Skype is gone.
Here's how to move on.
Microsoft shut down Skype consumer on May 5, 2025, ending a service that once had over 36 million monthly active users. Chat history was deleted by December 2025. This guide explains what happened, what you can still recover, and which alternatives actually replace what Skype did.
Last updated: April 1, 2026
1. What happened and why
On February 28, 2025, Microsoft announced that Skype consumer would shut down on May 5, 2025. The service went fully offline on that date — apps stopped connecting, calls could not be made, and all user data entered a 7-month retention window before final deletion in December 2025.
Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion — one of the largest tech acquisitions of that era. For a decade, Skype was the default video calling app for hundreds of millions of people. But the story of Skype's decline is a case study in how dominant platforms can be overtaken when they fail to adapt.
The core problem: Microsoft built Teams in 2017 as part of Microsoft 365, and the COVID-19 pandemic made Teams one of the fastest-growing enterprise software products ever. By 2021, Teams had 145 million daily active users. Skype, meanwhile, had been losing ground to WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom, and Google Meet throughout the 2010s. By the time of the shutdown announcement, Skype's 36 million monthly active users were a fraction of Teams' user base.
What the shutdown meant for Skype users:
- All Skype apps — desktop, mobile, web — stopped connecting to Microsoft's servers on May 5, 2025
- Skype Numbers (PSTN phone numbers) stopped receiving calls on the same date
- Unused Skype Credit was refunded to the original payment method
- Chat history, call recordings, and shared files were permanently deleted by December 2025
- Microsoft accounts (the underlying login) were not deleted — only the Skype service itself
The official replacement is Microsoft Teams Free, which supports video calls, messaging, and group chats using the same Microsoft account credentials. However, Teams Free does not replicate everything Skype offered — notably PSTN calling (dialing regular phone numbers) is not included in the free tier.
For broader context on the wave of communication tool shutdowns happening in parallel, see our guide on Workplace from Meta shutting down June 1, 2026 and the SaaSpocalypse 2026 analysis.
2. Key dates and timeline
3. What you can still recover
The data export window for Skype has closed. Here's a clear picture of what remains accessible and what doesn't:
✅ What you can still access
- Your Microsoft account — login, profile, and all other Microsoft services are unaffected. Sign in at account.microsoft.com
- Your contacts — Skype contacts were linked to your Microsoft account. Go to the People section at people.live.com to view and export them as CSV or VCF
- Files you received via Skype — if you saved files to OneDrive or your local device during the Skype era, those are still yours
- Skype credit refund — if you had unused credit, Microsoft issued a refund to the original payment method. Check your bank statement or contact Microsoft Support if you believe a refund is owed
❌ What is permanently gone
- Chat history — all messages deleted by December 2025. Cannot be recovered
- Call history — log of past calls permanently deleted
- Shared files — files shared within Skype chats (not saved to OneDrive separately) are gone
- Call recordings — any in-call recordings stored on Skype's servers are deleted
- Skype Number — the phone number can no longer be ported or recovered
- Voicemails — Skype voicemail messages are deleted
How to export your contacts now
- Go to people.live.com and sign in with your Microsoft account
- Click Manage → Export contacts
- Download the CSV file — it includes name, email, and phone numbers for all your Microsoft/Skype contacts
- Import the CSV into your address book, Google Contacts, or your chosen messaging app
What if you exported data before the deadline?
If you used Microsoft's data export tool before December 2025, your export file contains message history in JSON format. While there is no official viewer, you can open the JSON files in any text editor or use third-party Skype export viewers (search "Skype export viewer" — several free tools exist) to browse your conversation history offline.
4. Alternatives comparison
Skype did several things: video calls, voice calls, text messaging, group calls, and PSTN calling (dialing regular phone numbers). No single free app does all of these as well as Skype did at its peak. Here's how the main alternatives compare.
