After nearly a quarter of a century, Skype is finally closing down, with Microsoft pointing its users to Microsoft Teams instead. This announcement was first spotted in a Skype for Windows preview but was soon officially confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) by the messaging app.
Microsoft Teams Does What Skype Could Do and So Much More
According toSkype’s post on X, it will no longer be available starting May 2025. You can instead use Microsoft Teams Free for your messaging and internet calling needs.
Skype was the pioneer in online telephone communications when it launched in 2003, as it allowed users to make calls and send text messages online through the internet. At its peak, Skype boasted over 560 million registered users, with 124 million actively using the platform every month.
The messaging platform decided to go public by filing for an IPO in 2010. However, Microsoft instead made an $8.5-billion offer for the company in 2011, where it served as the software giant’s consumer messaging product. On the other hand, it also launched Microsoft Teams in 2016, which was designed for business and enterprise use.
Skype continued getting updated even after Teams launched; that’s why it received theseneat Skype features you can use for your next call. However, Microsoft started slowly deprecating other features that weren’t popular in recent years, likeSkype Number getting shut down in December 2024.
That’s because Teams Free offers the same calling and messaging features that Skype has, but it also has other features that make it more useful. For example, it has calendar integration, making it easier to schedule and make plans, and there’s also the Communities feature which is similar to other collaboration apps like Google Chat or Slack.
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However, we’ll also lose the dial-out feature on Skype, which allows you to call landline and cellular numbers directly from the app. Those who still have some credit remaining can still use it on the Skype web app or directly on Teams, but you cannot top-up your account anymore.
Automatically Migrate Your Skype Chats and Contacts
Those who still frequently use Skype don’t need to worry about losing their contacts, message history, and more. Microsoft is making it easy to move to Teams Free, as all you need to do is log into it with your Skype account details, and it will automatically transfer all your Skype data. And even after you’ve transferred your data to Teams Free, you’re able to still use Skype until July 12, 2025.
But for those who do not want to use Microsoft Teams, you can still export your data from Skype by going to theExport files and chat historypage on the Skype website. That way, you’ll still have a copy of your past conversations and files, even when the messaging app is no longer around.
