It’s finally game over for Skype, this is how you make the switch to Teams

Microsoft has shut down its video calling and messaging service Skype. People who want to video chat with other users can use Teams from now on.

Skype was first released in August 2003 by Swedish IT entrepreneur Niklas Zennström and Danish business partner Janus Friis.

Two years later, in September 2005, Skype was acquired by eBay for $2.6 billion. In May 2011, Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion and used it to replace its cross-platform instant messaging client Windows Live Messenger.

Microsoft introduced its chat service Teams in 2016 and has been increasingly focusing on it ever since. In 2017, Microsoft came up with plans to phase out the enterprise version of Skype, which was finalized in 2021.

That same year, Teams became the integrated chat service within Windows 11 by default, slowly pushing aside Skype.

In February 2025, 14 years after Microsoft bought Skype to replace Windows Live Messenger, the Redmond-based tech company announced that it would pull the plug on Skype on May 5. Users got 60 days to export their data or migrate to Microsoft’s free alternative app Teams.

“Hundreds of millions of people already use Teams as their hub for teamwork, helping them stay connected and engaged at work, school, and at home. In the past two years, the number of minutes spent in meetings by consumer users of Teams has grown 4X, reflecting the value Teams brings to everyday communication and collaboration,” Jeff Teper, President Collaborative Apps and Platforms at Microsoft, said in a company blog post at the time.

He continued by saying that Skype played “an integral part in shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments.”

“We also understand that change can be challenging and want you to know that we’re here to support you every step of the way. We’re excited about the new opportunities that Teams brings and are committed to helping you stay connected in new and meaningful ways,” Teper concluded.

To make the switch to Teams, you’ll have to download the installer from the official Microsoft Teams website, log in with your Skype credentials, and you’ll have access to all of your Skype chats and contacts.