how do I get phone calls on Teams?

Jim Watson 45 Reputation points
2026-06-16T23:18:26.6166667+00:00

I have a Microsoft 365 family account and I would like to use Microsoft Teams as a replacement for Skype.

How do I go about that?

Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams Free | Calls
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Answer accepted by question author

Jade Ng 13,245 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-06-17T00:36:53.29+00:00

Dear @Jim Watson,

Thank you for reaching out regarding your inquiry about using Microsoft Teams for phone calls.

I completely understand your expectation to use Teams as a replacement for Skype, especially for calling mobile or landline numbers. I’m happy to clarify how this works to help set the right expectations.

With a Microsoft 365 Family subscription, Microsoft Teams supports free audio and video calls between Teams users only. However, calling regular phone numbers (such as mobile or landline numbers) is not included by default in this plan.

To make calls to phone numbers using Teams, the service requires additional telephony capabilities (often referred to as “Teams Phone”), along with a calling plan or telecom provider connection. These features are currently part of business/enterprise offerings and are not available with Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions.

However, there are still a couple of options you may consider:

  • You may continue using Teams for free calls with other Teams users similar to app-to-app calling.
  • For full phone calling functionality within Teams, upgrading to a business-tier solution that includes Teams Phone capabilities would be required.

Skype Number cannot be transferred to Teams Free personal account. Teams Free does not support phone calling options. Phone calling options are only available in Teams Business with an appropriate phoning license.

For reference:

I hope this helps. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Hope you having a nice day and really much warm regards to you as well.

Looking forward to your response! 

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AI answer

2026-06-16T23:18:42.46+00:00

Microsoft 365 Family includes Teams (personal) for chat and online audio/video calls with other Teams or Skype users, but it does not turn Teams into a regular phone service by itself.

To replace Skype for calling, there are two different scenarios:

  1. Calling other Teams/Skype users over the internet (no phone numbers)
    This works with a Microsoft 365 Family account using Teams Free (personal):
    1. Install or open Microsoft Teams (personal) or go to Teams on the web.
    2. Sign in with the same Microsoft account used for Skype.
    3. Your Skype contacts and chats can be moved automatically to Teams Free; Skype users and Teams Free users can call and chat with each other.
    4. To make a call in Teams Free:
      • Use Search to find an existing contact or chat, then select Video call or Audio call.
      • Or go to Calls and use the call buttons to call other Teams users.
    This gives internet-based audio/video calls similar to Skype-to-Skype, but not calls to regular phone numbers.
  2. Calling and receiving calls to/from regular phone numbers (PSTN)
    This is not provided by Microsoft 365 Family or Teams Free (personal). Phone calling options (PSTN) require:
    • A Teams business environment, and
    • Appropriate Teams Phone licensing (for example, Teams Phone Standard with a Calling Plan, Direct Routing, or Operator Connect).
    With Teams Phone in a business tenant, Teams becomes a full phone system (PBX) that can make and receive external phone calls, use auto attendants, call queues, and more. This is separate from a consumer Microsoft 365 Family subscription.

If the goal is simply to continue using Skype-style minutes to call phone numbers from a personal account, existing paid Skype users can still use the Skype Dial Pad from the Skype web portal and within Teams Free to consume remaining Skype subscriptions or credits. Teams Free itself does not support full phone-number calling for new customers.

References:

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