Skype will stop working on Windows Phone 8.1 (and older devices) in early 2017

A few weeks ago, we reported that Microsoft is dropping support for the Skype app on Windows Phone 8.1. The company is dropping support for its older apps as it’s moving to a modern infrastructure, which will allow it to offer a better experience across all devices. The company also recently launched the new Skype app for Windows 10 with the new Windows 10 Anniversary Update. However, as it’s no longer going to support its old Windows Phone app, it’s leaving around 80% of Windows Phone users out in the cold.  When Microsoft announced that it’ll be dropping support for older devices, the company didn’t state when exactly the old apps will stop working. Now, according to Microsoft, the company will kill the app in “early 2017.” In addition to this, the company will stop supporting the app from October 2016, but users will continue to be able to use the app until early 2017 with “some limitations.”

Alongside Windows Phones, this applies to Android devices with Android 4.0.3 or older, as well as Windows RT users. Microsoft states:

While support will no longer be available from October 2016, the Skype app on Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 will continue to work (possibly with some limitations) until early 2017, when we finish moving Skype calling to the cloud (see Skype blog).

And for Android users, the company stated:

To run the latest version of Skype for Android (Skype 6.2 and higher), you’ll need to have Android OS version 4.0.3 or above. While support for Android OS version 4.0.2 and below will no longer be available from October 2016, the Skype app for these versions will continue to work (possibly with some limitations) until early 2017, when we finish moving Skype calling to the cloud (see Skype blog).

Microsoft’s new Skype app for Windows 10 is pretty fantastic, and the company has been supporting it pretty well. Unfortunately though, if you are still using Windows Phone 8.1, you are out of luck as you’ll no longer be able to use Skype next year.