But after years of declining relevance, Microsoft is finally pulling the plug—Skype will officially shut down in May, with users being pushed to Teams instead.
The news, first reported by XDA Developers
, surfaced in the latest Skype for Windows preview, where a message informs users: “Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available. Continue your calls and chats in Teams.” The notification also hints that many contacts have already moved to Teams Free.
Launched in 2003, Skype had the first-mover advantage in internet calling. Microsoft acquired it in 2011 for $8.5 billion and at first, it seemed like the company was all-in on making it the future of communication. It even killed off Windows Live Messenger to push users to Skype. But the ride was bumpy. Attempts to integrate it into Windows 10 flopped, its interface went through frustrating redesigns, and while rivals like FaceTime and Zoom took off, Skype struggled to keep up.
The launch of Microsoft Teams in 2017 was the real turning point. Built on Skype’s backbone but tailored for workplaces, Teams quickly became the priority, and Skype was left in limbo. When Skype for Business was discontinued in 2021, many assumed the personal version would follow. Instead, Microsoft kept it alive with sporadic updates—enough to keep it running, but never enough to make it relevant again.
Now, the end is finally here. With Windows 11 shipping with Teams integration instead of Skype, and most users already having moved on, its shutdown seems inevitable. Microsoft has yet to release an official statement, but users will start seeing in-app notifications about the transition soon.
