‘The human voice is the organ of the soul’
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Today technology is closer to us than ever, and we cannot but rejoice in this relationship. Nonetheless, hearing robotic voice in Skype is a bit too much even for a hardcore tech geek, isn’t it?

Indeed, humans should stay human, which is especially true for your Skype contacts. So, never tolerate the kind of call quality that makes you think machines are rising.

And the good news is that you will have what it takes to tackle the ‘Skype goes robotic’ issue after checking out the tips and guidelines below.

Here are our top 7 solutions to the Skype robotic sound problem in Windows 10:

  1. Investigate the Case
  2. Check Skype Heartbeat
  3. Check Your Headphones / Speakers
  4. Check Your Internet Connection
  5. Update the Skype app
  6. Uninstall and Reinstall Your Skype
  7. Update Your Drivers

So, it is time to bring the human touch to your good old Skype:

1. Investigate the Case

First and foremost, answer the following:

Do you experience the issue in question with a specific contact only?

  • If so, the problem might be on the other end. Share this article with that person so that they can resolve the issue.
  • If all your contacts sound like robots, work your way down to find the best solution for you.

2. Check Skype Heartbeat

The first thing you should do if your Skype contacts sound metallic is to check Skype Heartbeat: the point is, the app itself might be having issues.

You can check Skype Status by:

  • visiting the Skype Status webpage
  • launching your classic Skype and navigating to: Skype -> Help -> Heartbeat

3. Examine Your Headphones / Speakers

‘Robotic’ Skype may mean your headphones or speakers are playing up.

First, make sure:

  • your headphones / speakers are plugged in and turned on;
  • they are not muted;
  • nothing is blocking them.

We also recommend you to test your audio equipment on another Windows-based computer – your headphones / speakers might be faulty and need replacement.

4. Check Your Internet Connection

The Skype ‘robotic’ issue often stems from poor Internet connection.

Therefore, do not hesitate to:

  • Check your Wi-Fi signal level.
  • Close the apps that might be hogging your Internet bandwidth.
  • Try using a wired connection.

5. Update the Skype App

If you keep hearing robotic voices while skyping, it might be worth updating the app.

You can do that by:

  • visiting its official website and downloading the latest Skype version;
  • searching for available Skype updates on the Windows Store;
  • following the instructions below if you use the classic Skype for desktop: Skype -> Help -> Check for Updates (There you can either Update Classic Skype or Try the new Skype – the choice is yours)

Besides, make sure the person you are calling is using the latest version of Skype.

6. Uninstall and Reinstall Your Skype

To stop your Skype from producing robotic sounds, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

Here are some simple steps to follow to uninstall your Skype:

  1. First, back up your Skype history:
    • Windows logo key + R -> Type %appdata%\skype into the Run box -> OK
    • Copy the My Skype Received Files folder and the ‘Your Skype Name’ folder and move them to another place on your PC
  2. Windows logo key + R -> Type ‘appwiz.cpl’ into the Run box
  3. Programs and features -> Skype -> Right-click on it -> Uninstall/Change -> Uninstall the app
  4. Go to C:\Program Files -> Find the Skype folder and the SkypePM folder -> Delete them

In some cases, you might need to uninstall Skype completely. This procedure requires editing the Windows registry, which is a risky business indeed – a tiny mistake can irreparably damage your system. To avoid ending up in tears, talk yourself into taking some precautions. You know, better safe than sorry.

Back up your registry:

  1. Windows logo key + R -> Type regedit.exe into the Run box-> Enter
  2. Registry Editor -> Select the registry keys and/or subkeys you want to back up -> File > Export -> Choose the location and name for the backup file -> Save

Create a system restore point:

  1. Windows logo key + S -> Type restore into the Search box -> Create a restore point
  2. System Properties -> Create -> Describe the restore point you want to create-> Create

Besides, we strongly recommend you to secure your files against data loss. A convenient and easy-to-use backup solution, e.g. Auslogics BitReplica, will come in very handy for this purpose.
Now remove the Skype entries from your registry:

  1. Windows logo key + R -> Type regedit.exe into the Run box-> Enter -> Registry Editor
  2. Edit -> Find -> Type Skype into the Find box -> Find Next
  3. Right-click on the search results -> Delete them

It is time to reinstall Skype on your PC:

  1. download the latest Skype version;
  2. install it on your PC;
  3. check whether it keeps being ‘robotic’.

If your contacts sound human now, feel free to retrieve the Skype history:

  1. Close your Skype app -> Windows logo key + R -> Type %appdata%\skype into the Run box-> OK
  2. Put the ‘My Skype Received Files’ folder and the ‘Your Skype Name’ folder into this folder

Here is how to restore your registry if you have messed it up:

  1. Windows logo key + R -> Type regedit.exe into the Run box-> Enter -> Registry Editor
  2. File -> Import -> Import Registry File -> Locate the necessary backup file -> Open

You can also bring your system back to the latest working restore point:

  1. Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> File History
  2. Recovery -> Open System Restore -> Next
  3. Select the most recent working restore point -> Next -> Finish -> Yes

7. Update Your Drivers

Faulty or out-of-date drivers can cause your Skype to go ‘robotic’, which is explicitly creepy. In order to resolve the problem in question, we recommend you to fix your drivers as soon as possible.

To reach this goal, you can:

Troubleshoot your drivers manually

You are free to dedicate your time and effort to updating your drivers one by one. Go to your vendors’ websites, download the necessary exe.files and follow the on-screen prompts to bring your drivers up to date.

Use Driver Verifier

Finding the main culprit among your drivers is not as easy as it might seem. Thus, utilize Driver Verifier to rid yourself of this tedious task.

Here is how to do that:

Start menu -> Type verifier -> Enter -> Follow the prompts to detect the misbehaving drivers

Make use of Device Manager

Device Manager is your go-to tool when it comes to dodgy drivers.

You can reinstall or update them by following these steps:

Win + X -> Device Manager -> Locate your devices and update / reinstall their drivers

Use a special tool

Fixing all your drivers in one click sounds like a reasonable idea. You can do that by using special software, e.g. Auslogics Driver Updater.

We hope now your Skype contacts sound more human than ever.

Do you have any ideas or questions regarding this issue?

We are looking forward to your comments!