Many people searching for how to use Skype expect to find instructions for the familiar blue calling application. However, Microsoft retired the consumer version of Skype on May 5, 2025. Personal Skype-to-Skype calls, chats, and video conversations have largely been replaced by Microsoft Teams Free.
Former Skype users do not necessarily need a new account. Microsoft allows them to sign in to Teams Free with their existing Skype credentials. Teams Free provides the main communication tools people previously used in Skype, including private messaging, group chats, audio calls, video calls, meetings, file sharing, and screen sharing.
Can You Still Use Skype in 2026?
The standard consumer Skype application no longer operates as it did before retirement. You cannot create a new personal Skype account and use the old service for ordinary Skype-to-Skype conversations. For personal communication, Microsoft now directs users to Teams Free, which is available through desktop and mobile applications as well as supported web browsers.
Skype for Business is a different product and should not be confused with the retired consumer application. Some organisations may continue using business communication systems managed by their IT departments. Ordinary home users, families, and friends should use Teams Free unless they still have eligible Skype Credit for telephone calls.
The main replacement functions are straightforward:
| Former Skype feature | Current option |
|---|---|
| Skype messages | Teams Free chat |
| Audio and video calls | Teams Free calls |
| Group conversations | Teams Free group chat |
| Meeting links | Teams Free meetings |
| Screen sharing | Teams Free sharing tools |
| Calls to telephone numbers | Skype Dial Pad for eligible users |
The transition does not mean Teams looks exactly like Skype. Teams contains additional sections for meetings, communities, contacts, calendars, and activity notifications. New users may need a little time to become familiar with the layout, but the basic calling and messaging tools remain easy to access.
How to Sign In with Your Former Skype Account
Begin by downloading Microsoft Teams Free from Microsoft’s official website or your device’s recognised app store. Open the application and select Sign in. Enter the email address, telephone number, or Skype username connected to your former Skype account, followed by your Microsoft account password or verification code.
You do not need to create another Teams account when your Skype credentials already belong to a Microsoft account. Microsoft states that users can sign in with their Skype account to access eligible chats and contacts. Even some older Skype usernames can be used to locate previously migrated information.
After signing in, check that you selected your personal account rather than a work or school profile. The desktop version of Teams Free generally includes sections such as Chat, Meet, People, Communities, Calendar, and Activity. On mobile devices, the same tools may appear along the bottom of the screen.
Before making a call, open the device settings and confirm that Teams has permission to use your microphone and camera. You can also choose your preferred speaker, headset, microphone, and webcam. Making a brief test call before an important conversation can prevent common audio problems.
How to Make Calls, Send Messages, and Start Meetings
To send a message, open Chat, select New chat, and search for the person using their name, email address, or telephone number. Type your message and select Send. You can create a group chat by adding several participants to the same conversation.
To make a direct call, open the relevant chat and select either the telephone icon for an audio call or the camera icon for a video call. Teams Free supports one-to-one and group calls with up to 20 participants when the call begins from a chat. Microsoft recommends creating a meeting when more people need to attend.
For a larger or planned conversation, open the Meet tab and select Create a meeting link. Add a suitable meeting name, copy the invitation link, and share it through email or another messaging service. A guest can join a Teams Free meeting through an invitation link without creating an account, although signing in provides access to more features.
During a call or meeting, you can mute your microphone, turn the camera off, open the chat, view participants, change the background, and share your screen. Microsoft’s official Teams Free screen-sharing instructions explain how to share either a single application or the entire display. You can also include computer audio when showing a video or presentation.
Be cautious when giving another participant control of your shared screen. Only allow this when you know and trust the person, because remote control can let them interact with applications or make changes on your computer.
How to Use Skype Credit and the Skype Dial Pad
Free Teams calls use the internet and connect Teams users. Calling an ordinary mobile or landline number is different. Microsoft no longer sells the full range of Skype calling products to new users, but some existing customers can continue using active or inactive Skype Credit through the Skype Dial Pad.
To find the Dial Pad on a computer, update Teams Free to the latest version and sign in with the account linked to your Skype Credit. Open Settings and more, then select Skype Dial Pad. Enter the telephone number, including the correct country code when required, and select the call button.
The Dial Pad is also available through Microsoft’s Skype calling web portal for eligible accounts. If the option does not appear in Teams, confirm that you signed in with the correct account. Microsoft explains that users without eligible Skype Credit will not normally see the Dial Pad option.
Several former Skype telephone features are no longer available, including SMS, call forwarding, voicemail, Skype Credit gifting, and setting up new caller identification. Users who regularly call international telephone numbers should compare the remaining Dial Pad service with current mobile-network or internet-calling alternatives.
What Happened to Skype Contacts and Chat History?
Microsoft transferred eligible Skype contacts and conversations when users signed in to Teams Free with their former Skype credentials. However, not every type of information was included. Chats involving Teams work or school accounts, Skype for Business conversations, private conversations, messages sent to yourself, and bot content were excluded from the standard migration.
The migration was also time-sensitive. Microsoft states that users who were active on Skype during the relevant period and moved to Teams Free before the migration deadline could retain their Skype call and chat history. Someone signing in for the first time in 2026 may therefore find that some older data is no longer available.
When contacts are missing, first confirm that you are using the same Microsoft account previously connected to Skype. Then search using the person’s full email address or telephone number. The other person may also need to accept a Teams invitation before the call buttons become available.
Users should also review their privacy and contact-discovery settings. A contact may not appear in search when they have restricted whether others can find them through a telephone number or email address.
Conclusion
Understanding how to use Skype in 2026 begins with recognising that the personal Skype application has been retired. Microsoft Teams Free is now the practical replacement for chats, audio calls, video conversations, meetings, file sharing, and screen sharing.
Sign in with the Microsoft account previously connected to Skype, check your migrated contacts, and use the Chat or Meet sections to communicate. The Skype Dial Pad remains available only for certain existing users with eligible Skype Credit. For most people, Teams Free now provides the closest continuation of the former Skype experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still download Skype in 2026?
The consumer Skype service has been retired. Microsoft directs personal users to download and use Microsoft Teams Free instead.
Can I use my old Skype login in Teams?
Yes. Sign in to Teams Free with the Microsoft account, telephone number, email address, or eligible Skype username linked to your former account.
Are Skype calls still free?
Internet-based calls between Teams Free users are free. Calls to mobile and landline numbers may require existing eligible Skype Credit.
Can I recover all my old Skype messages?
Not always. Eligible data was migrated to Teams Free, but some conversation types were excluded, and migration deadlines applied.