When you're not the only PC user, or you have multiple Skype profiles created for different purposes (for example, one for family and friends, and one for colleagues and clients), you may be wondering how to switch between accounts or open both at once. Now we will try to help you and explain everything in detail.

Run two Skypes on one computer.

The easiest way to run two different Skypes on one computer is to technically switch between accounts in one window as needed. For this:

1. In the open Skype window, click on the username at the top.
2. Scroll to the end of the sections in the box that appears.
3. Select “Exit” (usually highlighted in red, hard to miss).
4. Log in to the second account under which you are registered in Skype and uncheck the automatic authorization - this will make it faster for you to switch between the two accounts.

Of course, you can switch using your Microsoft account, but it takes even longer. In general, this method will help if you have a family computer and you take turns using Skype. If you need both accounts at the same time, it is better to take a different route - spend a few minutes on special settings.

Multiple instances of the Skype window on one computer

Now let's talk about how to run two Skypes at the same time on one computer.

Create a shortcut for Skype

First, do the following to create a separate utility icon and change a few things in the startup order:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Enter in the box: %programfiles%/skype/phone/ and click “Inter”.
3. Find Skype.exe in the general list and right-click on the manipulator.
4. Send to Desktop via the appropriate command.
5. Thus, the program icon will appear on the “Desktop”.
6. Click on it with the additional button of the manipulator and select Feature.
7. Open the "Shortcut" tab. In the Object section you see a long path - don't erase it, just move the cursor to the end of the line, put a space and add the word "/secondary". Confirm the changes.

Now you can open several Skypes - each time you click on the created icon, a separate tab will be formed where you can log in under a different name. To close Skype later (and you know that this is not so easy even in standard mode), press Ctrl+Alt+Del to open the Task manager. Remove the task from processes by highlighting them and clicking the button below.

To run two different Skypes at the same time, you can do it a little differently:

1. Click on “Desktop” with the additional button of the manipulator on any free space.
2. Select Create – S
3. Give it the following direction vector: C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe” /secondary, as you did last time.
4. Click "Continue" and "Ok".

This works great on Windows 7, but if you have a licensed Windows 10 with built-in Skype on your computer, it may resist - it’s better to download a separate program.

Automatic authorization when starting a second Skype

You can also set up automatic login with two accounts, just like with one (let us remind you right away that this is not suitable for the messenger built into Windows 10). To do this:

1. Find the newly created Skype shortcut on “Desktop”.
2. Right-click on it and select “Properties” – Object.
3. We have already added one word here, and now, without deviating from it, we add: /username:your_login /password:your_password. Don't forget about the indentation after entering your login.
4. Restart Skype and check the effectiveness of our work.

To complete the picture, we’ll tell you what to do with the built-in application on Windows 10. To avoid confusion, it’s better to remove it altogether. Proceed as follows:

1. Click “Start” and find Windows PowerShell in the list on the left, right-click on its name and run Run As Administrator.
2. In the window, enter: “Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SkypeApp” (without quotes).
3. After a pause, the system will give you the text: save the data related to PackageFullName to the clipboard.
4. Write “Remove-AppxPackage –package” (without quotes), backtrack and paste what you copied.
5. Confirm the action by pressing "Enter".
6. Do not close the window until the operation is completed - you will be notified that it was successful.

Restart your computer and make sure that the built-in Skype has disappeared (if you did everything correctly, there will be no trace of it left). Next, you can go to the official website of the developer, download the regular distribution and install it. Then follow all the steps described in the first chapters of this article.

Well, now you know how to open several Skype windows under different accounts without constantly resorting to the authorization procedure and without using other gadgets. Try it, it won’t take that long to set up, but then it will be much more convenient for you to work with.

Some Skype users have two or more accounts. But the fact is that if Skype is already running, you won’t be able to open the program window a second time, and only one instance will remain active. Is it really impossible to run two accounts at the same time? It turns out that it is possible, but for this you need to do a number of additional steps. Let's figure out which ones exactly.

In order to work with two accounts simultaneously in Skype 8, you just need to create a second icon to launch this application and configure its properties accordingly.

1. Go to "Desktop" and right click on it ( RMB). From the context menu, select "Create" and in the additional list that opens, move to the item "Label".



2. A window will open to create a new shortcut. First of all, you need to specify the address of the Skype executable file. In the only field of this window, enter the following expression:

   C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\Skype.exe

   Attention! On some operating systems you need it in the address instead of the directory "Program Files" enter "Program Files(x86)".



3. Then a window will open where you need to enter the name of the shortcut. It is desirable that this name differs from the name of the Skype icon that is already available on "Desktop"- so you can distinguish them. For example, you can use the title "Skype 2". After assigning a name, click "Ready".



4. After this, the new shortcut will appear on "Desktop". But this is not all the manipulations that should be performed. Click RMB Click on this icon and select from the list that appears "Properties".



