Skype Shuts Down After 23 Years: Microsoft Shifts Users to Teams by May 2025

Microsoft has officially announced the end of Skype, once the world’s most widely used video calling app. Starting May 5, 2025, Skype will stop functioning globally, ending a remarkable 23-year journey that helped pioneer internet-based communication.

Microsoft, which acquired Skype in 2011, is encouraging all users to transition to Microsoft Teams, a more advanced communication platform designed for both personal and professional use. Teams offers all the core functions of Skype — such as video calls, messaging, and file sharing — but adds modern features like enterprise-grade security, real-time document collaboration, and support for up to 10,000 participants in meetings.

Users can log into Teams using their existing Skype credentials, and Microsoft confirms that chat history, contacts, and shared files will automatically migrate to the Teams platform. The company says the transition is designed to be seamless, especially for users already familiar with Microsoft’s services.

Launched in 2003, Skype revolutionized digital communication by offering free and easy-to-use video calling worldwide. It became a household name and was widely used for everything from casual chats to business calls. However, with the rise of competing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, Skype gradually lost its dominance — particularly during the pandemic-driven shift to remote work.

Microsoft Teams has since emerged as a more robust alternative, integrating with tools like Word, Excel, and Outlook, while offering secure communications and advanced team collaboration features.

For those not interested in continuing with Teams, Microsoft is allowing users to export their Skype data — including chat logs, contacts, call history, and shared files — before the service shuts down. To do so, users must log in to their Skype account and follow the export instructions from the account settings on the web.

Though Skype will no longer be available after May 2025, its impact on modern communication is undeniable. It laid the groundwork for today’s global video conferencing and helped connect millions of people across borders for over two decades.