Microsoft to Shut Down Skype in May 2025

Microsoft has announced that Skype, once a dominant video-calling platform, will officially shut down in May 2025. Users are encouraged to transition to Microsoft Teams, which will retain key features such as video calls, messaging, and file sharing. 

Launched in 2003 and acquired by Microsoft for $8.5 billion in 2011, Skype revolutionized internet-based communication. However, with the rise of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Microsoft Teams—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—Skype’s popularity declined.

In a statement, Jeff Teper, Microsoft’s President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms, said the company aims to streamline its services by focusing on Teams. Existing Skype users can export their data, while paying customers will have access until their next renewal.

This marks the end of an era for one of the internet’s pioneering communication tools.