Skype Is Shutting Down in May 2025—Here’s How to Migrate to Microsoft Teams

After more than two decades of connecting people across the world, Microsoft has announced that Skype will officially be retired in May 2025. In its place, Microsoft is shifting focus to Microsoft Teams (free) as the go-to communication platform for consumers.

This transition marks the end of an era, but the good news is that moving from Skype to Teams is seamless, with Microsoft offering built-in migration options. If you’re a Skype user, here’s everything you need to know about what’s changing and how to make the switch.

Why Is Microsoft Retiring Skype?

The way people communicate has evolved, and Microsoft sees Teams as the future of digital collaboration. While Skype has long been a staple for voice and video calls, Teams offers a more advanced feature set, including:

• One-on-one and group calls (just like Skype)
• Messaging and file sharing
• Hosting meetings and managing calendars
• Building and joining communities

According to Microsoft, Teams usage has skyrocketed, with consumer meeting minutes growing 4X in the past two years. By consolidating its communication services under Teams, Microsoft aims to provide a unified, feature-rich experience for personal and professional use. However, it’s also likely that Skype missed the mobile evolution to competitors such as Whatsapp, Google’s Meet and Apple’s Facetime where were built for the smartphone era.

How to Migrate to Teams from Skype

Well, thankfully Microsoft has laid out plans for Skype users to easily migrate to Teams. This is particularly useful for users are who are already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. So to migrate to teams;

• Download Microsoft Teams (Free) from the official website.
• Sign in to Teams with your Skype account – Your existing chats and contacts will automatically appear.
• Your chats and contacts are automatically imported in Teams.
• Continue communicating across platforms – During the transition, Skype and Teams users can still call and message each other seamlessly.
• Try Teams while still using Skype – Skype will remain available until May 5, 2025, giving users time to adjust.

Now if you prefer not to switch to Teams – perhaps you are already using the alternatives such as Google Meet, then,you can export your Skype data, including chats, contacts, and call history, before the shutdown date.

What Happens to Skype Paid Services?

If you are subscribed to Skype premium, then new purchases of Skype Credit and subscriptions have been discontinued. According to Microsoft, existing paid users can continue using their Skype subscriptions until the end of their renewal period. After May 5, 2025, the Skype Dial Pad will remain available via the Skype web portal and within Teams for remaining paid users.

Skype has been an iconic part of digital communication for over 20 years, helping people connect, work, and stay in touch globally. So, what do you think? Will you make the switch to Teams, or are you looking for alternatives? Let us know in the comments!