Guide · Skype Credit
What happened to Skype Credit and the Skype Dial Pad
Skype Credit can no longer be bought or topped up: Microsoft ended new purchases of Skype Credit, Skype Numbers and Skype subscriptions, and automatic top-up is gone.[1] Leftover Skype Credit can still be spent on calls to landlines and mobiles through the Skype Dial Pad, which opens inside Microsoft Teams (free) or at calling.web.skype.com, according to Microsoft's help page.[2] Microsoft's Services Agreement says credit unused for 180 days is set to inactive and can be reactivated, and that credit is lost if the Microsoft account is closed.[3] Skype subscriptions that ran past May 1, 2026 were cancelled and converted to Skype Credit, and Microsoft offers a refund instead on request through Skype customer support.[1] Skype Credit cannot be transferred to another person, to Teams or to another calling service.[3][4] I re-read Microsoft's retirement, Dial Pad and Services Agreement pages on October 25, 2026.
After Skype is published with support from TwinPhone; rankings reflect my criteria. Methodology and disclosure.
On this page
Skype Credit in one minute
- Buying credit: not possible since the Skype retirement; automatic top-up has ended too.[1]
- Spending credit: through the Skype Dial Pad in Teams (free) or at calling.web.skype.com.[2]
- Inactive credit: set after 180 days without use; reactivate it on Skype's My Account page.[3][2]
- When it runs out: use a pay-as-you-go calling service; Skype Credit cannot be moved to one.[4]
Can you still use Skype Credit in 2026?
Yes, according to Microsoft. Its retirement page says Skype Credits can be used for calling and that the Skype Dial Pad is available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams (free).[1] The Dial Pad help page adds that Skype Credit still pays for calls to landlines and mobile numbers.[2] Microsoft's Services Agreement, effective September 30, 2026, also says the Dial Pad can be used with an active subscription or Skype Credits after the Skype apps were retired.[3]
The old Dial Pad address, secure.skype.com/en/dialpad, redirected to the Teams (free) homepage when I checked in October 2026. Microsoft's help page gives calling.web.skype.com as the direct address instead.[2] None of Microsoft's pages that I read gives an end date for the Dial Pad. For everything else that closed with Skype, see Skype alternatives compared.
How to use the Skype Dial Pad from Teams Free, step by step
Microsoft's help page describes three entry points: the Teams desktop app, the Teams mobile app and the web.[2] All three need the Microsoft account that was your Skype account, and Microsoft asks you to update Teams to the latest version first.[2]
On a computer
- Sign in to Microsoft Teams (free) with the Skype account that holds your Skype Credit.
- Select Settings and more (the three dots) in the top-right corner.
- Select Skype Dial Pad. Your balance is shown at the top left, next to your name.[2]
- Type the full international number, starting with the country code, and place the call.
On a phone
- Open the Teams app for personal use and sign in with your Skype account.
- Tap your profile picture. The balance appears under Skype Phone.[2]
- Tap Skype Dial Pad, then enter or pick the number.
In a web browser
Skype Dial Pad missing? Why it disappears and what to try
The Skype Dial Pad only appears for accounts that hold Skype Credit. Microsoft says the entry points are available only to users with active or inactive Skype Credit, and that without active credit the Dial Pad option is hidden on mobile and desktop.[2] Check these four things:
- Wrong account. Teams must be signed in with the Microsoft account that was your Skype account, not a work, school or second personal account.
- Old app. Update Teams to the latest version; Microsoft lists this as the first requirement.[2]
- Inactive credit. Credit unused for 180 days is set to inactive.[3] Reactivate it on Skype's My Account page, then reopen Teams and repeat the steps.[2]
- No credit left. An account with no Skype Credit gets no Dial Pad, and new credit cannot be bought.[1]
Skype Credit timeline: purchases, gifting, subscriptions
These are the four dates that matter for Skype Credit; what happened to Skype overall is covered on its own page.
