list of ways to use a desktop-based version of Facebook Messenger

Methods that are maintained by Facebook itself:

• access messenger.com using any browser
• desktop Messenger app for Windows (this will stop working in December 2025)
• desktop Facebook app
• install Messenger.com as a PWA (progressive web app) in Chrome
  • Unfortunately, in Firefox, "web apps in Firefox will not use a minimal browser frame and will continue to show a main toolbar with address bar, extensions, bookmarks". To me, this makes Firefox far less useful for PWAs.

Methods that are maintained by a third party:

• the Opera browser actually has Messenger built-in from the factory [2] [3]
• Chrome apps (note that Google ended support for Chrome Apps as of June 2022)
  • "App for Messenger", by Jorvi, last updated 2018
• Firefox apps
  • "App for Messenger", by Fernika, last updated 2018