Skype is officially shut down Monday, marking the end of an era for one of the earliest video calling platforms. Microsoft says the decision will allow it to streamline its services and focus entirely on its more popular alternative—Teams.
Microsoft first announced the retirement in February, citing a need to simplify communication tools. Skype users will now be redirected to Microsoft Teams Free, where they can log in with their existing credentials. Contacts and chats will migrate automatically.
"Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments," said Jeff Tepper, Microsoft’s president of collaborative apps and platforms. "We are honored to have been part of the journey."
For users who don’t want to use Teams, there’s an option to export Skype data. Those who take no action will have their data deleted in January 2026, according to Microsoft’s website.
Skype launched in 2003 and quickly became a go-to platform for personal and business calls. By the time Microsoft acquired it in 2011 for $8.5 billion, the app boasted around 150 million monthly users.
But Skype struggled to adapt to the mobile-first era. By 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Skype had just 23 million monthly users—eclipsed by services like Zoom.
Microsoft Teams, launched in 2017, has now taken center stage. The company declined to share Skype’s latest user count but confirmed that Teams has roughly 320 million monthly active users.
Microsoft also said no jobs would be cut as a result of the transition. Instead, the company plans to continue investing in Teams as its flagship communication platform.