Windows Messenger service

This article is about a local component of Microsoft Windows. For public instant messaging network on the Internet, see Microsoft Messenger service.

WinPopup, shown in the background, first appeared in Windows for Workgroups, together with several other network applications.

Messenger service is a network-based system notification Windows service by Microsoft that was included in some earlier versions of Microsoft Windows.

This retired technology, although it has a similar name, is not related in any way to the later, Internet-based Microsoft Messenger service for instant messaging or to Windows Messenger and Windows Live Messenger (formerly named MSN Messenger) client software.