Skype credit will expire soon. Account name: [Moderator note: personal info removed]

Question

Skype credit will expire soon. Account name: [Moderator note: personal info removed]

Ines Hoffmann 0

Hi, I received a message that I am going to lose my Skype credits. My account name is [Moderator note: personal info removed]. What can I do to prevent this from happening?

Best Regards,

[Moderator note: personal info removed]

Chris Duong 10,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-27T16:54:35.23+00:00

Hi @Ines Hoffmann,

I hope everything is going well on your end.

I’m following up on the support thread we've been working through together. I wanted to check in and see if the information I shared in my previous answer helped resolve the issue you were experiencing.

If you're still experiencing any issues or have further questions, please feel free to reach out at any time. I’m always happy to help if you need anything else.

I want to ensure everything is functioning smoothly and that your experience remains seamless.

Thank you again for your collaboration throughout the troubleshooting process.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

2 answers

Your answer

Chris Duong 10,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-27T16:54:35.23+00:00

Hi @Ines Hoffmann,

I hope everything is going well on your end.

I’m following up on the support thread we've been working through together. I wanted to check in and see if the information I shared in my previous answer helped resolve the issue you were experiencing.

If you're still experiencing any issues or have further questions, please feel free to reach out at any time. I’m always happy to help if you need anything else.

I want to ensure everything is functioning smoothly and that your experience remains seamless.

Thank you again for your collaboration throughout the troubleshooting process.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Answer 1

To keep Skype Credit from expiring, it must be used at least once every 180 days. A qualifying use is placing a call that is billed from Skype Credit (outside of any subscription) or sending a text message.

If the credit is already inactive, it can be reactivated:

Sign in to the [Moderator note: personal info removed] account at the Reactivate Credit page: https://secure.skype.com/portal/settings/credit/reactivate
Select Reactivate Credit.
Wait up to 15 minutes for reactivation and the confirmation email.

After reactivation, make sure to place a paid call or send a text at least once every 180 days to keep the credit active.

Note: Skype is being retired in May 2025. Existing calling and Skype Number subscriptions will continue to renew until April 3, 2025, and the Skype Dial Pad is available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams Free. If not planning to move to Teams Free, consider using the remaining credit before retirement.

References:

Answer 2

Hi @Ines Hoffmann,

Thank you very much for reaching out regarding your Skype Credit notice. I appreciate your patience and the details you provided.

Skype Credit becomes inactive after 180 days of no paid activity (no paid calls/SMS). The good news is your balance isn’t lost; it’s just paused and can be re‑activated.

Please follow the steps below:

Step 1 - Check your credit status

If your Skype Credit is still active, you only need to complete one paid action to keep it active for another 180 days.
If your Skype Credit is inactive, you’ll first need to reactivate it, then complete one paid action.

Step 2 - Take the required action

If your credit is active:

Place a very short paid call (even a few seconds is enough) to any phone number or
Send one SMS
This can be done using the Skype Dial Pad on the web or inside Microsoft Teams (Free). Either action will extend your credit’s activity period by another 180 days.

If your credit is inactive:

Sign in to Skype My Account using your account name and select Reactivate Credit: Reactivation can take up to 15 minutes, and you will receive a confirmation email once it’s complete.
After reactivation, place one short paid call or send an SMS (using the steps below) to keep your credit active going forward.

Step 3 - How to place the call or send an SMS

Using Skype Dial Pad on the web:

Open the Skype Dial Pad in your browser and sign in with your account name.
If your credit is active, the Dial Pad will open automatically.
If your credit is inactive, you’ll be prompted to reactivate it first.
Dial any phone number or send an SMS to complete the paid action.

Using Microsoft Teams (Free):

Sign in to Teams (Free) with the same account you used for Skype.
Open the Skype Dial Pad and place a short call or send an SMS.
If you don’t see the Dial Pad, it means your credit isn’t active yet—please reactivate it in My Account first, then reopen Teams.

Also, you might consider:
• Make sure you’re signed into the correct account. If your browser auto‑logs you into a different account, try a private/incognito window.
• If you reactivate, please allow up to 15 minutes for processing and the confirmation email. Then place a short paid call/SMS to keep it active.

For additional information, you can refer to these articles:

I hope this information is helpful. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to reach out.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

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