In case you have the Skype Desktop app, Skype Preview or Skype For Business App on your computer, you will notice that Skype starts with your computer and keeps running in the background. Let us take a look at how to stop Skype from running in the background on your Windows 10 Computer.
Stop Skype From Running in Background in Windows 10
As mentioned above, there are multiple versions of Skype and the steps to stop Skype from running in the Background in Windows 10 will depend on the version of Skype that is currently starting automatically on your computer and running in the background.
Since Skype Preview is included as part of Windows 10 and Skype For Business also comes as part of Windows 10 on some Computers, it is likely that you will have one of these Skype versions running in the background on your computer.
The third version of Skype is known as the “Skype Desktop app” and it won’t be there on your PC, unless you have downloaded and Installed this full version of Skype on your Windows 10 Computer.
Thankfully, it is easy to stop Skype from running in background in Windows 10 and you will find below the steps to stop Skype, Skype Preview and Skype For Business from running in the background on your Computer.
Stop Skype Preview From Running in Background in Windows 10
Once you sign-in to Skype preview app, it will keep you signed-in even after you reboot your computer. This practically means that Skype Preview app will be starting with your computer and keep running in the background, unless you figure out the hidden (difficult to find) option to logout of Skype Preview app.
1. Click on the Windows 10 Start button and then click on Skype Preview.
2. On the next screen (Skype Preview), click on your Profile picture/icon located at the bottom left corner of your screen (See image below).
3. Next, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Sign Out option.
Once you sign-out of Skype Preview App, you won’t find the app starting automatically and running in the background on your Windows 10 Computer.
Stop Skype Desktop App From Running in Background in Windows 10
Once you make use of this full version of Skype on your computer, it will keep you signed in and keep running in the background. This happens even after you have logged out of Skype and closed the window after using Skype on your computer.
Follow the steps below to prevent the Skype Desktop App from running in the background on your Windows 10 computer.
1. Right click on the Skype icon (if you can see it in the task bar) and then click on Quit Skype option in the menu that comes up (See image below)
If you cannot see the Skype icon in the task-bar, click on the System Tray (1) icon, next Right click on the Skype icon (2) and then click on the Quit option in the little Menu that comes up (See image below).
This will stop Skype Desktop App from running in the Background on your Computer for now. Next time you start your computer, make sure that you take a look at the task bar and also the system tray to make sure that Skype is not running in the background on your Computer.
Stop Skype For Business From Running in the Background
Just like the Skype Desktop App, Skype For Business is also designed to keep you signed-in and remain active in the background on your computer. As you can imagine, this behaviour is designed to keep you connected with Skype, so that you can make and receive Skype calls at any time on your computer.
It is likely that you will find this default setting useful in a business situation. However, if you do not like being constantly connected to Skype, you can follow the steps below to prevent Skype For Business from running in the background on your Windows 10 Computer.
1. First click on the System Tray icon to reveal the Skype Icon (See image below)
2. Next, right click on the Skype icon and then click on the Exit option.
This will stop Skype For Business from running in the Background and using up resources on your Computer.
Stop Skype From Opening Automatically On your Computer
Although you have stopped Skype from Running in the Background for now, you need to be aware that both Skype Desktop App and Skype For Business will be starting automatically, the next time you start your Computer.
After booting with your Computer, the Skype App will once again continue to run in the background on your computer and you will be required to go through the above steps once again, in order to stop Skype from running in the background on your Computer.
Hence, a better approach would be to prevent Skype from opening automatically on your computer using steps as listed in this article: How to Stop Skype From Starting Automatically in Windows 10.