Run two different Skype accounts under Windows, at the same time

Posted by Paul Braren on Dec 31 2011 (updated on Aug 6 2012) in
  • Productivity
  • Windows
    • 2 Comments
    SkypeTwiceTrayArea

    Skype has documented a procedure for running 2 copies of Skype, but I find the method I show in the below video to be more useful, with shortcuts to your batch files conveniently pinned right to your Taskbar, and no manual user account selection or password typing is required.

    I created this procedure with with Skype 5.5, on Windows 7 64 bit. Basically, in the video below, you'll see me take a few minutes to create 2 batch files, with the following contents, where you replace skypeusername1 and skypeusername2 with your Skype account usernames (2 lines in each batch file).

    start /D "C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone" Skype.exe /username:**_skypeusername1_** /password: /secondary
exit

start /D "C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone" Skype.exe /username:**_skypeusername2_** /password: /secondary
exit

    I then make some tweaks to pin these batch files to the Taskbar, using BabuNagarajan's tip, then chosing custom Skype icons, here's the full path to skype.exe that you'll find handy for cut-and-paste:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe

    For those occasions where you need to login a 2nd copy of Skype, you just click on the icon in your tray (pictured below). Skype will prompt you for the login, which is normal Skype second-instance behavior, but if the password is already saved, so you can just click the "Sign me in" button (or just hit your enter key) to get right in.

    There's a lot of steps in the video, but if you follow along carefully, you will succeed.

    Notes:

    • If you have multiple sound devices, you should be able to configure each instance of Skype to use a different sound device.
    • I created this procedure with with Skype 5.5, on Windows 7 64 bit, but 32 bit users may have success following along as well, by simply removing the  (x86) from all path statements.
    • My video shows Skype set up to save passwords, but not autostart with the computer. You can use autostart if you prefer, then just use the second shortcut to start the second copy of Skype as needed, pictured below:
    SkypeSecondInstanceLaunch

    All Comments on This Article (2)

    Paul Braren | TinkerTry.com

    It's possible turning off the default "hide file extensions for known file types" feature may help you, read details here:
    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/show-or-hide-file-name-extensions

    Let us know how it goes!

    Dave

    I have windows 7 ultimate 64 sp1 Skype 6.3 and I tried to follow your video and can not do it.. I am trying to put two Skype accounts on one computer. My document folder is not like yours. When I click on the new folder BAT I do not get text folder. I have no computer experience but I can follow your video if only my document library folder was like yours.