One of the internet’s most recognizable voices has gone silent. Microsoft has officially shut down Skype, the once-revolutionary video calling app that changed how the world communicated, marking the end of an era that spanned over two decades.
Launched in 2003, Skype became a household name, pioneering internet voice and video calling long before Zoom or WhatsApp were in the picture. At its peak in 2016, it boasted 300 million active users. But over time, competition and changing communication habits led to its steady decline — with just 36 million users remaining by 2023.
Starting today, users trying to access Skype will be redirected to the free version of Microsoft Teams, the company’s now-preferred platform for communication and collaboration, which has surged to over 320 million users globally.
Microsoft is offering a transition path: users can migrate their chats and contacts to Teams using their existing Skype credentials. Additionally, Skype data will remain exportable until January 2026. Paid services like Skype Credit and Skype Numbers will still be accessible through Teams or the Skype web portal until current subscriptions run their course.
This shutdown is more than a technical shift — it’s a symbolic moment in the history of digital communication. Skype helped families stay connected across continents, businesses bridge remote meetings, and even hosted weddings, interviews, and global conferences.
Now, the baton is being passed. And while Skype fades into tech nostalgia, its legacy lives on in the platforms it helped inspire.
