Microsoft to Shut Down Skype on May 5, Pushes Users to Teams

Microsoft says it will retire its Skype video-calling service on May 5, consolidating its communication tools around Microsoft Teams.

The company first flagged the phase-out earlier this year, giving users time to migrate from Skype to Teams. Microsoft plans to disable new purchases of Skype Credit and subscriptions for domestic and international calling after May 5, though existing paid accounts will remain active until their next billing date.

Free and paid Skype accounts will lose access to new calling features but may keep using current credits and subscriptions until they expire. Skype for Business, which operates on a separate platform, is not affected by the change.

Skype, created in 2003 by Danish developer Janus Friis and Swede Niklas Zennström, played a pioneering role in internet video calls. Microsoft acquired the service in 2011 and more recently has invested heavily in Teams as its primary enterprise communication solution.

To ease the switch, Microsoft will allow users to sign in to Teams using their Skype IDs and transfer chat histories and contacts. Both platforms support one-on-one and group calls, instant messaging and file sharing, making the transition straightforward for most users.