5. In the window that opens, in the field "An object" to the entry already there you need to add the following data after a space:

   Secondary --datapath "Path_to_profile_folder"

   Instead of meaning "Path_to_profile_folder" You need to specify the directory location of the Skype account through which you want to sign in. You can also specify a custom address. In this case, the directory will be created automatically in the designated directory. But most often the profile folder is located in the following path:

   %appdata%\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\

   That is, you only have to add the name of the directory itself, for example, "profile2". In this case, the general expression entered in the field "An object" The shortcut properties window will look like this:

   "C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\Skype.exe" --secondary --datapath "%appdata%\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\profile2"

   After entering the data, click "Apply" And "OK".

6. After the properties window is closed, to launch the second account, double-click the left mouse button on its newly created icon on "Desktop".



7. In the window that opens, click on the button "Go".



8. In the next window, click "Sign in with a Microsoft account".



9. After this, a window will open where you need to specify a login in the form of email, phone or Skype account name, then click "Further".



10. In the next window, enter the password for this account and click "Entrance".



11. The second Skype account will be activated.

Running multiple accounts in Skype 7 and below

Launching a second account in Skype 7 and in programs of earlier versions is performed according to a slightly different scenario, although the essence remains the same.

Step 1: Create a shortcut

Which of the two methods described above for creating a Skype shortcut to use is up to each user to decide for himself. This fact is not of fundamental importance.

Stage 2: Adding a second account

You now have two Skype shortcuts on "Desktop", which can be launched simultaneously. In this case, of course, you enter registration data from different accounts into the windows of each of these two open copies of the program. If desired, you can even create three or more similar shortcuts, thereby being able to launch an almost unlimited number of profiles on one device. The only limitation is the size of your PC's RAM.

Stage 3: Automatic start

Of course, it is very inconvenient to enter registration data every time to launch a separate account: login and password. You can automate this procedure, that is, make it so that when you click on a certain shortcut, the account allocated for it will immediately launch, without the need to make entries in the authorization form.

As you can see, although the developers of the Skype program did not provide for launching several copies of the program on one computer, this can be achieved by making changes to the shortcut parameters. In addition, you can configure the automatic launch of the desired profile, without entering registration data each time.

Users who use this program are often faced with the need to launch several accounts at once. Typically, this situation occurs when several owners use the device at the same time; in this case, they have to log in each time to enter the application again, which is very inconvenient.

Run multiple Skype accounts at the same time

Some users have multiple accounts at the same time, which are used for different purposes. Some accounts may be intended for work, while others may be for personal communication. Agree, exiting and logging into the utility again each time takes a lot of time. Fortunately, the program provides the ability to work with different profiles simultaneously.

Add a profile to Skype

In order to add an account to work on Skype, you will need to perform a number of fairly simple steps, namely:

1. After launching the application, go to the main menu and click on the item "Skype".
2. In the list that appears, click on the option "Exit".
3. A tab will appear in front of you for user authorization.
4. Enter the data required to log in to your new profile and be sure to uncheck the box next to the inscription "Auto login".
5. Click on the item "Entrance".

By completing these simple steps, you have the opportunity to work with multiple accounts. Now, in order to switch between profiles, you just need to log out of one profile and log in to another.

This method is quite convenient when the device is used by several users at the same time, but if the computer is used by only one person with different profiles, constant authorization will only be a waste of time. In this case, it is necessary to launch several accounts simultaneously to quickly switch between them.

Adding accounts for simultaneous work

This method allows you to almost instantly switch between running profiles in Skype. It is important that there are no restrictions on the number of accounts, so you can add any required number of users.

After completing this procedure, you will be able to work with several accounts simultaneously, after selecting the appropriate shortcut and passing authorization in the main program window.

It is recommended that you use Skype directly to sign in rather than your Microsoft profile. Immediately in the first tab that opens when you click on the utility, there is an item "Register", by clicking on which you can create a new user.

Subsequent accounts are added in the same way, with the only difference being that the number 1 in the value changes "/secondary1" to another. Thus, you can create any required number of profiles.

The entire procedure described above can be done in another way. Let's look at it in more detail:

In addition to the fact that you can create separate shortcuts for users, you can significantly speed up the account authorization procedure, or rather eliminate it completely.

Cancel authorization when selecting a different profile

By following the above steps, you will greatly simplify your work with the application, but it is also possible to speed up the user identification process. Let's take a closer look at what you need to do to avoid having to log in every time you launch the application.

1. Go to the Skype icon settings and go to the tab "Label", where you previously specified the value "/secondary".
2. Add the following to the existing text:
   • "/username: Your username for logging into Skype".
   • “/password: password required for authorization”.
3. Click on the button "OK" to save completed actions.

Please note that each command must be preceded by a space, otherwise you will not get the expected result.
When launching profiles, you should start with the main shortcut created when the application was installed. This will help you avoid all sorts of difficulties that may arise when logging into different accounts.

