Skype shutdown announced. Microsoft confirms the messaging platform will close in May after years of decline

Skype, once the pioneer of internet voice and video calls, has announced it will cease operations in May 2025. Owned by Microsoft since 2011, the messaging and calling program made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that it will no longer be available starting next year. As part of the transition, users will be able to sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with their Skype accounts to keep their chats and contacts connected. Skype’s closure marks the end of an era for a service that revolutionized global communication.

The popular system, which was launched in 2003, became a household name for online meetings and interaction, with hundreds of millions of users globally. Initially, it allowed free computer-to-computer calls, paving the way for the widespread use of digital connections over the web. However, over the years, competition from networks like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, along with changes introduced by Microsoft, led to a steady decline in Skype’s popularity.

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Why did Microsoft acquire Skype, and what drove to its shift to Teams?

Microsoft’s purchase of Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011 was a significant move, reflecting the service’s widespread use and potential to reshape how people connect globally. Skype became an integral part of Microsoft’s suite of products, including Xbox and Windows. At its height, Skype connected millions worldwide, offering voice and video calls that transformed how individuals and businesses communicated. However, with the rise of services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, Skype’s influence began to diminish.

In recent years, Microsoft redirected its focus toward Microsoft Teams, switching away from Skype’s consumer-driven model to a more professional tool for collaboration. The growing demand for workplace solutions, especially during the remote work boom, pushed Teams to the forefront, while Skype’s role in personal links became less critical. As Teams integrated seamlessly into the tech giant’s broader set of tools, the chat application’s future became uncertain, ultimately leading to its shutdown in May 2025. This transition marks a clear move by Microsoft toward business-oriented functions, leaving Skype's former capabilities behind.

What caused Skype’s drop and Microsoft’s focus on new communication tools?

Skype's decline began in 2017 when the software company redesigned the app with features resembling Snapchat, which frustrated many users. As Rachel Kaser from The Next Web noted, “People are annoyed by this update to the Skype app because it’s fixing something that was never broken to begin with.”

The final blow came in 2021 when the technology firm announced that Windows 11 would integrate Microsoft Teams by default, leaving Skype out for the first time in years. Teams, which saw a rise in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, became the focus as Skype’s role as a personal conversation device faded, leading to its closure in May 2025.