Microsoft has officially announced the discontinuation of Skype, marking the end of the video calling and messaging service 14 years after it replaced Windows Live Messenger.
The platform will go offline on May 5, 2025, with users encouraged to transition to Microsoft Teams.
The news first surfaced when an XDA reader spotted a message in the latest Skype for Windows preview, stating: “Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available. Continue your calls and chats in Teams.” The notification also mentioned that some contacts have already moved to Teams for free.
Currently, the shutdown appears specific to Windows, with no confirmation yet on the future of Skype for Android or other platforms. However, Microsoft has assured that Skype users will have over 60 days to export their data and migrate their accounts to Teams.
Jeff Teper, President of Microsoft 365 Collaborative Apps & Platforms, confirmed that Skype users can now sign into Teams (free) using their existing credentials, with access rolling out first to those in the Skype and Teams Insider programs.
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It is worth mentioning that Skype was launched in August 2003 by a group of Swedish, Danish, and Estonian developers.
In 2005, eBay acquired the service for $2.6 billion, before Microsoft purchased it in 2011 for $8.5 billion, later using it to replace Windows Live Messenger.
