Microsoft sets May end date for Skype after 14-year run

Before determination was Zoom, Skype was the ascendant internet-based telephone and video work for the masses. After 22 years of work (14 years nether Microsoft), customers were shocked to larn that Microsoft has decided to discontinue Skype successful May 2025.

That’s wherefore "Pat’s" email prompted america to research alternatives to Skype.

"Hello, seemingly Microsoft is getting escaped of Skype. We usage Skype each play to pass with our household successful Ireland. Do you person recommendations for an alternative? Thanks." — Pat, Commerce Township, Michigan

Though a spot unnerving for long-time Skype users, Microsoft is really discontinuing Skype due to the fact that of steep contention for the aforesaid benignant of work from the likes of Zoom and WhatsApp. While the alteration whitethorn beryllium unwelcome, determination are galore options to take from erstwhile Skype bows out.

STAY PROTECTED & INFORMED! GET SECURITY ALERTS & EXPERT TECH TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S THE CYBERGUY REPORT NOW

The institution states connected its website that "Your Skype information volition beryllium disposable until January 2026 for you to export oregon delete. If you log successful to Microsoft Teams Free by then, your Skype telephone and chat past volition beryllium disposable to you. If you instrumentality nary action, your Skype information volition beryllium deleted successful January 2026."

Below are the apical alternatives to Skype, which volition assistance you enactment connected with radical you attraction astir personally and professionally, arsenic good arsenic however to export your contacts and different captious accusation disconnected Skype.

A pistillate utilizing Skype connected a laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Top 6 Skype alternatives

While alteration tin beryllium challenging, it doesn't person to beryllium hard with the pursuing Skype alternatives listed below.

Microsoft Teams

With Microsoft discontinuing Skype to put its attraction and resources successful Microsoft Teams, it is an casual modulation from Skype. Microsoft Teams volition let you to motion successful with your existing Skype credentials, making the modulation easier. There is simply a escaped mentation of Microsoft Teams that Microsoft is encouraging its Skype users to utilize. Like Skype, it includes video calls and messaging. The payment of signing up for Microsoft Teams is that your Skype contacts and connection past volition beryllium automatically migrated to Microsoft Teams.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

A antheral utilizing Skype connected his laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is simply a fashionable messaging app that has been astir since 2009. It offers escaped dependable and video calls with end-to-end encryption, giving your connection an added furniture of protection. It besides allows you to connection with different users. Additionally, due to the fact that it is utilized worldwide, WhatsApp is simply a large planetary connection tool.

HOW TO STAY CONNECTED NO MATTER WHERE YOU TRAVEL IN THE WORLD

Google Meet

If you already usage Google services specified arsenic Gmail and Google Calendar, Google Meet tin beryllium a seamless alternate to Skype. Google Meet is simply a escaped video-conferencing work that integrates Gmail and Google Calendar. With escaped plans available, you tin see up to 100 participants connected a video call.

Zoom

Zoom has go a regular fixture successful the modern nonrecreational world. With a user-friendly interface and affluent features, Zoom has been the apical prime for video calls. Zoom offers escaped plans that let for 40-minute video calls per telephone for up to 100 participants.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Signal

For those with concerns astir privacy, Signal is simply a large alternate to Skype. It boasts end-to-end encryption connected messages and video calls, which keeps your communications secure. Signal is an open-source work that allows users to nonstop instant messages arsenic good arsenic dependable and video calls.

Discord

While well-known among gamers, Discord has go a versatile connection tool. With escaped dependable channels, surface sharing and low-latency audio (better audio quality), it has begun to basal retired arsenic a bully radical telephone option.

How to export contacts and messages from Skype

Though Microsoft volition springiness you until January 2026 to export oregon delete your Skype contacts, chat and record history, it is champion to log successful and commencement the process now, arsenic it tin instrumentality a portion for the institution to fulfill your request.

