Microsoft has officially discontinued Skype, marking the end of an era for the pioneering voice and video communication platform that once revolutionised online calls and messaging.
The decision, effective Monday (May 5), comes as Microsoft moves to consolidate its communication services under Microsoft Teams — a platform that has gained significant traction in recent years, especially among professional and educational users.
Skype, which debuted in 2003, enjoyed immense popularity in the early 2010s.
However, its usage declined sharply amid growing competition from platforms like Zoom, WhatsApp, and even Microsoft’s own Teams. Citing a need to streamline user experience and focus on a unified communication ecosystem, Microsoft announced it would sunset Skype and encourage users to transition to Teams.
Users will be able to export their Skype chat history, contacts, and files until January 2026. After that, all remaining data will be permanently deleted, the company said.
Microsoft has assured users that they can log in to Teams using their existing Skype credentials. Contacts and chat history will carry over automatically, and Teams — available for free — includes most of Skype’s core features along with additional tools like calendar integration, file sharing, and community management.
“While Skype’s closure marks the end of an era, Microsoft Teams offers a modern and integrated communication experience,” the company said.