| Teams Free | Signal | Zoom | Google Meet | Discord | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Microsoft ecosystem users | Privacy-first messaging | Reaching most people | Meetings & webinars | Quick free video calls | Communities & gaming |
| Cost | Free | Free (nonprofit) | Free | Free (40min limit) / $15.99/mo | Free / Google One | Free / Nitro $9.99/mo |
| Video calls | ✅ Up to 300 | ✅ Up to 40 | ✅ Up to 32 | ✅ Up to 100 (free) | ✅ Up to 100 (free) | ✅ Video channels |
| Voice calls | ✅ | ✅ Encrypted | ✅ Encrypted | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Voice channels |
| Text messaging | ✅ | ✅ E2E encrypted | ✅ E2E encrypted | ✅ (in-meeting chat) | ✅ (in-meeting chat) | ✅ Rich channels |
| PSTN calling (regular phones) | ❌ Paid add-on | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ Paid add-on | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Screen sharing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (mobile) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Go Live) |
| End-to-end encryption | ⚠️ Partial | ✅ Always | ✅ Always | ⚠️ Opt-in | ❌ In transit only | ❌ No E2EE |
| No account needed for guests | ✅ (join via link) | ❌ Account required | ❌ Account required | ✅ (join via link) | ✅ (join via link) | ❌ Account required |
| Microsoft account login | ✅ (same as Skype) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ (Google account) | ❌ |
| Closest to Skype? | ✅ Most similar overall | For private chats | For mobile messaging | For video meetings | For quick calls | For group communities |
What we think of each option
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account you used for Skype
- Video calls, voice calls, group chats, file sharing
- Up to 300 participants in video calls
- No time limits on calls (unlike Zoom free tier)
- Guests can join via link without an account
- Familiar feel for former Skype users
- Available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and web
- Does not include PSTN calling (calling regular phone numbers)
- Heavier app than Skype — more complex interface
- Some users find Teams' enterprise-focused UI overwhelming for personal use
- Chat history only stored for 30 days in free tier
- End-to-end encrypted by default — the gold standard for privacy
- Free and run by a nonprofit (Signal Foundation)
- Voice and video calls, group calls up to 40 people
- Disappearing messages option
- No ads, no data harvesting
- Open source and independently audited
- Requires a phone number to sign up
- Less widely used than WhatsApp or Teams — both parties need Signal
- No PSTN calling
- Fewer features than Skype for group collaboration
- Over 2 billion users — the highest chance your contacts are already there
- End-to-end encrypted calls and messages
- Group video calls up to 32 participants
- Works on any smartphone, no carrier charges
- WhatsApp Web available for desktop use
- Voice messages, file sharing, polls
- Owned by Meta (Facebook) — metadata not fully private
- Requires a phone number
- No PSTN calling
- Limited desktop experience compared to Skype
- Best video and audio quality of any consumer option
- Up to 100 participants free; guests join via link
- Screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, recordings
- Works on all platforms including old hardware
- Familiar to most people — high acceptance rate from contacts
- Free calls limited to 40 minutes with 3+ participants
- Paid plans start at $15.99/mo for unlimited call time
- No PSTN calling on free tier
- Less suited for casual everyday messaging
- Had high-profile privacy issues in 2020 (mostly resolved)
- Completely free with no time limits for 1:1 or group calls
- Guests can join via link without a Google account
- Up to 100 participants on free tier
- Works directly in the browser — no app required
- Integrates with Google Calendar for easy scheduling
- Requires a Google account to start a meeting (guests can join without)
- No end-to-end encryption (encrypted in transit only)
- Limited features for persistent messaging or communities
- Not ideal if you don't want to be in the Google ecosystem
- Persistent voice channels — always available, no "join call" required
- Excellent for group communities, hobby groups, families
- Free with generous limits
- Screen sharing (Go Live) with no time limits
- Excellent mobile and desktop apps
- Text channels, voice channels, video — all in one
- Originally designed for gamers — can feel unfamiliar to non-tech users
- No E2E encryption
- Requires creating a server to use with friends/family
- No PSTN calling
- Less suitable for 1:1 professional communication
5. Which alternative is right for you
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6. Migration checklist
Use this checklist to complete your Skype migration. Print it or copy it to your notes app.
