How to Uninstall Skype

Skype is an application that allows users to make voice calls on the Internet. In case Skype is installed on your computer but you don’t require it anymore, then you can easily uninstall Skype via the Add or Remove Programs utility.

Back Up Your Skype data

Before you remove Skype, you may want to back up your Skype data, including chat messages, voicemail, and snapshots. To do this, perform the following steps:

For Windows 7/Vista

  1. Click the Start button, and then type Run.
  2. In the Run dialog box, type %appdata%\skype and then click the OK button.
  3. Copy the folder with your Skype name and the Pictures folder and save it in another location, such as your desktop.

For Windows XP

  1. Click the Start menu, and then click Run.
  2. Type %appdata%\skype and press Enter.
  3. Copy the folder with your Skype name and the Pictures folder and save it in another location.

After saving your data, you may then proceed with the Skype uninstallation process.

How to Uninstall Skype

The easiest and best way to uninstall a program, including Skype from a Windows computer, is via the Windows free uninstaller, Add or Remove Programs.

To easy uninstall Skype, perform the following steps:

For Windows 7/Vista

  1. Click the Start button, type appwiz.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.
  2. Locate and select Skype on the currently installed programs list, and then click Uninstall.
  3. Click Yes, when prompted to confirm your action.

For Windows XP

  1. Click the Start menu, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type appwiz.cpl, and then press the OK button.
  3. In the Add or Remove Programs window, locate and right-click Skype.
  4. Select Uninstall/Remove to remove Skype from your Windows XP computer.

In case you want to remove all traces of Skype from your computer, then perform the following additional steps:

Remove Skype application folder

Windows 7/Vista

  1. Click the Start button, type run in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.
  2. Type %appdata% and then press Enter.
  3. Locate and right-click the Skype folder, and click Delete.

Windows XP

  1. Click the Start menu, and then click the Run utility.
  2. In the open box, type %appdata%, and then press the OK button.
  3. Locate and right-click the Skype folder, and then click Delete.

Ensure that the Skype program Folder has been Removed

Normally, when you uninstall Skype via the Add or Remove Programs utility, the Skype program folder is automatically deleted. In case the folder has not been deleted, then remove it manually. To do this, perform the following steps:

  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. Browse to C:\Program Files.
  3. Delete the Skype folder and the Skype PM folder if they are present.

Remove Skype Registry Entries

When you uninstall a program, not all its registry entries are removed automatically. You can remove Skype left-over registry entries either manually or with the help of a piece of reliable registry maintenance software, such as RegGenie. Download and install RegGenie and run a registry scan after you have uninstalled Skype to remove its left-over registry entries.

If you wish to remove the Skype registry entries manually, then perform the steps below:

  1. Run the regedit command to open Registry Editor.
  2. Click the Edit menu.
  3. Click Find.
  4. Select the Skype registry entry that search results show, right-click on it, and select Delete to remove it.
  5. Again, click the Edit menu, and then click Find Next.
  6. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all the Skype registry entries are removed.
  7. Close the Registry Editor.

Cannot Uninstall Skype Through Add or Remove Programs – What Should I Do?

In case you are unable to uninstall Skype through Add or Remove Programs, then you may seek the help of a reliable Windows third-party uninstaller tool, such as Perfect Uninstaller. Advantages of using Perfect Uninstaller are that it is faster than Windows Add or Remove Programs utility, it deletes all the registry entries of the uninstalled applications (something that Add or Remove Programs fail to do), and provides a Force Uninstall feature that allows you to forcefully uninstall unwanted software, including Skype.