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Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue Skype operations in May 2025, shifting its focus entirely to its modern communication platform, Microsoft Teams (free). The move signals Microsoft's intent to consolidate its communication services around Teams after two decades of Skype serving as a leading online calling and messaging service.
"Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days, you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype," read a post on Skype's X.
On February 28, 2025, Jeff Teper, President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms at Microsoft, stated that the move aims to streamline the company’s consumer communication services and enhance user experience through a more robust and feature-rich platform.
Over the coming days, Skype users will be able to sign into Teams using their existing Skype credentials. Chats and contacts will be automatically transferred, allowing for a seamless transition. Users who prefer not to migrate to Teams can export their Skype data, including chats, contacts, and call history, before the service shuts down on May 5, 2025. During the transition, Skype users will still be able to communicate with Teams users and vice versa, ensuring connectivity is maintained across platforms.
Microsoft also noted that it will no longer offer Skype Credit and subscription-based calling features to new customers. Existing Skype subscription users can continue using their plans until the end of their next renewal period. After May 5, 2025, paid users will have access to the Skype Dial Pad via the Skype web portal and within Microsoft Teams.
The move to retire Skype comes as Microsoft sees exponential growth in Teams usage. The company noted that the number of minutes spent in meetings by Teams’ consumer users has quadrupled in the past two years, signaling a shift in communication preferences.
