Every version of Skype has now reached end of life or end of support.
Microsoft officially retired consumer Skype on May 5, 2025. The app stopped working, and users were directed to Microsoft Teams (free) as the replacement. Chats and contacts migrated automatically for users who signed into Teams with their Skype credentials.
Skype for Business, a separate product, followed a different timeline:
- Skype for Business Online reached end of life on July 31, 2021.
- Skype for Business Server 2019 and Server 2015 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer provides security patches, bug fixes, or technical support for these versions.
- Skype for Business Server SE (Subscription Edition) was released in July 2025 as a continuation path for organizations committed to on-premises deployments. It requires subscription licensing and runs under the modern lifecycle support policy. Microsoft still recommends migrating to Teams as the preferred option.
Users who want to export their Skype data can do so through the Skype Export Portal until June 15, 2026. After April 1, 2026, exported history may be incomplete.
Why Microsoft recommends moving to Teams
Microsoft has been directing organizations toward Teams for years. With every Skype product now either retired or in its final supported form, the rationale is straightforward.
- Ongoing development and support:
Skype for Business is in maintenance mode. Teams is where Microsoft invests, with frequent updates, new collaboration features, and tighter security. - Unified collaboration:
Teams combines chat, video meetings, file sharing, and enterprise calling in one application. This simplifies workflows for hybrid and distributed teams. - Advanced security and compliance:
Built on Microsoft 365’s infrastructure, Teams receives ongoing security enhancements and compliance updates for organizations handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries. - Enterprise voice features:
Teams Phone and Operator Connect bring enterprise-grade telephony directly into Teams, including call queues, voicemail transcription, call recording, and more.
Business implications of staying on Skype for Business
Organizations still running Skype for Business Server 2015 or 2019 are now operating on unsupported infrastructure. Here’s what that means in practice:
- Security exposure:
Extended support ended October 14, 2025. Skype for Business environments no longer receive security patches, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to threats. - Integration decay:
Third-party developers have shifted their attention to modern platforms. Integrations with older Skype for Business environments will degrade or stop working over time. - Competitive disadvantage:
When competitors run on Teams or other modern UC platforms, organizations still on Skype for Business fall behind in collaboration efficiency and communication quality. - Rising migration costs:
The longer an organization delays, the more complex and expensive the eventual migration becomes. Running unsupported software also introduces compliance risk in regulated environments.
The consumer Skype shutdown
Microsoft retired consumer Skype on May 5, 2025 after more than two decades in operation. The app stopped connecting entirely after that date.
For users who signed into Teams with their Skype credentials, chats and contacts transferred automatically. Users who were active on both Skype and Teams Free between December 2024 and December 2025 retained access to their Skype chat and call history through Teams. For everyone else, data will be deleted after June 15, 2026 unless exported through the Skype Export Portal.
If your organization used consumer Skype for tasks like international calls or quick external meetings, those workflows are gone. Teams Free covers the same ground, and paid Teams Phone plans handle business-grade calling.
How Momentum helps you transition to Teams
Whether your organization is still running Skype for Business Server or has been relying on consumer Skype for ad-hoc communication, Momentum handles the full migration to Microsoft Teams.
- Assessment and roadmapping: Momentum reviews your current Skype for Business environment, whether standalone server or hybrid, and maps a transition path into Teams.
- Teams Phone and voice deployment: Momentum specializes in Teams Phone deployments with enterprise-grade calling, Operator Connect, Direct Routing, and cloud voice services that eliminate the need for on-prem PBX hardware.
- Hands-on implementation: From configuring call queues and voicemail to porting phone numbers, Momentum handles the technical work so your team stays focused on operations.
Ongoing support and optimization: After deployment, Momentum provides continuous support, training, and feature optimization to make sure your organization gets full value from Teams.
Move your calling and collaboration to Microsoft Teams
Both consumer Skype and Skype for Business Server have reached the end of the road. Organizations that haven’t migrated are running on borrowed time, with no security patches, no feature updates, and shrinking vendor support for legacy integrations.
Momentum manages the full transition from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams, from architecture design through number porting and ongoing support.
Talk to Momentum Teams expert about your migration plan and see how the right partner can simplify your transition to Microsoft Teams.
FAQs
Has Skype for Business also shut down?
Skype for Business Online reached end of life on July 31, 2021. Skype for Business Server 2015 and 2019 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Skype shut down on May 5, 2025. Organizations that need to stay on-premises can upgrade to Skype for Business Server SE, though Microsoft recommends migrating to Teams.
What are the risks of still running Skype for Business Server?
Microsoft no longer provides security patches, bug fixes, or technical support for Skype for Business Server 2015 or 2019. That means no protection against newly discovered vulnerabilities. In regulated industries, running unsupported communication infrastructure can also create compliance exposure.
How does Teams differ from Skype for Business?
Teams combines video, chat, file sharing, and calling in one platform backed by consistent feature releases and security updates within Microsoft 365. Skype for Business was limited to voice and conferencing, and it no longer receives new capabilities.
Can Momentum help integrate an existing PBX or call flows with Teams?
Yes. Momentum supports Direct Routing, Operator Connect, and Teams-based contact center integrations. Each deployment is designed around the organization’s specific call flows and infrastructure.
