Microsoft has revealed that it will be discontinuing the popular video calling service Skype.

After 21 years of operation, Skype’s 2 billion users will lose access to their accounts beginning in May 2025.

Microsoft has announced that Skype, the iconic communication platform, will shut down on May 5, 2025. After 22 years of operation, Skype’s closure marks the end of an era. The company is shifting its focus to Microsoft Teams, which has gained significant traction as a productivity and communication tool, especially in the business world. As part of this transition, Microsoft aims to streamline its services and provide a more integrated experience for users.

Skype users will be encouraged to move their accounts to Teams, where their contacts, message histories, and group chats will be automatically transferred. However, Skype’s calling features for domestic and international numbers will be discontinued, and Skype credits will no longer be available after May 2025. Subscriptions will remain active until their next renewal cycle.

Microsoft stresses that the decision to close Skype won’t lead to job cuts, as the team behind Skype will continue their work on improving Microsoft Teams for consumers. Despite the transition, Skype’s closure is a major shift in how people interact online, signaling the dominance of platforms like Teams and Zoom in the evolving digital landscape. For many, it’s a bittersweet goodbye to a service that shaped online communication for over two decades.

What is Skype?

Skype is a communication platform that allows users to make voice and video calls, send instant messages, and share files over the internet. Launched in 2003, it became one of the most popular tools for personal and business communication. Skype enables one-on-one and group calls, and it supports international calling at affordable rates. It also offers features like screen sharing and voicemail. Initially a revolutionary tool for connecting people worldwide, Skype became widely used for both professional and personal conversations. In recent years, however, competition from other messaging apps and platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams has grown.