There are probably many Windows 10 users like you, who are equally puzzled to find the Skype App starting automatically on their Computers and running continuously in the background. Let us take a look at how to prevent or stop Skype from starting Automatically in Windows 10.
Skype, Skype Preview and Skype For Business
How to stop Skype from auto starting in Windows 10 at boot-up.–PC Pitstop. Stop Skype AutoStart in Windows 10. By Dave Taylor. The Question: I just updated to Windows 10 and it’s going well, except that Skype now wants to start up every time I boot the system, which is really annoying. How to remove skype for business to automatically start on log on for all users. I have tried changing the registry from HKCU as shown in.
There are 3 different versions of Skype that we have come across on Windows 10 Computers and all these Skype versions have the same default habit of starting automatically with the Computer and keep running in the background.
The first version of Skype is the traditional “Skype Desktop App” which you must have downloaded onto your Computer, in order to enjoy Skype Voice and Video Calling from your Windows 10 Computer.
The second version of Skype, known as “Skype Preview” is included as a part of Windows 10 and this lighter version of Skype is present on all Windows computers that have received the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.
The third version of Skype is known as “Skype For Business” and this full version of Skype is also included as a part of Windows 10 operating system.
Stop Skype From Starting Automatically in Windows 10
First let us take the case of the full version of Skype Desktop app. Once you download and install the full version of Skype on your computer, you will find it booting up automatically with your computer, it will even sign you into your Skype account and remain running in the background on your Windows 10 Computer.
Follow the steps below to stop Skype Desktop app from starting automatically on your Computer.
1. Open the Skype Desktop app on your Computer. You can do this by clicking on the Skype Shortcut on your Desktop or by clicking on Skype from the list of apps.
2. Sign-in to your Skype Account (in case you are not already signed-in).
3. Next, click on Tools in the top Menu bar and then click on Options… tab in the drop-down menu (See image below)
4. On the options screen, uncheck the option for Start Skype when I start Windows and click on Save.
After this you will not find the Skype app starting Automatically on your Windows 10 Computer, it will only start when you click on the Skype shortcut and launch the App on your Computer.
Stop Skype Preview From Starting Automatically in Windows 10
Once you click on the Skype Preview app (out of curiosity!), the app prompts you to sign-in using a Microsoft Account (your email).
However, once you sign-in to the Skype Preview app, you will remain signed-in even after rebooting the device. This practically means that the Skype Preview app will be starting automatically on your computer (once you make the mistake of signing-in to this app!).
Follow the steps below to stop Skype Preview app from starting Automatically and running in the background on your Windows 10 Computer.
1. Click on the Windows 10 Start button and then click on Skype Preview App.
2. On the next screen (Skype Preview), click on your Profile picture/icon located at the bottom left corner of your screen.
3. Next, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Sign Out option.
This will sign you out of the Skype Preview App and you won’t find Skype Preview starting automatically on your Windows 10 Computer.
Stop Skype For Business From Starting Automatically in Windows 10
In case you have been using Skype for Business on your computer, you can make use of the following steps to stop this version of Skype from starting automatically on your Windows 10 Computer.
1. Click on the Windows 10 Start button and then click on Skype For Business App
2. Sign-in to your Skype For Business Account (in case you are not already signed-in).
3. Next, click on the little Down-arrow button, located next to the wheel icon. From the drop-down, first click Tools and then click on Options (See image below)
4. On the options screen, first click on the Personal tab in the side-menu and then uncheck the option for “Automatically Start the App When I log on to Windows” (See image below)
5. Finally, click on OK to save your settings for Skype Business App.
I'm running Vista SP2 and Skype 4.1.0.141.
I have 'Start Skype when I start Windows' checked, but it's still not starting automatically. Is this a Skype bug, or something I can track down myself?
UPDATE: I've just upgraded from .141 to .179 and the problem is back, with the registry entry corrupted as before. Again, fixing the registry entry as described seems to have resolved it.
Roddy
RoddyRoddy
8 Answers
Well, I have a solution, but I can't see any way that the problem could have arisen, except for a buggy skype installer .
msconfig was listing the command to run as:-
Note the double slash in there before
Phone
!Changing the registry entry for
HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunSkype
to remove the extra slash fixed the problem.RoddyRoddy
Try putting a shortcut to Skype in your startup folder
kpoehlskpoehls
I had the same problem with Vista SP2. I used the same trick for when the Microsoft updates got stuck:
I deleted everything regarding Skype from the hosts.
- Navigate to the following location:Windows 95/98/Me:Windows NT/2000/XP:Windows Vista:
- Double-click the hosts file.
- If necessary, deselect the “Always use this program to open this program” check box.
- Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
- When the file opens, delete all the (Skype) entries.
- Save.
RICKYRICKY
Right click on Skype shortcut which is on the desktop (OR) right click on 'Skype' which is in Start → Programs
In the Compatibility tab under 'Run program in Compatibility mode' choose your version. If you are using Vista or Windows 7, then press apply.
![Gpo Gpo](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125312997/206990487.jpg)
MohamedMohamed
Right click on Skype shortcut which is in desktop (OR) right click on 'Skype' which is in Start-->Program menu.. then,
Select Properties -> Compatibility tab. Uncheck the option “Run this program as an administrator”. Save by pressing OK button.
It will fix 2 problems.
- Auto start up of skype during system starts
- Drag and Drop (send file) in the conversation window will work.
Mokubai♦
PravinPravin
Lakshman PrasadLakshman Prasad
When installing Skype 4.1, its base library
Skype4COM.dll
(version of 2009) is being stored in ?:Program FilesCommon FilesSkype
but old version of Skype4COM.dll
(of 2007) had been stored in Windowssystem32
. After disabling startup of the new version, Skype starts by means of old library. The records of both libraries are in registry at HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSharedDlls
(all listed dlls run at Windows startup, old Skype4COM.dll
runs as if disabled Skype).The method of curing:
- Exit Skype
- Delete both records from
....SharedDlls
key - Restart in safe mode, delete old
Skype4COM.dll
fromsystem32
- Restart Windows (Skype must not start if it was diasbled in settings)
- Run Skype manually and set option 'run at Windows startup'
studiohack♦
user21393
I have been searching for an answer to this for ages as my Skype stopped autolaunching with a 2017 update, so although this is a slight variation to the question (it's a different version of Skype and for Wimdows 10) this was the ONLY thread anywhere that I found that dealt with the problem so am posting a solution here for others still looking (ironically most other results were for how to STOP Skype from auto-launching!) The link below shows you how to add apps to the start-up folder in Windows 10:
JustineJustine