Skype is not working (Windows)

As Skype requires access to your speakers, camera, and microphone, and so do audio and video recording apps, maybe one of those apps causes Skype to crash. To check if this is the case, close the apps completely, and check if Skype would crash. This will help you discover which app is the culprit.

If you have such apps, update them to the latest version, and if that didn't help, uninstall them.

Maybe the outdated operating system version installed in your computer caused the newer version of Skype to misbehave, mainly due to incompatibility. Alternatively, maybe a bug in your current operating system affects Skype. In any event, updating Windows to the latest version can fix this error.

Windows updates are usually installed automatically, however, you can check and install an update manually, any time. To check for updates, feel free to follow the steps below:

1. Open the start menu and type Check for updates;
2. Click on the Check for updates button in the start menu;
3. If there is an update available, click on the Install button.

Maybe the reason why Skype won't be able to establish a call is your firewall's settings, which might not permit Skype to run correctly (e.g. you accidentally clicked 'no' when you ran Skype for the first time).

To test if this is the case, disable the Windows firewall, check Skype's behavior, and then reactivate the Windows firewall.

To deactivate the Windows Firewall, feel free to follow the steps below:

To activate the Windows Firewall:

If the firewall was indeed the culprit, feel free to follow the steps below:

1. Open the start menu and type Windows Firewall or Windows Defender Firewall;
2. Click on the option once it appears;
3. From the top left side click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall;
4. Tick Skype for all networks (Home, Private, Public) if you are not sure which one you have. 

If Skype crashes constantly, make sure it is not running in Compatibility mode, a mode designed for apps that work on a certain Windows version only (an older one). If this is the case, you only need to deactivate the compatibility mode.

To check if this is the case, and deactivate the Compatibility mode, feel free to follow the steps below:

1. Find the Skype icon (e.g. click on the Start button and type Skype in the search box);
2. Right-click the Skype icon and select Properties;
3. Click on the Compatibility tab;
4. Uncheck the check box next to Run this program in compatibility mode for.

Outdated drivers (especially sound and video drivers) may cause your Skype to crash (e.g. after a video call ends, or when calling someone, or receiving calls). Make sure you have the latest ones.

There are more ways of updating the drivers, some of which are:

• Via your computer manufacturer's website;
• Via a driver management tool.
  
  

To learn more about how to update computer drivers, feel free to check the how to update drivers guide.

If you installed a program, and Skype started crashing, then restart your device before running Skype again.

This course of action will ensure that the operating system, and all the processes part of it, will be restarted.

If reinstalling Skype via the Control Panel didn't help you fix the issue, then completely uninstall and re-install it again. Before proceeding further, do note that your chat history might get lost, so make sure to make a backup of it.

To reinstall Skype, follow the steps below:

1. Close Skype.
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Type appwiz.cpl, then click on OK.
4. From the program list, right click on Skype, and click on Uninstall (or Remove).
5. Press Windows + R again and type %appdata%, then click on OK.
6. Delete the Skype folder from the list.
7. Also, make sure the Skype folder (and SkypePM) is deleted from C:\ProgramFiles or C:\ProgramFiles (86).
   
   

Delete all Skype entries from the registry:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, then click on OK.
2. Click on Edit from the menu, and click on Find.
3. Type in Skype and click Find Next.
4. Right click and click on Delete all Skype entries that you found.
   
   

Before doing the above, check out the Microsoft article and learn how to back up the registry because if you modify the registry incorrectly, serious problems may occur.

Once Skype is fully removed from your computer, download and install the latest version.

Maybe a malicious software (virus) found its way to your computer and affected Skype, among the other programs installed on your computer. If this is the case, all you need to do is to scan for, and remove the viruses, using an antivirus software.

Removing the virus, or an expensive antivirus software doesn't mean that one is safe. Aside from an antivirus installed, please make the following a standard practice:

• Don't visit websites with suspicious offers (e.g. expensive product sold cheaply);
• Update your antivirus software regularly;
• Update the programs installed on your computer;
• Don't open every email in your mailbox;
• Update your computer's operating system regularly.
  
  

To learn more about how to scan for and remove viruses, check out the viruses/spywares/malware solutions.

Maybe it's the antivirus software that causes Skype to crash. To test if this is the case, deactivate your antivirus software temporarily. If Skype didn't crash, reactivate the antivirus and reconfigure its settings.

Note: If you aren't sure how to reconfigure the settings of your antivirus software, feel free to check the help guides found in the help section of the antivirus itself, or on the antivirus provider's website.

If Skype crashes whenever you call someone or receiving a call, then try disabling start-up items and non-Microsoft services, by following the steps below:

1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig.exe and click OK.
2. Click on the General tab, under "Selective startup" uncheck "Load startup items".
3. Click on the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and click on Disable all.
4. Click on the Startup tab and uncheck everything you don't need to start automatically (On Windows 8 & 10 the Startup tab is found in the Task Manager).
5. Click on Apply, and then OK.
6. Restart your computer after it.

If you have NVIDIA graphic adapter and Skype freezes when you try to make a video call, during a call, or when the call ends, adjusting the Nvidia settings may help you resolve this problem.

To adjust the settings, feel free to follow the steps below:

1. Type NVIDIA Control Panel in the start menu and click on it once it appears in search results;
2. Click on Adjust image settings with preview, and select Let the 3D application decide;
3. Click on Adjust video color settings, if you can see those settings, and select the option With the video player settings.

If you cannot launch Skype, maybe you have corrupted system files. Run System File Checker tool to scan for and repair the corrupt files, if such are found.

1. Click on the Start button, and type cmd; 
2. Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and select Run as administrator;
3. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter;
4. Wait for the process to finish.

Try launching Skype after the process is finished.

If you get this message after finishing the process: Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Long %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log, then click here, and follow the instructions.