Microsoft Lync 2010: history, support status and upgrading to Teams

Lync went through several names over the years, which is why many people still search for Lync 2010 by name. Here is how the product line moved from its first release to today:

The business messaging client that came before Lync.

Office Communicator was renamed Lync, and support for Lync 2010 began on January 25, 2011.

The next releases. The Skype for Business 2015 client was an update to Lync 2013.

Lync 2010 and Lync Server 2010 reached end of support.

Microsoft retired Skype for Business Online.

Lync 2013 reached end of support.

Teams handles chat, meetings, calling and file collaboration in one app. Every capability Lync introduced now lives there, and it keeps getting new features and security updates.

Lync 2010 brought workplace communication into a single desktop client. Its core features included:

Instant messaging with presence, so you could see who was available

Audio and video calls

Online meetings with desktop and app sharing

Integration with Outlook calendars and contacts

Lync 2010 also came in editions for different roles, which explains the edition names you may still see on older installs:

The main client for everyday messaging, calls and meetings.

For joining Lync meetings without the full client.

For receptionists and operators who manage high call volumes.

For persistent, topic-based chat rooms.

These were the building blocks of modern business communication. Teams covers the core features in a cloud service that stays up to date, and persistent chat rooms now live in Teams channels.

Lync 2010 no longer receives security updates, bug fixes or technical support. Installing it today means running software that won't be patched against new threats. If you have an existing Office 2010 product key, you can still find Office 2010 installation guidance on the Office previous-versions pages. For calling, chat and meetings, download Microsoft Teams instead.

Teams was built to do everything Lync 2010 did and more. Here is how the two compare:

Schedule, join and add people to meetings from your Outlook calendar. Microsoft Teams in Microsoft 365: Yes. Lync 2010: Yes.

Share content and explain ideas visually. Microsoft Teams in Microsoft 365: Yes. Lync 2010: Yes.

1080p video with up to 6 people shown at once. Microsoft Teams in Microsoft 365: Yes. Lync 2010: No.

Messages appear the next time someone signs in. Microsoft Teams in Microsoft 365: Yes. Lync 2010: No.

Share from OneDrive or your PC or Mac. Microsoft Teams in Microsoft 365: Yes. Lync 2010: No.

The latest features and security updates. Microsoft Teams in Microsoft 365: Yes. Lync 2010: No.

Copilot summarizes meetings and suggests next steps. Microsoft Teams in Microsoft 365: Yes. Lync 2010: No.

The last row is the biggest difference. Lync helped you hold a meeting, and Copilot helps you act on it.

Copilot in Teams turns meetings and chats into decisions and next steps. Once you move from Lync 2010 to Teams, Copilot can help you:

Copilot summarizes key discussion points, including who spoke and what they said.

It suggests action items and answers questions in real time, during or after a meeting.

In chats and channels, it pulls out the main points, decisions and action items so you don't have to scroll through long threads.

Longer Copilot responses open in Word, and responses formatted as tables open in Excel.

Copilot in Teams requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, which you can add to an eligible Microsoft 365 business plan. For teams that spend much of their week in meetings, it's the fastest way to see what the move from Lync makes possible.

Moving off Lync 2010 takes one more decision than moving off newer versions. Microsoft supports hybrid connections to Teams only from Skype for Business Server 2015, Skype for Business Server 2019 and Lync Server 2013. Follow these steps in order:

Pick a Microsoft 365 plan that includes Teams.

Lync Server 2010 can't connect to Teams in a hybrid setup. Decide whether to move users directly to Teams, or to upgrade to a supported server version first if you need a staged move.

Follow the upgrade guidance on Microsoft Learn, join a free upgrade planning workshop, and engage FastTrack if your subscription is eligible.

Train people on Teams before you switch them over.

Start with the people who run the most meetings, then expand.

Starting with a single team lets you test the process before you roll it out across the organization.

Lync 2010 has been out of support since 2021, and Teams is ready to take its place. Choose a Microsoft 365 plan for your business and add Copilot to get more out of every meeting.