Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes, you will need to do a clean installation of Skype when something is broken that can not be fixed by just installing Skype again over an old version. This is what Skype suggests to do a clean install of Skype (taken from https://developer.skype.com/jira/browse/PIF-721:

Clean install of Skype:

1. Backup your Skype chat history files, please go to

"C:\Documents and Settings\your_windows_username\ApplicationData\Skype\you_skype_name\chatsync" and copy this directory somewhere safe (burn to CD, etc.)
  
2. Uninstall:

Close Skype.

Open the control panel (Start -> Control Panel, or Start -> Settings -> Control Panel) and choose "Add/Remove Programs".

Select Skype from the list and click on "Remove".

Go to 'My Computer' --> Your system drive (possibly C: ) --> Program Files and delete Skype folder there.

Go to My Computer --> Your system drive (possibly C: ) --> Documents and settings\Your Windows Username\Application data\ delete Skype folder there.

Open Windows' "Start" menu and select "Run".

Enter "regedit" in the text box and click "OK".

Open the "Edit" drop-down menu and click "Find".

Search for the keyword "Skype". Delete all search results.

3. Go to http://www.skype.com/download get the latest version of Skype and install it

4. If you want to restore your chat history, select and copy the files back to "C:\Documents and Settings\your_windows_username\ApplicationData\Skype\you_skype_name"
  
Note: Your contact list is stored on our servers and will not be lost as long as you log always login with the same username. Chat histories and other data are not kept on our servers.
Your call History is available at https://secure.skype.com/store/myaccount/history.html