Microsoft removes ads from Skype as part of move towards ‘user-centric design’

If you’ve used Microsoft’s Skype in recent years, you’ve probably noticed that the user experience is less than ideal due to the software’s omnipresence of ads. Thankfully, that’s all set to change with a new update coming to all platforms soon.

In the latest Skype Insider build 8.125 release notes, product manager Irene Namuganyi writes: “We’re excited to announce that Skype is now ad-free! Our latest update removes all ads from Skype channels and the entire Skype platform, providing a smoother, cleaner, and more enjoyable experience.”

While the app’s “today” section previously featured ads, it will now be ad-free, showing only relevant newsfeed content. There will also be no ads in conversation views.

Other notable features in the Skype update include improved AI imaging — now you can access features more directly from the chat window or top bar, improved user interface, and other improvements — and the introduction of OneAuth integration in the iOS app. (OneAuth was already supported in Skype for Android.)

Skype is no longer the powerful online communication tool it once was, although it is still popular for making international calls in many cases and has a fairly large user base.

But this update is interesting in the broader context of Microsoft’s software strategy. Ads are everywhere in Windows and other Microsoft experiences, like the Start menu. Anyone who uses Windows or Microsoft’s web services these days is all too familiar with the company’s aggressive efforts to get users to use the Edge web browser or try out its Copilot AI tool.

Does this Skype update herald a scaling back of this approach to the company’s software business in response to criticism of its less-than-ideal user experience? We have no way of knowing, but it’s nice to see if you’re still a frequent Skype user.