We are witnessing the end of an era, watching an early legend slowly go down. Skype is shutting down in May 2025. The Skype retirement news was very generously brought to us by Microsoft, the company that had purchased the app over 14 years ago. Microsoft’s Skype shutdown announcement is sudden but unsurprising as the company has long pushed for its Microsoft Teams app to be the messaging and video calling portal of choice. 

Skype’s last day of service has been set for May 5, 2025, following which users will be forced to switch to another platform for all their video calling needs. Microsoft is hoping its Teams platform will be the alternative that people turn to, but users also have the option of using the built-in export tool to take their chat and contact data elsewhere. Why is Skype shutting down? Let’s explore.

Skype retirement news

Microsoft is sunsetting Skype in favor of Teams. (Image: Freepik)

Skype Is Shutting Down: A Master Guide on Everything You Need to Know

The news of Microsoft ending Skype has hit the internet by storm and while no one is surprised, many have been hit hard by the news. Since the early days of Skype, many other video messaging platforms have taken over, especially for niche purposes like business communication, but Skype has remained a reliable way of getting in touch with friends and family, especially for the older generation of netizens.

With Skype shutting down, users will have to adapt and turn to another alternative in 2025. The sunsetting of Skype is a sad time for many older users in particular. 

When Is Skype Shutting Down? 

Users do not have to be alarmed about losing access to their data immediately, as Skype’s last day of service is May 5, 2025. All the features will remain functional until then, giving people a chance to migrate their chats and contacts to another platform. The easiest option is to log into the free Microsoft Teams portal with the same login credentials, so the data will be transferred automatically.

If you have another preferred app, you can also consider using the export tool to transfer your data to it before Skype’s termination. 

Why is Skype Shutting Down in 2025?

Microsoft is ending Skype’s operations to better focus its attention and resources on the Teams platform. This move will encourage the user numbers to grow as it will be the easiest platform for many to turn to. It could also encourage businesses to invest in the paid version of the app to utilize all the other features on Teams. 

Microsoft explained it was terminating Skype as a way to “streamline [its] free consumer communications offerings so [it] can more easily adapt to customer needs,” but it is an economic decision nonetheless. Microsoft has not shared the current user numbers for Skype but in 2023, the company had stated that “more than 36 million people use Skype daily.” According to Reuters, Microsoft is not expected to cut jobs as a result of the move. 

“Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of the journey. We also understand that change can be challenging and want you to know that we’re here to support you every step of the way.”

—Microsoft

Microsoft’s Skype shutdown announcement barely spared a second to talk about the platform, and instead focused on the benefits of Teams and how “hundreds of millions of people” already use it, so the purpose of the shutdown is quite evident.

Microsoft ending Skype

Image: With Skype shutting down, users have the option of switching to Teams.

How Will Skype’s Retirement News Affect Users?

Users will lose all access to the Skype services by May 5, 2025. They will either have to migrate their data to a third-party platform or log in to Teams with their Skype account. The company will no longer allow users to buy the paid Skype features. 

Those who have the paid subscription features can continue to use their Skype Credits and subscriptions until the end of their next renewal period. After May 5, the Skype Dial Pad will be available to the paid users through the Skype website or on Teams. With Skype’s discontinuation, some of the details surrounding its demise remain unclear but it does appear that the ability to call domestic or international numbers directly will no longer be a feature with the switch to Teams.

Users who rely on Skype as their primary source of video conferencing, whether for work or personal use, will have to seek out a similar free alternative or invest in a paid app that meets their needs. Microsoft Teams does have a free version available, but for a more advanced user experience, they will have to purchase a subscription. 

How Can Skype Users Switch to Teams for Free?

With the Skype discontinuation details pouring in, it might be a good idea to migrate to another app right now and give yourself time to decide which platform works best for you. You will still be able to use Skype until May 5, 2025, even if you decide to try Teams.

Giving Teams a shot is not a bad idea, and if you try it out now, you’ll have enough time before Skype shuts down to decide if it is satisfactory or if you need another platform. To get started:

  • Go to the Microsoft Teams website and download the app on your desktop
  • Open the platform and use your Skype credentials to log in. Your email address and password linked to the Skype account should be enough
  • Check to see if all your chats and contacts are available on Teams—they should be accessible immediately

How to Export Your Skype Data and Move to an Alternate Platform

If you want to ensure your data is not lost in the transition from Skype to another platform, it can be a good idea to export your account data and store it on your system until you find the right place for it. 

