Tech giant company Microsoft announced that it will shut down the internet-based video service Skype after 21 years of operation in the digital communication sector.

The company announced on Friday that Skype would officially close down in May 2025. 

In a statement shared on Skype’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Microsoft advised users to transition to Microsoft Teams to maintain access to their chats and contacts.

“Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days, you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype,” the statement read.

It was launched in 2003 by Swedish developer Niklas Zennström and his Estonian partner Janus Friis, quickly becoming the go-to platform for video calling and messaging.

As internet speeds improved, Skype added features like video calls, instant messaging, file sharing, and group communication. By 2005, it had 50 million registered users.

After Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011, the platform struggled to compete with new rivals like WhatsApp, Zoom, Snapchat, and Google Meet, particularly when smartphones and mobile apps became popular.

The decision to shut down Skype reflects Microsoft’s long-term strategy to streamline its communication services and push more users toward Microsoft Teams. 

The Teams platform experienced remarkable growth, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, attributed to the increased demand for remote work and collaboration tools during that time among business and professional users.

Skype users are now faced with the choice of transitioning to the Teams app or exporting their data, including chats, contacts, and call history. For those with paid Skype services, Microsoft has assured that they will have access until their next renewal period, further encouraging the shift to Teams.