Microsoft officially discontinued its long-running communications platform Skype on Monday, ending the service after more than two decades of connecting users through internet calls.

The tech giant first announced the pending closure in February, stating that the service would be “retiring” on May 5, 2025, as part of efforts to consolidate its communications apps.

“In order to streamline our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs, we will be retiring Skype in May 2025 to focus on Microsoft Teams (free), our modern communications and collaboration hub,” Microsoft stated in its February press release.

Skype launched in 2003 and added video functionality to calls in 2005, a major innovation at the time. Microsoft acquired it in 2011 for $8.5 billion. The company is now directing users to transition to Microsoft Teams, which offers similar functionality including calls, messaging and file sharing, while adding features like meeting hosting, calendar management and community building.

Skype users will be able to log into Teams using the same user credentials. 

Microsoft cited significant growth in Teams usage, noting that “the number of minutes spent in meetings by consumer users of Teams has grown 4X” over the past two years.

“Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of the journey,” Microsoft acknowledged in its announcement.

The company has also discontinued all paid Skype features, including Skype Credit and subscription-based international and domestic calling plans, though existing subscribers can continue using their credits until their next renewal period.