The latest Skype Preview version runs on Electron instead of React Native

Skype on Windows 10 (Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

The latest version of Skype Preview is powered by Electron rather than React Native.
The move could remove several features from the Skype Preview app.
The change comes with v8.58.76.92 of Skype Preview.

The latest version of Skype Previews appears to be powered by Electron rather than React Native. A recent update pushed Skype Preview to v8.58.76.92 and brought a major shift for the app. Aggiornamenti Lumia shared a screenshot of the latest version, and the ensuing Twitter thread discussed the impact of the changes on Skype.

According to podcaster Florian B, swapping to Electron rather than React Native removed several features, including:

People app integration
Syncing with Outlook
Automatic Microsoft account sign in
App pausing and working in the background
A title bar that follows Fluent Design guidelines
In-line notifications

The app icon in the taskbar for the latest version of Skype Preview is also an older icon. In a follow-up tweet, Florian B added that push notifications and OS call integration are gone in the latest version of the app.

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As this is a preview version of Skype, Microsoft could make significant changes before rolling things out to the public.

If you'd like to test out Skype Preview, you can sign up to try it on Microsoft's website.

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Sean Endicott is a News Writer at Windows Central, where he covers Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, apps, and the broader PC ecosystem. Since joining the site in 2017, he has written well over a thousand articles across the Microsoft landscape, covering breaking news, analysis, and feature reporting.

He writes Windows Wrap, a weekly column covering the biggest stories in Windows and the PC industry, and what they mean for the platform going forward.

Before joining Windows Central full-time, Sean worked in journalism and media production after earning a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University. Outside of tech, he is an award-winning American football coach based in Nottingham, England, and was named BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year in 2024.