After more than two decades of dialing up connections across the globe, Skype is officially signing off. The once-beloved video-calling platform will shut down on May 5, closing the curtain on a 22-year run that helped shape the way we talk online.
Launched as one of the internet’s first true communication trailblazers, Skype made waves with its promise of free voice and video calls. It wasn’t long before it became a household name, boasting over 300 million monthly users at its height in the mid-2010s.
In 2011, Microsoft saw the platform’s potential and snapped it up for a hefty $8.5 billion, aiming to make Skype the heart of its digital communications. But as time ticked on, rivals like WhatsApp, Zoom, and even Microsoft’s own Teams began to steal the spotlight.
By February 28 of this year, Microsoft made it official: Skype would retire on May 5, part of a strategic move to simplify its services and double down on Teams as the go-to for messaging and collaboration.
Microsoft said users have until January 2026 to transition or migrate their data before permanent deletion, adding that the decision aligns with its goal of streamlining communication tools.
It also confirmed that Skype credits and call subscriptions will no longer be sold to new customers.
The shutdown affects both free and paid users, although Skype for Business will linger a bit longer before its own sunset.
So, as the digital world says goodbye to a communication pioneer, one thing is clear—Skype may be ending, but its legacy lives on in every call and video chat that followed.