Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue Skype, its iconic video calling and messaging service, in May 2025. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the company encouraged users to switch to Microsoft Teams in order to retain their chats and contacts.
“Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days, you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype,” the company stated.
Skype, originally launched in August 2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, quickly became a global communications giant, reaching 54 million registered users by 2005. It was acquired by eBay in the same year for $2.6 billion but later sold a majority stake to Silver Lake, a private equity firm, in 2009. Microsoft took full control of Skype in 2011, integrating the platform into its software ecosystem.
However, as competition intensified from services like Zoom, WhatsApp, and even Microsoft’s own Teams, Skype struggled to maintain its dominance in the communications space.
In explaining its decision, Microsoft cited the need to streamline its communications tools. “The way we communicate has evolved significantly over the years. From instant messaging to video calls, technology has continuously transformed how we connect with each other,” the company said. “To better adapt to customer needs, we will be retiring Skype in May 2025 to focus on Microsoft Teams (free), our modern communications and collaboration hub.”
As part of the transition, Microsoft also confirmed it will no longer offer paid Skype features to new customers, including Skype credits and phone call subscriptions. Existing paid users will be able to continue their subscriptions until their next renewal, and those with Skype credits will have until May 2025 to use any remaining balance.