Skype Closes Its Doors After 21 Years of Connecting People Worldwide

Microsoft Skype services this week after 21 years and directs its free and paid users to use Microsoft Teams for their video calling requirements.

Skype reached its peak with millions of users before Microsoft acquired the company in 2011 according to Washington Post [File] | Photo Credit: REUTERS

This week Microsoft Skype shuts down operations after 21 years and directs both paid and free users to Microsoft Teams for video calling.

The dual announcement of Skype retires after 21 years and its final closure received mixed reactions from users who relied on its audio-video calling functionality for business operations across nations and maintaining connections with family across continents.

The peak usage of Skype reached over 300 million users before Microsoft acquired it in 2011 according to Washington Post.

The popularity of Microsoft Skype goes down after video calling features appeared in Meta and Google applications and platforms. Advanced video conferencing tools like Zoom enabled easy connection of large groups of callers unlike Skype which did not receive similar improvements.

Users received an invitation from Microsoft to either export or delete their Skype information.

“In May 2025, Skype will be retired. The upcoming change will affect users of both free and paid Skype versions without any impact on Skype for Business users. According to the company's blog post Skype users can transition to Skype vs Microsoft teams free, which maintains core functionality while providing additional features.

The retirement of Skype will not affect Skype for Business users.

Microsoft announced users can use their Skype credentials to sign in to Microsoft Teams Free on compatible devices and have their contacts and chats moved automatically.