- April 3, 2025: calling and Skype Number subscriptions stopped renewing automatically, and automatic credit top-up for Skype Manager ended.[1]
- May 5, 2025: Skype Credit gifting stopped, together with SMS, call forwarding, voicemail and Caller ID setup.[1]
- March 2026: Microsoft began removing the Skype minutes from Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions.[1]
- May 1, 2026: the Skype subscription service ended; subscriptions running beyond that date were cancelled and converted to Skype Credit.[1]
How to get a refund for Skype Credit or a subscription
A refund exists for one case: a Skype subscription that ran past May 1, 2026. Microsoft says those subscriptions were cancelled and converted into Skype Credit, that the subscriber is eligible for a refund, and that Skype customer support will help with a refund instead of keeping the credit.[1]
Microsoft's retirement page does not describe a refund for Skype Credit that was bought as credit.[1] The Services Agreement treats it as non-transferable, and unused credit is lost when the Microsoft account is closed, so do not close the account while it still holds a balance.[3]
What your situation means
| You had | What happened | What you can do now |
|---|---|---|
| Skype Credit | Kept on the account; no new purchases, no automatic top-up.[1] | Spend it through the Skype Dial Pad in Teams (free) or on the web.¹ |
| Inactive Skype Credit | Set to inactive after 180 days without use.[3] | Reactivate it on Skype's My Account page, then use the Dial Pad.[2] |
| A Skype subscription | Cancelled on May 1, 2026 and converted to Skype Credit.[1] | Use the credit, or ask Skype support for a refund instead. |
| Microsoft 365 Skype minutes | Removed from Personal and Family plans from March 2026.[1] | Nothing to claim; use a pay-as-you-go service. |
| A Skype Number with credit | The number ended in May 2026; the credit stays.[1] | Spend the credit; see Skype Number replacements. |
- ¹ Microsoft says the Dial Pad option is hidden when the account has no active credit.
When your Skype Credit runs out
No free app can call landlines and mobiles abroad; that needs a paid calling service, and Microsoft says Teams (free) has no paid calling plans.[1] The pay-as-you-go services that replace Skype Credit are compared, with dated per-minute rates, on their own page, and you can also make an international call without Skype step by step.
Services with a prepaid balance
TwinPhone vs Skype Credit
Skype Credit FAQ
What has happened to my Skype Credit?
Can I still use my Skype Credit to make calls?
Yes, according to Microsoft: open the Skype Dial Pad from Settings and more in Teams (free) on a computer, from your profile picture in the Teams mobile app, or at calling.web.skype.com.[2] I could not confirm that the Dial Pad still connects calls in October 2026.
Can I still buy Skype Credit?
No. Microsoft says new purchases of Skype Credit, Skype Numbers and Skype subscriptions are no longer available, and automatic top-up has ended.[1]
Why is the Skype Dial Pad missing in Teams?
The Skype Dial Pad only appears for an account that has Skype Credit, and Microsoft says the option is hidden when that credit is not active.[2] Sign in with the account that was your Skype account, update Teams, and reactivate inactive credit on Skype's My Account page.
Can I get a refund for unused Skype Credit?
Microsoft offers a refund on request for Skype subscriptions that ran past May 1, 2026 and were converted to credit; contact Skype customer support.[1] Its retirement page does not describe refunds for credit bought as credit.
Does Skype Credit expire?
Not outright, but Microsoft's Services Agreement says Skype Credit unused for 180 days is placed on inactive status and can be reactivated, and that unused credit is lost if the Microsoft account is closed.[3]
Can I transfer Skype Credit to Teams or another calling service?
How is TwinPhone different from Skype Credit?
Do TwinPhone credits expire?
No. TwinPhone says calling credit never expires, and calls are billed per minute with a one-minute minimum and no connection fee.[5]
Related guides
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Skype is retiring in May 2025: What you need to know (no visible update date). Accessed October 25, 2026.
- Microsoft Support: Make a call with Skype Dial Pad in Microsoft Teams (personal). Accessed October 25, 2026.
- Microsoft: Microsoft Services Agreement (July 30, 2026). Accessed October 25, 2026.
- TwinPhone Help: What replaced Skype for calling phone numbers? (September 27, 2026). Accessed October 25, 2026.
- TwinPhone Help: How does TwinPhone billing work? (September 27, 2026). Accessed October 25, 2026.
Gladstone Walters
Editor, After Skype
I'm Gladstone Walters, and I live in the United Kingdom. I write and maintain the After Skype guides. Every price, limit and date here comes from the vendor's own pricing, help or rate pages; I note the day I read each one and put a dash wherever I can't verify a number. TwinPhone supports this site, so I hold it to the same criteria as every other app and list its weak points next to its strengths.
Gladstone on Trustpilot (opens in a new tab)Reviewed and updated · Next review January 2027 · Author page · Methodology