Microsoft will hammer the final nail into Skype Classic's coffin in November

Skype on mobile devices

Microsoft is ending support for Skype Classic (also known as Skype 7) in November. The desktop version will receive no new updates or security patches after November 1, and the mobile version will be dropped on November 15. The company announced the decision on its Skype blog, and urged users to upgrade now to avoid disruption when support ends.

Microsoft faced angry retaliation in July, when it announced that all users would have to switch to the redesigned Skype 8. Most complaints centered around various tweaks intended to bring the desktop software more in line with the mobile app.

This resulted in the loss of features (like the ability to customize webcam settings) and the end result was a chat client that felt more like WhatsApp than serious video conferencing software.

On hold

Microsoft swiftly backtracked, and declared that although users could upgrade to Skype 8 if they wanted to, it would continue to support Skype Classic while it ironed out those early issues.

"Based on user feedback, we are extending Skype 7 (Skype classic) for some time," the company said in a forum post. "Our customers can continue to use Skype classic until then."

It now turns out 'some time' was approximately four months. Microsoft has spent that time rolling back some of the less popular changes, and adding new features like voice and video call recording, which will appeal to people who use the software professionally.

Via The Verge

TOPICS
Cat Ellis
Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years and is an SCA-certified barista, so whether you want to invest in some smart lights or pick up a new espresso machine, she's the right person to help.

Latest in Tech
A Lego Pikachu tail next to a Pebble OS watch and a screenshot of Assassin's Creed Shadow
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from LG's excellent new OLED TV to our Assassin's Creed Shadow review
A triptych image of the Meridian Ellipse, LG C5 and Xiaomi 15.
5 amazing tech reviews of the week: LG's latest OLED TV is the best you can buy and Xiaomi's seriously powerful new phone
Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones in Black and Gold on yellow background with big savings text
The best Beats headphones you can buy drop to $169.99 at Best Buy's Tech Fest sale
Ray-Ban smart glasses with the Cpperni logo, an LED array, and a MacBook Air with M4 next to ecah other.
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Twitter's massive outage to iRobot's impressive new Roombas
A triptych image featuring the Sennheiser HD 505, Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025), and Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4).
5 unmissable tech reviews of the week: why the MacBook Air (M4) should be your next laptop and the best sounding OLED TV ever
Apple iPhone 16e
Which affordable phone wins the mid-range race: the iPhone 16e, Nothing 3a, or Samsung Galaxy A56? Our latest podcast tells all
Latest in News
DeepSeek
Deepseek’s new AI is smarter, faster, cheaper, and a real rival to OpenAI's models
Open AI
OpenAI unveiled image generation for 4o – here's everything you need to know about the ChatGPT upgrade
Apple WWDC 2025 announced
Apple just announced WWDC 2025 starts on June 9, and we'll all be watching the opening event
Hornet swings their weapon in mid air
Hollow Knight: Silksong gets new Steam metadata changes, convincing everyone and their mother that the game is finally releasing this year
OpenAI logo
OpenAI just launched a free ChatGPT bible that will help you master the AI chatbot and Sora
An aerial view of an Instavolt Superhub for charging electric vehicles
Forget gas stations – EV charging Superhubs are using solar power to solve the most annoying thing about electric motoring