- ☐ Sign in at account.microsoft.com — confirm your account is active
- ☐ Export your contacts from people.live.com (CSV or VCF format)
- ☐ Check your bank/card statement for Skype credit refunds (if applicable)
- ☐ Contact Microsoft Support if you expected a refund and didn't receive one
- ☐ Locate any locally-saved files that were once shared via Skype
- ☐ Decide on your primary replacement based on the use case guide above
- ☐ Download and install the app on all your devices
- ☐ For Teams Free: sign in with your existing Microsoft account
- ☐ For Signal/WhatsApp: register with your phone number
- ☐ Import your exported contacts if the app supports CSV/VCF import
- ☐ Set up your profile photo and display name
- ☐ Test audio and video quality with a trusted contact
- ☐ Identify your 5–10 most frequent Skype contacts
- ☐ Send a message (email or SMS) to each letting them know you've moved platforms
- ☐ Include your new username or phone number in the new app
- ☐ For group calls you organized regularly, share the new meeting link or group chat invite
- ☐ Update any shared documents or calendar invites that reference your old Skype link
- ☐ If you used Skype to call landlines or mobiles: research Google Voice (US), Vonage, or your carrier's international plan
- ☐ If you had a Skype Number for incoming calls: you cannot port or recover it — inform callers of a new number
- ☐ Update your email signature, business cards, or website if they listed a Skype Number
- ☐ Remove Skype apps from all devices (they no longer work)
- ☐ Remove Skype from any "how to reach me" pages or profiles
- ☐ Review any automations or integrations that depended on Skype (e.g., Zapier Zaps)
- ☐ Store your exported Skype data (if you have it) in a permanent location
7. Frequently asked questions
Is Skype completely gone?
Yes. Microsoft shut down Skype consumer on May 5, 2025. The apps no longer connect to Skype's servers and calls cannot be made. Your Microsoft account remains active, and Microsoft Teams Free is the official replacement. Skype for Business (enterprise) had a separate end-of-life in 2021.
Can I still access my Skype messages?
No. Microsoft's data retention window ended in December 2025. All Skype chat history, call history, and shared files have been permanently deleted. If you exported your data before that deadline, you still have it — otherwise it is gone.
What is the best Skype alternative?
It depends on your use case. For video calls and a similar experience: Microsoft Teams Free (free, uses your Microsoft account). For privacy-focused messaging: Signal. For reaching the most people: WhatsApp. For business meetings: Zoom or Google Meet. For communities and group voice chat: Discord.
Will my Skype Number still work?
No. Skype Numbers (which allowed you to receive calls from regular phone numbers) stopped working when Skype shut down on May 5, 2025. Unused Skype credit was refunded to the payment method on file. If you need a similar feature, Google Voice (US only, free) or services like Vonage offer comparable PSTN calling capabilities.
What happened to my Skype credit?
Microsoft committed to refunding unused Skype credit to the payment method originally used. If you had a Skype subscription (monthly plan), it was cancelled and prorated refunds were issued. If you did not receive a refund, contact Microsoft Support via support.microsoft.com with your Microsoft account details.
Can I still sign in with my Microsoft account?
Yes. Your Microsoft account (which backed your Skype login) is completely unaffected. You can still sign in at account.microsoft.com, access OneDrive, Outlook, and other Microsoft services, and use Microsoft Teams Free with the same credentials.
Why did Microsoft shut down Skype?
Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion. Over the following years, it progressively shifted its communications strategy to Microsoft Teams, which launched in 2017. After COVID-19 accelerated Teams adoption to over 300 million users, Skype's 36 million monthly actives represented a declining niche. Microsoft decided to consolidate around Teams rather than maintain two overlapping consumer communication products.
Does Teams Free support calls to regular phone numbers?
No. Microsoft Teams Free does not support PSTN calling (calls to regular phone numbers). That feature requires a Microsoft 365 Business plan with a Teams Phone add-on. For free PSTN calling alternatives, consider Google Voice (US, free with a Google account) or WhatsApp (free app-to-app calls globally).
I only used Skype to call landlines and mobiles — what should I use now?
Skype's low-cost PSTN calling was unique. The closest modern alternatives are: Google Voice (US only, free incoming calls, cheap outgoing), Vonage (international focus), or your mobile carrier's international calling plan. For calls between smartphone users, WhatsApp and Signal offer free audio calls with no per-minute cost.
How do I export my Skype contacts?
Sign in at people.live.com, go to Manage → Export contacts, and download the CSV file. This exports all Microsoft account contacts including your Skype contacts. You can import the CSV into most messaging apps or your phone's address book. Chat history export is no longer possible — the data retention window closed in December 2025.
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Skype is gone — but there are better options now
The good news: in 2025-2026, you have more choices than you did when Skype was the only option. Microsoft Teams Free, Signal, WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Meet each cover different needs — and most of them are free.
The key step is getting your contacts on the same platform. That's the only real migration work required.