Skype is Shutting Down by Microsoft

Internet based calling service, Skype will officially shut down, Microsoft aims to focus entirely to Teams.

Skype Shutting Down

The decline of Skype has been a long time coming. Microsoft, which acquired the service in 2011, first signaled a shift in direction in 2016 with the introduction of Teams, its collaboration focused platform designed to integrate messaging, video calls, and third party apps. Although Skype for Business had launched a year prior in 2015, the arrival of Teams suggested Microsoft was moving toward a more comprehensive cloud communications strategy.

It remains unclear how many users will be affected by the shutdown on May 5, 2025. “We know this is a big deal for our Skype users, and we’re very grateful for their support of Skype and all the learnings that have factored into Teams over the last seven years,” Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps and platforms, told TechCrunch this week. “At this point, putting all our focus behind Teams will let us give a simpler message and drive faster innovation.” Between now and the May 5 shutdown date, users will have the opportunity to transfer their contacts and chat data to Microsoft Teams. Additionally, those who wish to retain their Skype conversations can download their data using the app’s built in export tool.

In the coming days, Microsoft will begin enabling users to sign in to Teams, which launched a new Games for Work app in 2022, using their Skype credentials, with contacts and chats automatically transferring over. Additionally, users will have the option to export their Skype data. As part of the transition, Microsoft will discontinue the sale of monthly Skype subscriptions, though any remaining Skype credits will still be usable within Teams. The last available data from Microsoft, shared in 2023, reported 36 million active Skype users, far from its peak of 300 million.

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