How to Setup Skype as a Windows Service

Launch Skype as soon as your computer boots and keep it running unattended in the background, 24x7. No need to log on to forward calls, etc.

Skype is a very popular application enabling communication over the Internet.

To configure Skype to run as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp:

If Skype for Windows isn't installed on your computer, please download, install and configure it now. Please ensure that Skype works as you expect before we install it as a service.
Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.
Start AlwaysUp.
Select Application > Add to open the Add Application window:
On the General tab:
- In the Application field, enter the full path to the Skype executable. This will probably be C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe on your system.
- In the Name field, enter the name that you will call the application in AlwaysUp. We have stuck with the default of Skype but you can specify another value if you like.
Switch to the Logon tab and enter the username and password of the account where you installed Skype - probably the account you are logged in to right now. AlwaysUp needs to start Skype as this user so that Skype can find all the settings you have configured (like your account, call forwarding, etc.).
Click over to the Startup tab and:
- Check the Ensure that the Windows Networking components have started box. This lets AlwaysUp know that Skype needs TCP/IP networking support to do its work.
- Check the Stop all copies of the application running on this computer and Also whenever the application is restarted boxes. These settings will ensure that Skype remains under the control of AlwaysUp, even if someone logs in and starts a second copy of Skype on the PC.
Next, let's ensure that Skype has a few extra seconds to terminate communications when it is being shut down. Please go to the Extras tab, check the Wait for up to box and enter 30 seconds:
We are now done configuring Skype to run as a service so click the Save button to record your settings. In a few seconds, an entry for Skype (or whatever you called it) will show up in the AlwaysUp window. It is not yet running though, and the state will be Stopped:
Now that we are ready to start Skype in the background with AlwaysUp, let's ensure that it doesn't try to start again when you logon. Please:
- Start Skype from its desktop icon.
- Select Tools > Options... from the menu to bring up the Skype Options window
- Un-check the Start Skype when I start Windows checkbox.
- And while you're here, ensure that the Sign me in when Skype starts box is checked.
- Next, to avoid unexpected changes and interruptions when Skype is being run 24/7, we recommend that you disable automatic updates. Click Advanced on the left, go to the Automatic Updates section and press the Turn off automatic updates button on the right.
- Click the Save button to record your changes.
- Finally, right-click on the Skype tray icon () and select Quit to shut down the instance running on your desktop.
To start Skype from AlwaysUp, choose Application > Start "Skype". The application/service will start in the background, on the isolated Session 0. Click the green circle to see the details of the running process:

If you wish to see the Skype window, select Tools > Switch to Session 0 to visit the austere Session 0 desktop. Or select Application > Start "Skype" in this session to run it visibly on your desktop:
That's it! Next time your computer boots, Skype will start up immediately, before anyone logs on.

We encourage you to edit Skype in AlwaysUp and check out the many other settings that may be appropriate for your environment. For example, send an email when Skype crashes, restart Skype nightly to cure memory leaks, and much more.

Skype not working properly as a Windows Service?

Consult the AlwaysUp Troubleshooter - our online tool that can help you resolve the most common problems encountered when running an application as a windows service.
From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today... to bring up a HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and Skype. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains the messages that may turn up.
Browse the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.
Contact us and we will be happy to help!