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How to Uninstall Skype on Your Dell Computer

Summary: This article provides information about how to remove Skype from a Dell computer with a Windows operating system.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Table of Contents:

 

  1. How to uninstall Skype
  2. How to uninstall Skype for Business

 

How to uninstall Skype

This section guides you through uninstalling Skype on various versions of the Windows operating system.

Note: This section deals with uninstalling Skype from Windows. It does not deal with removing Skype for Business (formerly Lync). Skype for Business was part of the Microsoft Office Suite. See the next section for those instructions: How to uninstall Skype for Business
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  1. Close Skype and ensure it is not running in the background.
  2. Tap or click the Windows Start Button and type appwiz.cpl.
  3. Tap or click the program to open it in a new window.
  4. Hold down on or right-click Skype from the list and select either Remove or Uninstall.
  5. Reboot your computer and verify that the application is uninstalled.

  1. Close Skype and ensure it is not running in the background.
  2. Tap or click the Windows Start Button and type appwiz.cpl.
  3. Tap or click the program to open it in a new window.
  4. Hold down on or right-click Skype from the list and select either Remove or Uninstall.
  5. Reboot your computer and verify that the application is uninstalled.
Note: If you cannot see Skype in your list of installed applications and programs, then switch to the following guide from Microsoft:
 

How to uninstall Skype for Business

 

Note: Skype for Business is integrated into Office 365. It does not appear in the Programs and Features list. You cannot uninstall it without removing Office 365 or 2019 from your computer.
 
Note: Disabling Skype for Business on your computer requires administrator privileges.

 

  1. Open Skype for Business.

  2. Click the Options menu at the upper right side corner of your toolbar.

  3. Click Personal in the left side menu on the window that appears.

  4. Clear the check boxes next to:

    • Automatically start the app when I log in to windows

    • Start the app in the foreground

  5. Click OK, restart your personal computer and test.

  1. Stop the automatic Skype for Business startup:

    1. Open Skype for Business and click the tools icon and select tools > options from the drop-down menu.

    2. In the Options window, choose Personal. Clear Automatically start the app when I log in to Windows. Then Start the app in the foreground and select OK.

    3. Click the tools icon and select File > Exit.
      Skype for Business is still on your personal computer, but it does not startup when you turn on your personal computer.

Note: You can only remove Skype for Business Basic from your personal computer. However, you cannot remove Skype for Business from Office 365 as it is an integrated unit of the Office suite.

  1. How to remove Skype for business from your personal computer (If Possible):

    1. Open the Control Panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features > Uninstall or change a program.

    2. Choose Skype for Business > Uninstall.

    3. When the Ready to Uninstall window appears, choose Uninstall.

      Note: The Dialog box tells you that it is removing Office from your computer. It is not removing Office - it is only removing Skype for Business. You are asked to close any open Office applications while it removes Skype for Business and this can take several minutes to complete.

    4. When it is finished uninstalling, click Close and restart your personal computer.

    5. If this has not worked, you can use the registry to remove the program as well. However, we do not go over this in this guide. The chances of irreparably damaging your operating system are too high when you manually edit your registry options.

  1. Stop the automatic Lync for Business startup:

    1. Open Lync for Business and click the tools icon and select tools > options from the drop-down menu.

    2. In the Options window, choose Personal. Clear Automatically start the app when I log in to Windows. Then Start the app in the foreground and select OK.

    3. Click the tools icon and select File > Exit.
      Lync for Business is still on your personal computer, but it does not startup when you turn on your personal computer.

  2. How to remove Lync for business from your personal computer (If Possible):

    1. Open the Control Panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features > Uninstall or change a program.

    2. Choose Lync for Business > Uninstall.

    3. When the Ready to Uninstall window appears, choose Uninstall.

      Note: The Dialog box tells you that it is removing Office from your computer, but it is not removing Office - it is only removing Lync for Business. You are asked to close any open Office applications while it removes Lync for Business and this can take several minutes to complete.

    4. When it is finished uninstalling, click Close and restart your personal computer.

    5. If this has not worked, you can use the registry to remove the program as well. However, we do not go over this in this guide. The chances of irreparably damaging your operating system are too high when you manually edit your registry options.


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Affected Products

Alienware, Inspiron, Legacy Desktop Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Fixed Workstations
Article Properties
Article Number: 000132430
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 21 Aug 2024
Version:  7
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