For enthusiasts and preservationists, circulating on forums (like XDA-Developers or Windows Central) today are not official Facebook updates. Instead, they fall into three categories:
Download a trusted, archived package like Facebook 8.1 XAP or the Facebook Beta XAP from community preservation libraries.
The XAP format also allowed Facebook to take advantage of Windows Phone's unique features, such as the camera and microphone. For example, users could take photos and videos directly from the app and share them with their friends.
If you try to install an old version of Facebook from 2014, it will likely fail due to: facebook windows phone xap new
The Best Alternatives: How to Actually Use Facebook on Windows Phone
Deploying… Success.
But Alex and a small group of "Lumia-heads" aren't ready to let go. They aren't just hobbyists; they are digital archeologists. The Great Patching Alex spends weeks digging through the code of an old Facebook v5.3 XAP For example, users could take photos and videos
Use alternative browsers still maintained by the homebrew community, or use specific text-based mobile links (like ://facebook.com ) which strip away heavy JavaScript. This allows the legacy browser engines to render the page successfully. The Verdict
“Leo sent you a message 11 years ago.”
Download the patched Facebook XAP file to your computer. They aren't just hobbyists; they are digital archeologists
: Separate communications architecture package. 3. Deploy the Package Using PC Tools
The Modern Workaround: How to Actually Access Facebook on Windows Phone
The "new" XAP is useful for scrolling your feed and replying to group comments. It is useless for video or voice calls.