Microsoft is killing off Skype after years of decline

RIP Microsoft is planning to shut down the once-dominant video calling application, Skype. The app was highly popular among internet users in the early 2000s but has suffered persistent neglect from Microsoft in recent years as the company shifted its focus to Teams as its primary messaging and team collaboration platform.

According to a hidden string found in the latest preview of Skype for Windows, Microsoft will sunset the software later this year. To inform users about the impending shutdown, the app is showing a dialog box notifying them that Skype will no longer be available starting in May 2025. Instead, users will be encouraged to download and install the free version of Teams to stay connected with friends and family.

If the report is accurate, the decision will come as no surprise, as Microsoft has long neglected Skype while actively promoting Teams. The app's decline can be attributed in part to the rise of numerous OTT video calling platforms and in part to Microsoft's clear lack of interest in keeping Skype alive.

If the report turns out to be accurate, it will surprise no one as Microsoft has long neglected Skype while actively promoting Teams. The app's decline can be attributed in part to the rise of numerous mobile video calling and messaging platforms and in part to Microsoft's clear lack of interest in keeping Skype alive.

This is the kind of mess Skype was turned into the last few years. Image: Windows Latest

While Skype still has a dedicated user base, it is vastly outnumbered by the millions who have moved on to other platforms such as iMessage, WhatsApp, Discord, Zoom, Slack, or even Microsoft's own Teams app. Many businesses also transitioned to Teams as their primary communication tool, while Microsoft continued to give Skype the cold shoulder.

Skype debuted in August 2003 as a pioneering voice communication tool that used a P2P protocol, making it faster and more reliable than many alternatives at the time. In 2005, eBay acquired it for $2.6 billion but later sold a majority stake to an investment group led by Silver Lake in 2009.

Microsoft then acquired Skype in 2011 for a reported $8.5 billion. However, in 2017, Microsoft introduced Teams and gradually shifted its focus away from Skype. While Teams has grown into a widely used business communication platform, it is not particularly beloved by its users, however its inclusion in Office 365 subscriptions has helped drive its widespread adoption.

Skype's impending demise will undoubtedly be a tough pill to swallow for its remaining users, who have refused to give up on the aging platform. While the exact number of Skype users in 2025 is unknown, the app reportedly had 36 million daily active users in 2023. Microsoft will be hoping that most of them transition to Teams, though whether that happens remains to be seen.