Microsoft Will Shut Down Skype After 22 Years of Service

Microsoft has announced that it will permanently shut down Skype on May 5, 2025, after 22 years of service. This decision is part of Microsoft’s strategy to prioritize Microsoft Teams for communication and collaboration.

“In the past two years, the number of minutes spent in meetings by consumer users of Teams has grown 4X,” said Jeff Teper, President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms at Microsoft. The official announcement did not include details on Skype usage.

Users with existing Skype credits and subscriptions can continue using them until May 5, 2025. After that, any remaining Skype Credit will still be accessible through the Skype web portal within Teams until the end of the next renewal period. Paid Skype features are no longer available to new customers.

For those transitioning to Teams, Microsoft says the process will be seamless. Users can sign in to Teams with their Skype credentials, and their existing contacts and chat histories will migrate automatically.

During the transition period, cross-platform communication will be possible – users can chat between Skype and Teams accounts. Those who don’t wish to move to Teams can download their chats, contacts, and call history before Skype shuts down.

Microsoft encourages users to try Teams Free, as it offers similar features to Skype, like chat, voice calls, and video meetings, along with a suite of AI-powered tools and other features. However, unlike Skype, Teams does not currently support phone calls to landlines and mobile numbers or offer personal phone numbers. Microsoft has not confirmed whether this functionality will be added to Teams in the future.

Launched in 2003, Skype was a pioneer in internet voice and video calling. Microsoft acquired it in 2011 and expanded its offerings with Skype for Business in 2015. Teams launched in 2017 as part of Microsoft 365 but was later unbundled following regulatory pressure. Teams has since evolved into Microsoft’s primary communication platform for businesses and personal users.

Skype once boasted 300 million active users and played a major role in shaping how people connect online. Its shutdown marks the end of an era, as users increasingly turn to alternatives like Zoom, WhatsApp, and FaceTime.