Microsoft has officially announced that Skype will be discontinued in May 2025, and all users are encouraged to switch to Microsoft Teams. If you’re a long-time Skype user, this might feel like the end of an era—but don’t worry, because Microsoft is making it easy to migrate your contacts and chats to Teams.
In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the migration process, including an early workaround if you don’t want to wait for the official transfer tool.
Why Is Microsoft Replacing Skype with Teams?
Skype has been a go-to communication tool for years. Still, Microsoft wants to consolidate its messaging platforms and focus on Teams, which offers enhanced collaboration features, better security, and seamless integration with Office 365.
If you’re a personal user, Teams now supports personal accounts, making it a perfect replacement for Skype without losing any functionality. Check out what will happen to Skype Credits after Skype Shutdown.
How Will the Skype to Teams Migration Work?
Microsoft is developing a one-click migration tool that will allow users to easily transfer their chats and contacts from Skype to Teams. However, this option isn’t fully available yet. Currently, if you log into Skype for Web, you might see a message stating:
“You will be notified when you can move your chats and contacts to Teams.”
This confirms that the migration feature is in progress, but if you don’t want to wait, we have an early access method for you!
How to Migrate Skype Chats and Contacts to Teams Right Now
If you want to move to Microsoft Teams before the official migration tool is released, here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Download and Install Microsoft Teams
- Head over to the Microsoft Teams download page.
- Download the setup file and install it on your device.
- Open Teams once the installation is complete.
Step 2: Sign in With Your Skype Account
- Use the same Microsoft account you used on Skype.
- When prompted, click Continue to proceed.
At this point, your Skype data won’t transfer automatically, but we’ll fix that in the next step.
Step 3: Join the Teams Insider Program
Since the migration feature is still rolling out, joining the Teams Insider Program gives you early access. Here’s how:
- Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in Teams.
- Select Teams Insider Program.
- Click Join, then select Restart when prompted.
This will relaunch Teams and enable access to the latest updates.
Step 4: Transfer Your Skype Data
Once Teams restarts, you should see a pop-up saying:
“Skype and Teams are coming together—your Skype messages and contacts are now in Teams.”
- Click Continue.
- Choose your Skype account.
- Enter your name and click Continue.
You will now see all your Skype chats and contacts synced inside Teams. Even better, any new messages sent from Teams will also appear in Skype!
For Mac Users
The migration process on macOS is the same. Just follow the steps above, and you’ll be able to transfer your Skype data to Teams without any issues. Check the following video for step-by-step instructions:
While the official migration tool is still in development, you can use the Teams Insider Program method to move your Skype data today. Microsoft Teams is the future of Skype, and making the switch now ensures you won’t lose any conversations when Skype shuts down in May 2025.