How to export your Skype data from the desktop app:

  • Open the Skype platform on your system and log in to your account
  • Under your account name on the top left corner, you will see three horizontal dots. Click on it
  • Click on “Settings” and another window will open up
  • Go to “Account & Profile” and scroll to the bottom to “Your account”
  • When you click on it, you should be redirected to the Skype web portal
  • You should see three separate export options: Export contacts (.csv), Export Caller ID numbers (.csv), Export files and chat history
  • The .csv files will only give you an Excel sheet of your account interactions 
  • Clicking on “Export files and chat history” will give the option to download your Conversations or Files, or both
  • Select “Submit request” and then “Continue” 
  • The export process will take some time. Once it is finished, you can click the “Download” option

If you want to skip going through the desktop app, you can also go to the Microsoft Export page directly and login with your Skype details there to export files and chat history.

Skype Alternatives in 2025—Where Do You Take Your Data Next?

With Skype shutting down, users will have no choice but to switch to an alternative app to continue their video calls. Microsoft Teams is the easiest choice when it comes to migrating your data, but it doesn’t hurt to look for options. 

Depending on what your needs are, there will be different services that are best suited for you. In 2025, it’s easy to find an alternative to Skype considering the number of providers out there.

  1. WhatsApp: Best for one-on-one calls
  2. Zoom: Best for group video calls
  3. Talky: Best for group chats and password-protected rooms
  4. Viber: Best for calls to domestic and international phone numbers
  5. Google Meet: Best for quick calls or scheduled ones
  6. Mytello: Best for cheap international calls
  7. Discord: Best for organizing communities and server customizability
  8. Whereby: Best for custom business branding for calls
  9. Cisco Webex: Best for businesses that require constant, real-time communication
  10. Slack: Best for team chats and workplace organization, although it did face an issue with its platform recently
  11. StreamYard: For those who host shows and podcasts and need a way to record conversations
Microsoft Skype shutdown

Image: Teams is the most convenient Skype alternative for preserving your chats and contacts.

What Is Skype? A Brief History On the Platform

Released in 2003, Skype was one of the first businesses that allowed users to connect with people anywhere, at any time, over audio calls. The company was founded by Danish developer Janus Friis and Sweden’s Niklas Zennstrom, and they were supported by four Estonian developers Zahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn. Skype was among the first to use the voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) to replace the vastly limited telephone networks we had back then. 

This permanent replacement never came to be, but Skype calls became a household staple soon enough, connecting people across the globe. In 2005, the company was sold to eBay, but the two businesses were incompatible, prompting eBay to attempt to sell off a majority stake. The original founders were unhappy with the move and this led to them taking over a stake in the company again. 

In 2005, the video calling service was added to the platform, marking it as a big change in the company’s legacy. Two-way video communication has been around since the 1930s, but having it so easily accessible was a big step for users.

Microsoft Purchases Skype in 2011, Shuts Skype Down in 2025

Microsoft eventually purchased the business in 2011 for $8.5 billion, to integrate it across its range of services. It has stayed with them ever since. The software company attempted to bring in a Skype for Business service around 2015, but it never really took off. By 2017, Microsoft was ready to put an end to this wing and finally committed to shutting it in 2021. 

Since then, Skype has remained a free service that is easily accessible to users, with Microsoft even bringing its Bing AI chatbot to the platform in 2023. None of the investments in the platform have been substantial, however, and it was only a matter of time before Microsoft would make its Skype shutdown announcement. 

How Are Users Reacting to the Skype Shutdown?

Microsoft’s Skype shutdown announcement has caused ripples across the internet, with many sad to see the platform go. Skype’s phone-call functionality is one that netizens have relied on for years now, and the end of this capability will hit users the hardest, more so than video calling. Microsoft has a phone-call function, but Teams Free won’t support PSTN (public switched telephone network) services, according to Amit Fulay, Microsoft VP of product.

The nostalgia-fueled posts about Skype’s termination show the impact that Skype had as a consumer-friendly platform, but more and more, business-oriented platforms are taking up space as a one-stop-shop for all your needs. Zoom was among the first to master the balance, but now it appears that Teams wants to don the same identity.

The online response to Teams being the next alternative is a strong “no,” but it is likely that user numbers for the platform will soon grow as people begin looking for Skype alternatives in 2025. The sunsetting of Skype is going to be a sad one for many, but it appears that the platform has outlived its use for Microsoft.

Microsoft is ending Skype’s legacy—how do you feel about it? Let us know. We’ll cover the export process and other news related to the Skype shutdown in more detail, so come back to Technowize to see what else you need to know. For more updates on the many happenings in the tech field, subscribe to Technowize.

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