What happens to your Skype Credit when the platform shuts down? Here’s everything you need to know

The clock is ticking for Skype. Microsoft announced that its long-standing communication service will be retired in May 2025, pushing users towards Microsoft Teams Free. While the transition promises to bring over contacts and chat histories for many, a big question lingers for those who’ve invested money into the platform: what becomes of my Skype Credit?

For years, users have loaded their accounts with credit to make calls to landlines and mobile numbers internationally or domestically at competitive rates. With Skype’s end date approaching, many are understandably concerned about losing that prepaid value. The good news, according to Microsoft’s official guidance, is that your existing Skype Credit won’t simply vanish when the main Skype app shuts down next month.

Instead of disappearing, the ability to use that credit will shift. After May 5, 2025, Microsoft states that a “Skype Dial Pad” will become available for users who still have active subscriptions or Skype Credit. This dial pad won’t be in the old Skype app, obviously. You’ll be able to access it through two main avenues: the Skype web portal (using Skype on your internet browser) and directly within the Microsoft Teams Free application. To use it via Teams, you’ll need to download Teams and log in using your existing Skype account credentials.

This plan aims to ensure that paid users can continue making calls until their subscription period ends or their Skype Credit runs out. However, you can no longer purchase new Skype Credit or subscriptions, and automatic top-up services for credit were discontinued back on April 3, 2025. Existing subscriptions also stopped auto-renewing on that date.

Despite Microsoft’s plan, the transition hasn’t been without confusion or frustration for users. On forums like Reddit, users have voiced concerns. User maenad2 asked, “What the heck would i do with credit on teams? It can’t be used to call landlines!” – a misconception, as Microsoft confirms the dial pad will allow these calls via Teams Free using existing credit. Others, like marcilino, are simply looking for a way out: “Yes I would like a refund. I only use it for one off landline calls.”

However, getting a refund seems unlikely. Microsoft’s support pages don’t mention refund options for existing credit balances. As user Sufficient-Pepper701 noted in a discussion, “It will be impossible to have the remaining credits refunded. I have not seen any service that refunds prepaid credits. It’s not like they are keeping us from using the remaining credits.”

So, while you can’t get your money back, you won’t lose it either. You’ll just need to adapt to using it through Teams Free or the Skype website after May 2025. It’s also worth noting other features like SMS messaging, credit gifting, and call forwarding via Skype will also cease functioning after the shutdown date. If you don’t migrate to Teams or use the web portal, remember your Skype data, including chat history, will be available for export until January 2026 before being permanently deleted.