Skype Shut Down by Microsoft After 22 Years

Skype has officially shut down as of today, May 5, 2025. The closure comes after nearly 22 years in operation, during which Skype became known for making international voice and video calls accessible and affordable for millions of people worldwide. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 and says the decision is part of a strategy to focus on its other platform, Microsoft Teams.

Skype’s journey began in 2003 when it made it easy for users to make voice calls over the internet, both to other Skype users and to traditional phone numbers.

Over time, Skype changed owners multiple times, eventually becoming part of Microsoft’s portfolio. During its peak, Skype had hundreds of millions of users and was seen as a leader in online communications.

However, as new messaging and calling apps like Google Meet, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Zoom gained popularity, Skype’s users declined. Microsoft has increasingly invested resources in Teams, which is now its main communication app for businesses and individuals.

Microsoft’s own Teams also gained traction, which affected Skype’s popularity.

Launched in 2003, Skype quickly became a revolutionary tool for free voice and video calls over the internet, amassing more than 300 million monthly users at its peak in the mid-2010s.

The shutdown will impact both free and paid Skype users, although Skype for Business will continue temporarily.

Microsoft has urged users to transition to Teams by visiting skype.com and utilising the “Start using Teams” feature. All Skype chats and contacts will remain accessible through Teams using the same login credentials.