Millennials you have a job to do: backup that Skype data, save your memories

For many millennials, Skype wasn’t just an app, it was how long-distance friendships survived, how family calls happened on bulky laptops, and how early internet life felt personal before smartphones and endless messaging apps took over. Now, Microsoft is reminding users that time is running out to save those memories.

Microsoft has confirmed that Skype data will be permanently deleted in January 2026, giving former users just a few weeks to export their old messages, files, and contacts. Although Skype was officially shut down in May 2025, users were still able to access their chat history, until now.

Launched in 2003, Skype became a defining communication tool for an entire generation, long before FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Zoom were everyday names. After nearly 22 years, Microsoft retired the platform to simplify its consumer communication services and shift focus toward Microsoft Teams.

Jeff Teper, Microsoft’s President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms, acknowledged Skype’s emotional and cultural importance, saying the platform played a major role in shaping how people connect online. He added that Microsoft understands how difficult change can be and says it is committed to helping users transition smoothly.

FINAL DEADLINE FOR OLD SKYPE MESSAGES

According to Microsoft, all Skype data, including chat history and call records, will remain available until January 2026. Users who log into Microsoft Teams Free before then will be able to access their Skype chats there. Anyone who takes no action risks losing everything once the deadline passes.

Microsoft’s notice states that users can either export their data or delete it themselves before the cutoff. After January 2026, any remaining Skype information will be erased permanently.

HOW TO SAVE YOUR SKYPE DATA

Users who want to keep their conversations can export them by signing into Skype’s export page with a Microsoft account. From there, they can request downloads of conversations, shared files, or both. Once ready, the data can be downloaded as a .tar file, which opens easily on Mac devices, while Windows users may need additional software.

Contacts can also be exported separately through Skype’s settings.

MOVING ON FROM SKYPE

Microsoft is encouraging former Skype users to switch to Teams Free, which supports chat and calling and allows automatic transfer of contacts and conversations using the same login credentials. The company says the syncing process usually takes less than a minute.

However, some data won’t carry over, including private conversations, bot content, chats with work or school accounts, and Skype for Business history.

For millennials who grew up watching loading rings spin during Skype calls and scheduling chats across time zones, this deadline marks the final chapter of a digital era. January 2026 may not just close an app, it quietly closes a shared piece of internet history.