year, Meta surprised users by pulling the Facebook Messenger app from the Apple Watch without providing a clear explanation. Instead, users were directed to use Messenger on other devices.