You open Skype on an older Windows 10 PC to call a relative, and it will not sign in, shows a message about moving to Microsoft Teams, or simply closes. Reinstalling makes no difference. When slot88 Windows 10 Skype not working leaves you without your usual calling app, the reason is not your PC at all.
Microsoft retired Skype in May 2025. The service was shut down, and Microsoft directed users to Microsoft Teams Free, which can sign in with the same Microsoft account. After the shutdown, the Skype app could no longer connect, so no setting or reinstall can bring it back.
Many people only discover this now, because they open Skype rarely or the app was left installed after the change.
The good news is that moving to an alternative takes only a few minutes.
What Might Be Causing It
Skype stops working on Windows 10 for these reasons:
- The Skype service has been retired, so the app cannot connect.
- The installed app shows prompts to move to Teams.
- Old shortcuts still open an app that no longer has a service behind it.
- Contacts were moved to Teams Free if you signed in there.
Errors you see in Skype are a result of the shutdown, not a fault in Windows.
Old Skype shortcuts may still sit on the desktop or taskbar, and some people also have the Skype app built into older Windows 10 installations. Both open a program with no service behind it, which is why sign-in screens hang or loop back to the start.
First Steps to Try
Move to Microsoft Teams Free.
- Download Microsoft Teams from Microsoft’s official website or the Microsoft Store.
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account you used for Skype.
- Check whether your contacts and chats appear, since Microsoft offered to carry them across.
- Test the microphone and camera in Teams settings before your first call.
- Share the Teams app with relatives so you can call each other.
If you prefer another service, any well-known calling app works on Windows 10.
If the Problem Continues
Tidy up and troubleshoot calls in the new app.
- Uninstall Skype from Settings > Apps so old shortcuts do not confuse you.
- In Settings > Privacy > Microphone and Camera, allow access for desktop apps.
- Select the right microphone and speakers in the new app’s device settings.
- Update the webcam and audio drivers if devices are not detected.
- Use the app’s built-in test call feature to confirm everything works.
Protect Your Data First
Microsoft only kept Skype data available for export for a limited time after the shutdown. Do not download “Skype” installers from unofficial sites, which may contain malware disguised as the old app.
The Bottom Line
Skype no longer works because Microsoft retired it. Switch to Teams Free with your Microsoft account, or another trusted calling app, and remove the old Skype app.
