Microsoft retired consumer Skype on May 5, 2025. Skype for Business was not included. Eligible Skype users can sign in to Teams Free with their Skype credentials and access transferred chats and contacts, but some data does not migrate. Microsoft’s latest support guidance also sets out later data-deletion dates and the end of paid Skype calling services.
When did Skype shut down, and what did Microsoft retire?
Microsoft announced the retirement on February 28, 2025, saying it would focus on Teams Free. Consumer Skype service ended May 5, 2025. On that date, Skype-to-Teams consumer interoperability ended as well; the ability to use a Skype account to access eligible history in Teams Free is a separate migration option. Microsoft’s announcement described the shift as a way to streamline free consumer communications and focus on Teams as its communications and collaboration hub: Microsoft’s February 28, 2025 announcement.
Skype for Business was explicitly excluded from the consumer retirement. It is a separate product, so the end of consumer Skype did not itself announce the retirement of Skype for Business. Microsoft also deprecated policies associated with consumer Skype interoperability; its documentation records that interoperability ending on May 5, 2025: Microsoft Learn’s Teams and Skype interoperability guidance.
What happens to a Skype account and its chat history?
Microsoft says you can sign in to Teams Free with your Skype credentials; you do not need to create a separate Teams Free account. Eligible chats and contacts become available in Teams Free, and Microsoft says syncing should take less than a minute. The current retention guidance is conditional: history remained accessible for people active on Skype during December 2024 through February 2025 who moved to and used Teams Free before December 1, 2025. These are Microsoft’s stated account criteria, not a guarantee that every account received the same treatment.
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Some data does not migrate, even when a user can access transferred history. Microsoft lists these exclusions:
- Chats between Skype users and Teams work or school accounts.
- Skype-to-Skype for Business chat history.
- One-to-one chats with yourself.
- Private conversation data.
- Copilot and bot content.
Microsoft’s support page has been updated over time and still contains older FAQ wording that says data was available until January 2026. Its newer update gives the later activity and Teams-use criteria above, and says data for other inactive users would be completely deleted after June 15, 2026. The newer dates supersede the older January wording for current guidance. Check Microsoft’s live Skype retirement support article for account-specific updates.
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How to export Skype data that did not transfer
If you do not meet the history-retention criteria, or want an independent copy, Microsoft recommends exporting your Skype data. Its updated guidance advised requesting an export before deletion began on April 1, 2026. Microsoft says an export with large files or a long history may take up to 30 days; return to the export page to check its status.
- Open Microsoft’s Skype data export page and sign in with the Skype account you want to preserve.
- Submit an export request for the available data.
- Return to the export page later to check whether the files are ready; large or long-history exports may take up to 30 days.
Because Microsoft’s stated deletion timeline and retention criteria may not apply identically to every account, use the live support article and your account’s export status rather than assuming that data remains available.
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Can Teams Free replace Skype calling?
Teams Free includes consumer messaging and internet calling, including one-to-one and group calls. Microsoft’s announcement also describes meetings, calendars, file sharing, and communities. It is not a one-for-one replacement for Skype’s paid calling to phone numbers: Microsoft says Teams Free does not include paid calling plans.
For small businesses seeking paid telephony, Microsoft identifies Teams Essentials paired with Microsoft Teams Phone as the relevant path. These are distinct from the free consumer Teams offering, and the cited guidance does not establish that every former Skype calling feature or account arrangement has an equivalent in Teams.
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What happened to Skype Credit, subscriptions, and Skype Numbers?
Microsoft’s retirement support guidance gives these service dates. They describe Microsoft’s stated timelines; account-specific billing outcomes should be checked with Microsoft support.
| Service or feature | Microsoft’s stated status |
|---|---|
| SMS, call forwarding, voicemail, Skype Credit gifting, and caller-ID setup | Ended May 5, 2025. |
| Existing caller-ID setup | Scheduled to shut down February 15, 2026. |
| Skype minutes included with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family | Removed in March 2026. |
| Skype subscriptions | Subscription service ended May 1, 2026. Microsoft said remaining subscriptions extending beyond that date would be cancelled and converted into Skype Credit; refund requests were available through support. |
| Skype Numbers | All subscriptions ended in May 2026. Microsoft says port-out requests are no longer available. |
The Skype Dial Pad was available to remaining paid users during the transition through the Skype web portal and Teams Free. That was a temporary transition detail, not evidence that paid Skype calling remains available now.
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Why Microsoft said it was moving users to Teams
Microsoft’s February 2025 announcement cited growth in consumer use of Teams meetings. The company reported 4X growth in minutes spent in meetings by consumer Teams users over the preceding two years. That is Microsoft’s own usage figure; it does not measure how many Skype users migrated or establish that Teams is better for every former Skype use.
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