How to use your Skype account in Windows 8.1

When you click the Skype tile on the Windows 8.1 start screen the “modern” Skype application opens. It forces you to abandon your Skype user name and password and use a Microsoft account to log in.


There is a way to use the regular Skype desktop application on Windows 8.1

  • Open the web browser and navigate to http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-full
    This link will download the latest full desktop Skype application
  • Save the appication
  • When the download completed select Run to install the Skype desktop application
  • Log in with your regular Skype account name an password


To add the full Skype desktop application to the Windows 8.1 start screen

  • Click the down arrow at the lower left corner of the Start screen
    The page will display all of your installed applications in alphabetical order
  • Scroll to the right to see the Skype for Desktop icon in the Skype section
  • Right click the Skype for Desktop icon
  • At the bottom of the page select Pin to Start
  • Move the Skype for  Desktop application icon the desired location on your Start screen


To remove the “modern” Skype application icon from the Start screen

  • Right click the “modern” Skype application icon on the Start screen
  • At the bottom of the screen select Unpin from Start


To place the Windows 8.1 “modern” Skype icon back to the Start screen

  • Type Skype into the search field
  • Right click the Skype icon
  • Select Pin to Start

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