It was once the ultimate tool for messaging, voice calls, and video chats, even dethroning Windows Live Messenger back in the day. But now, Skype has officially signed off forever.

On Monday, Microsoft officially retired Skype, ending the 22-year run of a once-dominant communication app. The software, first released in 2003, changed hands multiple times—first sold to eBay, then the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and finally to Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion. In its prime, Skype boasted over 100 million monthly active users.

Skype was an all-in-one package offering instant messaging, high-quality voice calls, and video conferencing across PCs, mobile devices, Xbox, and even PlayStation Vita. Its ringtone became iconic, etched in the minds of a generation. However, as voice communication became embedded into countless platforms, Skype’s relevance began to fade. Microsoft’s constant UI overhauls and bloated features like SkypeMe!, Skype Mojis, and even a MySpace integration didn’t help either.

The real downfall began in 2015 with the rise of Discord, which captured the gaming community and tech-savvy users in droves. During the pandemic, Skype’s clunky interface and bloat led many to jump ship to Zoom and Google Meet. By 2023, Skype’s monthly user base had dwindled to just 36 million—a shadow of its former self.

In February 2025, Microsoft announced its plan to sunset Skype for consumers. Skype for Business remains operational, having been separated from the main app. Microsoft will offer automatic migration of Skype contacts and chats to Microsoft Teams. For those uninterested in Teams, it’s possible to manually export Skype data.

So ends the journey of one of the internet’s earliest communication titans. Farewell, Skype. You won’t be forgotten—even if your ringtone is all that remains in memory.

Source: PCGamer, Microsoft, Microsoft