Microsoft is said to be phasing out Skype.

Microsoft is likely preparing to shut down Skype, a move that many people have anticipated. Recently, a preview version of Skype for Windows revealed a hidden message stating, “Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available. Continue your calls and chats in Teams.” This suggests that Skype may soon be coming to an end, although no further details have been provided.

Skype was first introduced in 2003, quickly becoming a leading platform for voice and video calls. In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion and has since tried to integrate it into various products like Windows and Xbox. Over the past decade, Microsoft has made several updates and redesigns to Skype, including efforts to make it competitive with services like iMessage by integrating it with the Phone and Messaging apps on Windows 10 Mobile.

However, in recent years, Skype has not received the attention it once enjoyed. During the pandemic, Microsoft didn’t effectively promote Skype, allowing other messaging platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord to win over users. Although Microsoft has built its popular Teams platform for businesses on top of Skype’s technology, the experiences differ significantly between the two apps. Now, it seems that Microsoft is urging remaining Skype users to switch to Teams, likely referring to its consumer version.

As of now, Skype has struggled to keep up as a messaging platform. The web-based app on Windows is seen as slow and has trouble syncing conversations and notifications across devices. Additionally, it lacks support for Windows on Arm, a type of processor that Microsoft has been keen to promote in recent years.

In an attempt to revive Skype, Microsoft has introduced features like Skype Clips, which allows users to send short video messages without making a call. By 2024, Skype was also updated to include features like Copilot and a new mobile experience aimed at competing with rival platforms. However, these attempts have not gained significant popularity, and the last major update to Skype was in May 2024.

Recently, Microsoft also closed its Skype Number service, which allowed users to buy a real phone number for calling others outside of Skype. Overall, these actions point toward a diminishing future for Skype. While Microsoft has not officially confirmed the shutdown, we will monitor the situation for any additional updates or announcements. We’ve also reached out to Microsoft for further comment and will share any responses we receive.