Once the gold standard for internet-based calls and video chats, Skype has now officially signed off. Microsoft confirmed the platform’s shutdown on Monday, marking the close of a 21-year chapter in global digital communication.
The move, first announced on February 28, is part of Microsoft’s strategy to consolidate its services under Microsoft Teams.
Users were advised to migrate their data and conversations to Teams, with a transition grace period lasting until January 2026.
In a farewell post on X, Skype acknowledged its long-standing role in bringing people together.
“It’s the end of an era,” the company wrote, reflecting on the platform’s legacy as a bridge for families, friends, and colleagues across the world.
For users still holding Skype credit or active subscriptions, Microsoft assured continuity.
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“Your Skype Credit and calling subscription doesn’t go anywhere,” the company stated, adding that they can still be used through Microsoft Teams Free.
However, Skype will no longer accept new purchases for credits or calling subscriptions.
Launched in August 2003 by entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, Skype quickly revolutionized internet calling and amassed over 50 million users by 2005. That same year, eBay acquired it for $2.6 billion before offloading its stake in 2009.
Microsoft bought Skype in 2011, integrating it into its software suite—but the platform steadily lost ground to newer, more agile competitors like Zoom, WhatsApp, and even Microsoft’s own Teams.
While its final chapter has now been written, Skype’s influence on digital communication remains undeniable. It was the app that made video calls mainstream and, for a time, defined the very idea of staying in touch online.