Skype for Business to Teams Migration: Step-by-Step Guide

Microsoft announced 5th May 2025 as the final date to discontinue Skype for business. After this, the app won't receive any official updates. The discontinuation will affect both the free and paid versions of Skype.

In 2017, Microsoft launched Teams, and it was clear that Teams would replace Skype one day. Now it's the time to migrate from Skype for business on-premises to Teams.

Let's walk through this blog and prepare a detailed Skype to Teams migration checklist for error-free migration.

Why is Microsoft shutting down Skype?

There are multiple reasons why Microsoft is shutting down Skype for business. Some of the reasons are:

• Declining userbase: After peak 2013, Skype’s userbase started shifting to another more advanced communication platform for higher quality work experience.
• Better features: Teams provide a wider range of advanced features than Skype including video conferencing, document collaboration, etc.
• Focusing on Teams: Since many years, Microsoft is focusing on Teams to make it their primary communication platform for personal use and business needs.
• Competition with other platforms: The increase in applications like WhatsApp, Google Meet, etc. with better performance and integration resulted in Skype's shutdown.
• Obsolete technology and slow performance: Skype's obsolete technology was not suitable for smartphones, making its performance slow and hectic for users to use.

Why choose Microsoft Teams over Skype?

Microsoft Teams provides more features than Skype, which makes it a more suitable platform. Here are some points why choose Teams over Skype:

• Easy integration: Teams can easily be integrated with many Microsoft applications like Excel, Word, Power Point, etc. for efficient working.
• Cost efficient: With Teams, organizations can reduce cost by avoiding use of multiple communication platforms and tools.
• Improved collaboration: Organizations can improve collaboration with advanced features of Teams such as channels, easy file sharing, etc.
• Updated platform: As Microsoft is focusing on Teams, organizations will receive regular updates to meet the advanced technology.
• Centralized management: Users can store and access documents within the Teams platform, making a centralized space for documents, which was not possible with Skype.

Microsoft Skype to Teams migration checklist

Here is the detailed Skype to Teams migration checklist. Follow it properly:

Pre-Migration Plan

• Identify stakeholders: identify all the decision-makers within the organization such as shareholders, investors, technical leads, sponsors, IT professionals, etc.
• Define migration strategy: Decide if you want to perform a batch migration or a full organization migration at once.
• Communicate with users: Inform all the users in advance about Skype to Teams migration project plan to avoid unwanted issues.
• Review Teams licensing: Make sure all users have the correct Microsoft 365 licenses with access to Teams features.

User Communication and Training

• Notify migration date: Clearly communicate with all the users about the transition schedule and important dates.
• Provide user training: Provide proper training sessions or online tutorials to make users familiar with Teams interface and features.
• Highlight benefits: Teach users about the advantages of Teams like integrated collaboration tools, file sharing, etc.
• Address concerns: Actively inform users regarding data loss, contact syncing, and accessibility.

Data Assessment and Configuration

• Keep track of Skype data: Generate a detailed list of all existing Skype chats, contacts, and shared files.
• Evaluate Teams policies: Set all the necessary policies for user access, channel management, etc. based on the organization's requirements.
• Configure hybrid connectivity: If necessary, then configure hybrid connectivity between Skype and Teams users to allow them a smooth access during the transition.
• Address PSTN integration: Make a proper plan for phone number migration if a user is using Skype for Business Online with a PSTN.

Testing and Migration Execution

• Carry out pilot migration: Perform test batch migration with a classified user group to find issues and faults during migration and then refine the process.
• Data migration process: Test the data migration functionality to make sure a smooth migration of all Skype chats, contacts, and files.
• User account linking: Teach all the users to link their Skype accounts with their Microsoft accounts for easy login to Teams.
• Batch migration execution: Implement the Skype to Teams migration in multiple stages based on the chosen strategy and monitor each batch for error-free migration.

Post-Migration Plan

• Monitor user activities: Keep an eye on the user activity in Teams and find areas where they are lacking for further training and support.
• Provide support and assistance: Make assistance channels to address user queries and provide solutions to resolve issues related to Skype to Teams migration.
• Deactivate Skype account: Once users are completely migrated to Teams, deactivate the Skype account to prevent confusion between platforms.

Stepwise Guide to Migrate Skype for Business to Teams

Migrate from Skype for business to Teams securely with the below mentioned steps:

Important Note: Simply login to Teams using your Skype’s account credentials.

Migrate from Skype to Teams on Desktop

Here are the steps to migrate Skype for business to Teams on Windows desktop:

Step 1: In Skype for desktop, you will receive a pop-up saying Goodbye Skype, hello Teams.

Step 2: Download Microsoft Teams for Windows onto your system.

Step 3: Enter your Skype account credentials to sign up for Teams.

Step 4: You’ll receive a message saying Your Skype chats and contacts are ready. Click on Get started.

Step 5: Choose the required profile to use in Teams and click Continue.

Step 6: Enter First name and Last name, then click Confirm.

In this way, your Skype chats and contacts will get migrated to Microsoft Teams free version.

Migrate from Skype to Teams on Mobile

Here are the steps to migrate from Skype for business to Teams on mobile phone:

Step 1: In Skype for mobile phones, you will receive a prompt saying Goodbye Skype, hello Teams.

Step 2: If Microsoft Teams is not available on your device, download it from Play Store. After downloading, install it on your mobile phone.

Step 3: Launch Teams and sign in with your Skype account, then click Next.

Step 4: You’ll receive a pop-up as Your Skype chats and contacts are ready. Click on Get started.

Step 5: A pop-up will appear to share optional diagnostic data with Microsoft to help improve Teams, either click Accept or Decline to continue.

Step 6: Choose a name and profile picture and click Continue.

Step 7: Enter your First name and Last name, then click Confirm.

Step 8: Verify your profile and name, then click Continue.

Step 9: You can turn-on Sync contacts if needed, then click Continue.

In this way, your Teams account is successfully set-up.

Conclusion

No doubt, with the news of the discontinuation of Skype, it has become essential for users to migrate from Skype for business on premise to Teams. To perform the migration with precision, we discussed the Skype to Teams migration checklist along with a simple method to perform it. You just need to enter your Skype credentials in Teams to get started.

Additionally, we also recommend you keep the backup of your Teams data to ensure complete security from any further issues. For a secure and efficient backup of Teams data, use an automated software - Kernel Microsoft Teams Backup. With this software you can easily create Microsoft Teams backup at a specified location on your system.

Note: Just in case you are looking for another reliable resolution to move from Skype to Teams, get official guidance from Microsoft.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can I migrate Skype contacts to Teams?

A. Yes, you can migrate Skype for business contacts to Teams and continue your communication from there.

Q. Will my Skype meetings be also migrated with other data?

A. Yes, Microsoft allows you to migrate Skype meetings to Teams with other data for hassle-free working.

Q. How can I migrate from Skype for business on premise to Teams?

A. To migrate from Skype for business on premise to Teams, follow these simple steps:

1. Download Teams from the official Microsoft Teams website.

2. Log in using your Skype credentials.

3. Now Teams is ready to use with all your Skype chats and contacts.