On May 5, 2025, Skype will officially cease operations. Microsoft announced the closure of one of the most famous video communication services, which for more than 20 years remained a symbol of online communication. Users will be transferred to Microsoft Teams.
Image source: Microsoft
A few months ago, Microsoft officially confirmed plans to shut down Skype, citing a strategic shift to a single communications platform. “To simplify our free communications services and more quickly adapt to customer needs, we’re shutting down Skype in May 2025 and will focus on Microsoft Teams,” the company said. Launched in 2003, Skype pioneered video calling but has since given way to more modern platforms.
To smooth the transition to Teams, the company began the migration back in February, months before the shutdown. Skype will continue to operate as usual until May 5, but after that date, the service will cease to exist.
To change platforms, users simply need to log into Teams using their Skype credentials, and the platform will then automatically transfer contacts and correspondence.
Users are also interested in what will happen to Skype’s paid services. Microsoft explained that new subscriptions and balance top-ups via Skype Credit are no longer available. However, existing customers will be able to use the remaining funds until their plans expire – either through the Skype Dial Pad, or through the web version of Skype, or directly in Microsoft Teams. Over time, all Skype features will be fully integrated into the new ecosystem.
Overall, the process of switching to Teams is as simple as possible. In addition to automatic data transfer, users will have access to familiar features: video calls, group conferences and file sharing, since both platforms have similar functions, but Teams offers more – calendar integration, community tools and advanced collaboration capabilities.
In fact, Teams is becoming a full-fledged replacement for Skype, combining both work and personal communications. Although Skype has remained a simple and convenient messenger for many years, Microsoft has placed its bets on a more universal platform. Some users, especially those who have been accustomed to the Skype interface for years, will have to adapt to the changes, but the company assures that the new service will be able to offer more opportunities. Formally, we can say that Microsoft Teams is becoming the “new Skype”, but with much broader functionality.