Does your Skype application refuse to work or crashes on your computer? In this post, we’ve compiled various fixes to get Skype working on your Windows 10 PC.
Why Is Skype Not Working on Windows 10?
Any of the following factors can be responsible for the issue:
1. App Not Granted Permission to Run
The Skype not opening problem can occur if the app can’t access your PC’s webcam. In that case, a few changes in the Settings menu would rectify the issue.
2. Conflicts with Other Programs
Activities of a third-party application may be stopping Skype from opening. You only need to find and delete the faulty application.
3. Antivirus Protection from Windows Firewall
Hackers may attempt to exploit the app’s vulnerabilities to install virus programs on your PC. To protect you, Windows Firewall may stop Skype from working. If that’s the case, it’s best to safeguard your PC with a reliable security tool.
How Do I Fix Skype Not Opening on Windows 10?
1. Check for Malware Activities Using Windows Firewall
The first step is to check if Windows Firewall has been blocking Skype from opening. That would reveal if your PC has been under attack.
Follow the steps below:
- Press Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box.
- In the Run box text field, type “control” (no quotes), and click OK to open the Control Panel menu.
- Then, click on the System and Security option.
- On the next screen, click on Windows Defender Firewall.
- After that, select the “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall” option.
- Now, you should see the list of apps monitored by the Firewall.
- Scroll through the list to see if Skype is present.
Note: If Skype is unchecked, then it has been blocked. You can remove the app from the block list, but that is risky.
Although Windows Firewall tries to keep your device safe, it may miss some malicious items. So, using a third-party virus-detection program, such as Auslogics Anti-Malware, provides extra security.
Moreover, it will protect your system without conflicting with the main antivirus or other programs.
2. Change Skype’s Folder Name
Renaming the application’s default folder is another fix that has worked for some users. However, your PC must be in Safe Mode to use this fix. Follow the procedures below to try it:
- Press Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box.
- In the Run box space, type the following text and hit the Enter button: msconfig.exe.
- After that, the System Configuration menu will open.
- Then, select Boot in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Under the Boot tab, checkmark the Safe Boot and Network options.
- Now, click on Apply > OK to effect the change.
- After rebooting, your operating system will be in the Safe Mode state.
- Try launching Skype to see if the issue persists.
- If it does, open the Run box again, enter “%appdata%” (no quotes) and hit Enter.
- In the pop-up window, find a folder named Skype.
- Right-click on it, and change the name to Skype_2.
- After that, exit the window and relaunch Skype to see if it works correctly.
- If the fix resolved the issue, you can switch the PC to the normal mode and relaunch the app.
However, if the app still won’t work, check out the next solution.
3. Disable Universal Plug and Play (uPnP)
The uPnP allows you to connect to networked devices. Unfortunately, Skype uses this feature to prevent firewall protection. It’s best to disable it to keep your computer safe.
Follow these procedures:
- Launch your OS in Safe mode.
- Open Skype.
- Under Skype’s advanced connection settings, locate the uPnP feature and disable it.
- Reboot the PC and test to see if Skype opens.
4. Run a System File Checker (SFC) Scan
Corrupted file systems on Windows 10 might have triggered the Skype not working problem. In such situations, you can use SFC tool to repair corrupt or damaged system files. Here’s how:
- Type “command prompt” (no quotes) in the Windows Search box and hit Enter.
- From the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select the Run as administrator option.
- Click Yes on the UAC prompt.
- On the next screen, type the following text and hit Enter to start the scan process: sfc/scannow.
- Your system files will be scanned for issues and violations.
- After the scan is complete, reboot your PC.
- Then, try opening Skype and see how it behaves this time.
- If the program fails, try the next method.
5. Modify the App’s Privacy Settings
Denied access to the webcam is a common reason Skype won’t work on Windows 10. Fortunately, you can fix this from the Settings window.
See the steps below:
- First, ensure the Skype process is not running in the system background.
- Then, press the Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
- Find and click on the Privacy option.
- Now, on the left pane, select Camera under the App Permissions tab.
- Here, you will see Skype and the list of other applications that can access the computer’s webcam.
- Check to see if Skype has access to the webcam feature. If it doesn’t, grant it access and exit the window.
- Open Skype again and observe how it responds.
6. Reset/Repair the Application
If Skype was working correctly before the issue started, then a simple reset might be enough to restore the previous behavior.
Here is how you can do that:
- Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings window.
- Then, go to the Apps page.
- Here, you will see the list of applications installed on your device. Search for Skype among them.
- Then, click on Advanced options.
- You will see a pair of buttons named Repair and Reset.
- Try the first button and check if that resolves the “Skype not working” problem. If it doesn’t, use the Reset option.
7. Delete and Reinstall Skype
If none of the above solutions work for you, delete and reinstall the app as a last resort. However, ensure Skype is not running in the background to avoid system damage.
Here’s what to do:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
- Search for Skype and stop it.
- Then, go to the Settings window and click Apps.
- Find Skype.
- Right-click on it and select the Uninstall option.
- If prompted with a confirmation screen, click the Yes button to continue.
- After that, go to Microsoft Store to download the latest version of Skype for your Windows 10 PC.
That should fix the issue.
Conclusion
Several factors can contribute to why Skype would stop working on a Windows 10 PC. Regardless of the cause, the above solutions would help fix the problem.
Let us know if this guide helped and share your experience in the comments below. Also, visit our blog for similar resolutions on Windows 10 issues.