Skype Officially Shut Down Today: Microsoft Shifts Focus to Teams
Microsoft has officially ended Skype services on May 5, 2025, pushing users toward its Teams (Free) platform. All chats and contacts can be accessed using Skype credentials on Teams. While new purchases of Skype services have been discontinued, existing users can continue using current plans until they expire.
Microsoft has officially closed down its erstwhile hit Skype video call service on May 5, 2025, ending an era of online communication. The development is in line with the tech giant's move to consolidate its communication software and focus on the more modern and cross-platform Microsoft Teams (Free) platform.
Why Is Skype Being Discontinued?
Skype, launched back in 2003, transformed online communication with the ability to make video and voice calls around the globe. But with time, the service lost ground to other competitors such as Zoom, Google Meet, as well as Microsoft's own Teams.
Officially, in a blog post, Microsoft stated:
"To simplify our free consumer communications products, we are ending support for Skype in May 2025 to concentrate on Microsoft Teams (Free), our contemporary communications and collaboration center.
What's the Fate of Skype Users?
Both free and paid Skype users are ensured a smooth transition by Microsoft.
Chats & Contacts
Your chats, call history, and contact lists will be all present on Microsoft Teams when you sign in using your current Skype credentials.
Paid Services
Skype Credit and Subscriptions cannot be purchased anymore.
Current plans can be used till the end of the current billing cycle.
Skype Numbers
Users can keep receiving calls through Teams.
Skype Numbers will retain validity until expiration and may be transferred to other telecom providers.
How to Get Started with Microsoft Teams (Free)
- It is easy to switch to Teams and not need to sign up for a new account.
- Download Microsoft Teams from the official site.
- Sign in with your Skype username and password.
- Begin messaging, calling, and collaborating—your old Skype information will be synced.