Microsoft Confirms Skype Will Be Shut Down in May — Teams Will Replace It

Microsoft has officially announced that it will shut down its Skype internet calling service, with the last call scheduled for May 5. The company said in a statement that shutting down Skype will allow it to focus on its Teams enterprise platform while simplifying its own communications offerings.

Image source: Microsoft

«To optimize our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs, we will shut down Skype in May 2025 to focus on Microsoft Teams, our modern hub for communications and collaboration,” Microsoft said in a statement.

To make it easier for users to transition to the Teams platform, Microsoft will soon allow users to sign in using their Skype credentials, where they will have access to all of their Skype chats and contacts. This feature will initially be available to Teams and Skype Insiders, and will be rolled out to others. Those who do not plan to use Teams will be given the option to export their existing Skype data.

New Skype customers will not be able to make or receive international or domestic calls using pay-as-you-go credit and subscriptions. However, current subscribers will be able to use their credits and subscriptions until the end of the next renewal period. Skype credit will be available until May 5. It is unclear whether Microsoft will refund users’ remaining credits after that date.

The peer-to-peer video calling service Skype was created by Niklas Zennström, Janus Friis, and four other Estonian developers. After its launch in 2003, Skype gained widespread popularity. By the fall of 2005, the service had attracted 40 million active users and was acquired by eBay for $2.6 billion. In 2011, Microsoft acquired the service from eBay for $8.5 billion.

During the pandemic, Skype lost ground to Zoom. And when Microsoft discontinued its Skype for Business client in 2021, Skype’s days were numbered. Microsoft declined to provide the latest Skype user numbers and said there would be no layoffs in its team as it transitioned to Teams. It added that Teams has about 320 million monthly active users.

«Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and creating countless meaningful moments, and we’re proud to be a part of that journey,” Microsoft said.