Microsoft Teams: End?
Microsoft Teams is not being discontinued. Instead, Microsoft deactivated the old 'Classic' client on July 1, 2025 and is fully adopting the new Teams app. At the same time, there was a global decoupling of Teams from the Office/Microsoft 365 packages due to EU competition regulations, which does not mean a product end.
Quelle: Custom View
Microsoft Teams: Current Status
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform for chat, meetings, calls, and file collaboration, available for businesses, schools, and private use. The old desktop app, known as 'Classic Teams', was permanently deactivated on July 1, 2025. Support for Classic Teams ended as early as July 1, 2024. Since then, only the new Teams app has been supported.
The new Teams app was generally released in October 2023. It is designed to be fast, simple, and modern. For private use and small groups there is 'Microsoft Teams (free)', which is independent of the already discontinued 'Teams Free (classic)' variant from 2023.
Background and Context
In March 2023, Microsoft announced a completely new Teams app, focusing on speed, stability, and modern architecture. On October 5, 2023, this new app became generally available for Windows and Mac. Microsoft then planned automatic switches from Classic to the new version.
Another key step was the decoupling of Teams from Microsoft 365/Office 365 on April 1, 2024. This step occurred worldwide due to EU competition regulations. . New customers have since been purchasing suites without Teams or Teams separately. The underlying EU competition case was concluded by the European Commission on September 11, 2025 after binding commitments from Microsoft.
Additionally, Microsoft discontinued Skype in May 2025 to focus consumer communications on Teams (free). This fueled rumors of a 'shutdown' of Teams, but in fact the opposite is true.
Quelle: YouTube
From a product perspective, Microsoft aims to shed the grown, partly sluggish Classic codebase and roll out a faster, more robust Teams app. This aligns with the public goals 'faster, easier, more flexible' and with new AI features such as Copilot integrations. From a market perspective, EU competition regulations played a central role. Through global decoupling, Microsoft reduces the coupling advantage over competing products like Slack and creates regulatory clarity. In media terms, this explains why rumors about a shutdown of Teams went viral: decoupling sounds like retreat to many – but in reality it is a licensing and compliance issue, while the app itself is modernized and expanded.
Important Changes
Quelle: billhartzer.com
Microsoft informed users about the discontinuation of the free Classic version of Teams.
The most important change is the complete switch to the new Teams app. The Support for Classic Teams ended on July 1, 2024, , The deactivation occurred on July 1, 2025.
The global decoupling of Teams from the Microsoft 365/Office 365 bundles The global decoupling on April 1, 2024 is another significant change. This means that organizations can or must license Teams separately, depending on the chosen Microsoft 365 package.
Quelle: dignited.com
Microsoft's strategy to discontinue Skype in favor of Teams is illustrated on this website.
The Discontinuation of Skype in May 2025 and guiding users to Teams (free) is a strategic decision to consolidate consumer communications on a single platform.
For users, this means they should download the new Teams app directly from Microsoft to download and install should, if Classic Teams no longer starts. For private users and small teams, the following remains available Teams (free)
Quelle: YouTube
Facts and Rumors
Quelle: dsers.com
Microsoft Teams is actively developed and promoted with new AI features, which refutes rumors of a shutdown.
Evidence: Classic Teams has been deactivated since July 1, 2025 ; the new Teams app is the standard. The Support for Classic ended as early as July 1, 2024. . The The new Teams has been generally available since October 5, 2023. . Teams was worldwide decoupled from Microsoft 365-/Office 365 bundles. . The EU accepted Microsoft's commitments and concluded the proceedings. Skype was discontinued in 2025 and users are directed to Teams (free).
Unclear: How prices and feature cuts will develop in the future depending on country, customer type, and duration remains dependent on Microsoft's portfolio decisions and regulatory requirements. The global decoupling sets the framework, not the final details.
False/Misleading: Microsoft Teams is being discontinued. The opposite is true: Teams remains in support and development; Classic and Skype were discontinued. Also misleading: There is no free Teams anymore. The correct is: Only Only "Teams Free (classic)" ended in 2023 ; there remains a free Teams variant.