After over two decades of ups and downs for the video call platform, Microsoft is officially shutting down Skype. The platform boomed in the 2010s and has since become less appealing as an option among competitors like Zoom and other messaging tools.
At one point, Skype was the go-to option for video calls. This was before FaceTime became an option for mobile users and webcams started to capture in more than 720p. It has since paved the way for some of the video call apps and programs we have today, including Zoom, though most users have moved on from Microsoft’s solution and on to better products.
Microsoft is officially shutting Skype down on May 5, 2025 (via TechCrunch). The service has been slowly declining since Zoom became a popular option during the pandemic, but it still had a substantial user base according to numbers from 2023. Those users are being ushered over to Microsoft Teams, which has been positioned as Microsoft’s replacement for the long-standing app.
This was initially found within code back in February, so it isn’t all that unexpected. Skype’s website noted the change on May 5 and explained how the switch to Teams would work.
Microsoft noted that it wants to focus its efforts on Teams to “drive faster innovation.” This switch wasn’t unexpected, as Skype began losing numbers and Teams had become more of a focal point for the company in recent years. Even outside of the corporate world, Microsoft is trying to push Teams to benefit users.
Until April 3, users will still be able to make calls with available credit, though any subscription will come to an end on April 3. Any credit left over can be used on a Skype Dial Pad via a web portal or in Teams as Skype completes the process of shutting down. Skype chats and history will be moved to Teams automatically, which means users don’t necessarily need to worry about losing out on their data. Data can also be exported, if necessary.
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