Facebook Messenger is a popular messaging app that allows users to communicate with each other through text, voice, and video calls. With over 1 billion active users, it's one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world. Facebook Messenger offers a range of features, including group chats, file sharing, and end-to-end encryption.

Even though the Store search is disabled, Microsoft kept the download servers active for previously owned apps. If you had Messenger installed on this Lumia 520 before 2019, it remains tied to your Microsoft account.

Probability of Success: <5%

It is no longer possible to download or use the official Facebook Messenger app on a Nokia Lumia 520.

Downloading requires a mix of nostalgia, patience, and technical workarounds. The easiest path is checking your “My Library” for a past installation. The most dependable modern method is using a browser. And the most rewarding for enthusiasts is sideloading the classic XAP.

Move on to Method 2.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explain the current state of the Windows Phone Store (now Microsoft Store legacy), the compatibility of Messenger with Windows Phone 8.1, and the step-by-step methods to install Facebook Messenger even in 2024-2025.

As of 2026, there is no official, direct, one-click download of Facebook Messenger for the Lumia 520 from the Microsoft Store.