Microsoft has officially brought the curtain down on Skype, ending support for the once-revolutionary platform that helped define internet-based voice and video communication for two decades.
Users are now being shifted to the free version of Microsoft Teams as Skype’s features are gradually retired.
Smooth Transition in Place
Existing Skype users can access Microsoft Teams using the same login credentials. Their contact lists and chat histories will be automatically transferred to the new platform.
However, some services won’t carry over, Teams’ free version, for instance, caps group video calls at 60 minutes and doesn’t allow pay-as-you-go calls or texting through Skype Credit.
Deadline to Save Your Data
Microsoft has given users until January 2026 to back up their Skype data. After that, all remaining files and messages will be permanently deleted. Users are strongly encouraged to save anything important well before that deadline.
The company explained that retiring Skype is part of a broader effort to simplify its consumer communication tools and strengthen Microsoft Teams as the go-to hub for chatting, calling, and collaboration.
Skype was launched in 2003 and quickly became popular for making free or affordable internet calls.
Microsoft purchased the platform in 2011, weaving it into its broader suite of services. But as newer apps like Discord and Google Meet gained traction, Skype’s popularity began to wane.
Though it’s now part of tech history, Skype remains an iconic name that helped shape how the world connects online.