Run multiple windows at once

In order not to be tied to the main profile, which you must log into before switching between accounts, you can take the following actions:

1. Find the main Skype shortcut that appeared on your PC immediately after installing the program and remove it.
2. Go to the folder "Phone" and create a shortcut by writing in its properties opposite the item "An object" the following parameters:
   • "/secondary: profile number"
   • "/username: login name"
   • "/password: password to use"

Please note that the values ​​you enter must be identical to those specified in the previously deleted shortcut.

Having completed these steps, you will become completely unattached to your main account and will be able to access your profiles in any order.

Understanding how to work with multiple accounts is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The most important thing is to enter the correct values ​​and do not forget to put spaces between segments. Please note that all the described actions will only be relevant for standard Skype and will not work with the program installed, for example, automatically on Windows 10.

Often, when using one computer, both for work and for personal purposes, you need to have two different accounts and, accordingly, two different Skype programs. Many are interested in the possibility of such a comparison.

First of all, you need to understand why you should do this at all. Having two different programs means registering two different accounts, which may differ in all information about the user. This approach will unload the working version of the program, will ensure the impossibility of accessing the personal information of various scammers who use this for personal gain, precisely in programs where business communication takes place, and personal Skype can reflect only that information about the owner that he decided to demonstrate to his interlocutors, even indicating non-existent data. All personal correspondence will not interfere with work and possible problems in this version of Skype will not affect its “working” version in any way.

It is in this situation that it is often important to have both programs activated at the same time. To do this you need the following:

1. Only Skype from version 4.
2. Auto shortcut, which is created on the desktop after installing the program,

in this case it will not be effective. You will have to delete it and create a new one. To create you need:

Having carried out such operations, we get shortcuts, each of which corresponds to a specific account. You just need to remember which one is for work and which one is personal. It would be better if everyone had their own nickname in the program.

Now you can have both programs active while being online in each at the same time. This will ensure that you do not miss any important business information while continuing to communicate with friends or parents. This solution option is interesting to most users, since those who did not take advantage of this advice will be forced to open and close an unnecessary option each time, launching the next program. This is very inconvenient, time consuming and does not provide network persistence.

Most users, including me, are accustomed to using such a popular program as Skype to talk over the Internet with relatives, colleagues or just friends. However, the main disadvantage of this program is that you cannot simultaneously open several accounts (user accounts) for communication (for example, if you have a personal account and, say, a work account). The QIP program, in this regard, is simpler - there you can easily open several accounts and communicate without problems.

However, the popular online communication tool Skype also has such a function, although it is, so to speak, “secret”. What is important is that we continue to use the same single installed Skype program, we simply create separate shortcuts to launch it. Naturally, you can install several different versions in different folders, but this will be more difficult.

So, how to run two Skypes on one computer? To be able to communicate from several accounts at once, you need to do the following:

Right-click on any empty space on the desktop and call up the drop-down menu. Now you need to “create a shortcut”.

In the window that appears, select the “My Computer” folder (if you have Windows XP) or “Computer” (if you use Windows 7). Select the drive where the program is stored (most likely, it’s drive C), open the folder “PROGRAM FILES”, in it there is already a program folder called “SKYPE”, then “PHONE”, look for a file called “Skype.exe” and select his. Confirm with the “Next” button, then “Ok”.

Most likely, the specified path will be “C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe” if you installed the program in the default directory.

Most often, the path will be exactly this, but when using other versions of Windows, it may vary. When using a 64-bit OS, the path will be approximately like this: “C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe”

It is also necessary to remember that when creating a second shortcut for a second account, you must add one word to the end of the line during creation - “/secondary” without quotes. In this case, you must add 1 (one) space after specifying the path.

Attention! When installing the second Skype program on your PC, the installer will ask you to give it a name. Here everything depends on imagination. It can be simply “Skype2” and “Skype – 2”, or even “Skype + login”.

As we can see, there are no particular problems with all this, and installing two Skype accounts on one computer is quite possible if they are running Windows. Because when using other operating systems you will have to resort to other means and use more complex instructions.

Well, now you can safely launch several accounts at once and calmly communicate with colleagues and friends, or close one of the accounts (for example, so that friends are not distracted during difficult work). At the same time, you can launch even more than 2 accounts in the same way.

What is important is that this trick can only be done with modern versions of Skype (it can also be done on old ones, but it must be no younger than version 4). You can download it on the official website.

A little secret

To make it even easier to use multiple Skype accounts at once, you can even customize the sound schemes of the programs. So that for each they are individual. To do this, follow the path “Tools” - “Settings” - “Sound Settings”.

Well, a little secret to make using multiple accounts more convenient is automatic user authorization for each account.

Open “Shortcut Properties” (right-click on the program shortcut), then add the following object at the end of the line: “/username:xxx /password:111” without quotes, but with a mandatory space before each “slash”. In this case, “xxx” is the user login, and “111” is the login password. Confirm the changes with the “Ok” button.

True, you will not be able to perform this trick with the very first installed Skype program. In “Object” the number of the version used is already hardcoded and there is no way to set up automatic login using the method described above. To do this, however, it is enough to install another version of the program.