To export contacts, travel these steps:

• On your web browser, spell to https://secure.skype.com/ and log into your Skype account utilizing your username and password
• On the main page, nether Account detail, spell to Setting and preferences
• Click Export contacts
• A dialog container volition appear, past prime wherever you privation to prevention the file and click Save

Steps to export Skype contacts (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

MICROSOFT TEAMS IS BECOMING A PRIME TARGET FOR SOPHISTICATED SCAMMERS

To export conversations and files, travel these steps:

• On your web browser, spell to https://secure.skype.com/ and log into your Skype account utilizing your username and password
• On the main page, nether Account detail, spell to Setting and preferences
• Click Export files and chat history
• Under "Request a transcript of your files and chat history," check the boxes you privation to download and click Submit request
• Once the petition has been processed, it will show up astatine the precise apical of the aforesaid page
• To save, click Download

SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES

Steps to export Skype conversations and files (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

How to export your Skype information and import it into different video platforms

Before Skype officially shuts down May 27, 2025, it's a astute determination to prevention your information and hole for a modulation to different platform. Here’s however to bash it:

Step 1: Export your Skype data

You tin petition a afloat download of your Skype chat history, telephone logs and different idiosyncratic data.

• Go to the Skype Export page: https://go.skype.com/export
• Sign successful with your Skype (Microsoft) account.
• Choose what you'd similar to download:Conversations: Chat logs, SMS and telephone recordsFiles: Photos, videos and documents shared via Skype
• Conversations: Chat logs, SMS and telephone records
• Files: Photos, videos and documents shared via Skype
• Click Submit Request and hold for an email oregon download nexus to look (may instrumentality hours oregon a fewer days depending connected the volume).
• Download the .ZIP record erstwhile acceptable and extract the contents to your device.

The exported messages are typically successful a .tar oregon .json format, which tin beryllium opened with apps similar Notepad, Excel oregon dedicated viewers. 

Step 2: Import your info to a caller platform

While Skype doesn’t connection a nonstop import instrumentality for different platforms, present are a fewer ways to transportation your info over:

Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Slack oregon WhatsApp:

• Contacts: You tin manually adhd contacts from your Skype export by copying their email addresses oregon telephone numbers.
• Chat History: Most platforms won’t let nonstop import, but you can:Save your Skype conversations arsenic PDF oregon substance files for reference.Upload important conversations to unreality services like Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive to support them searchable and accessible.
• Save your Skype conversations arsenic PDF oregon substance files for reference.
• Upload important conversations to unreality services like Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive to support them searchable and accessible.

Using Skype Data connected Microsoft Teams:

• Since Teams is Microsoft's recommended replacement for Skype, it's the astir seamless switch.
• If your relationship is tied to Microsoft 365, your contacts whitethorn already sync to Teams.
• Chat past doesn’t automatically migrate, but you tin notation exported chats erstwhile mounting up caller Teams channels oregon chats.

HOW TO REMOTELY FIX FAMILY COMPUTER WOES FROM AFAR

Kurt's cardinal takeaways

While Skype’s extremity connected May 5, 2025, is sobering, the clip to modulation to an alternate level is imperative truthful you tin get acceptable up and adjusted to proceed communicating with others professionally and personally. Though the affable and acquainted sky-blue interface volition beryllium missed, determination are respective options that capable those large bare shoes that Skype volition leave. Whether you similar the easiness of being capable to migrate contacts and messages from Skype straight to Microsoft Teams oregon similar the information of Signal, determination is simply a bounty of options to support you connected to loved ones crossed the globe.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Are you a Skype user? Are you readying connected switching to 1 of the apical Skype alternatives? Why oregon wherefore not? Let america cognize by penning america at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For much of my tech tips and information alerts, subscribe to my escaped CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question oregon fto america cognize what stories you'd similar america to cover.

Follow Kurt connected his societal channels:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram

Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:

• What is the champion mode to support your Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android devices from getting hacked?
• What is the champion mode to enactment private, unafraid and anonymous portion browsing the web?
• How tin I get escaped of robocalls with apps and information removal services?
• How bash I region my backstage information from the internet?

New from Kurt:

• Try CyberGuy's caller games (crosswords, connection searches, trivia and more!)
• CyberGuy's exclusive coupons and deals

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.