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Windows tip: How to remove Skype from the taskbar
I love Skype. I use it daily and consider it to be one of the best applications installed on my system.
However, recent Skype versions started exhibiting a pretty annoying feature: they stick around on your Windows 7 Superbar (and possibly on the taskbar in earlier versions of Windows, but I haven't tested that). No matter how many times you click the X to close Skype's window, it still sits there, taking space on your Superbar and annoying the hell out of you.
Well, out of me anyway. I mean, there's an icon in the system tray already. Why do I need one in the Superbar when I have explicitly told Skype to go away? Do they think their users are too dumb to realize that clicking the X makes the program go away?
Anyway, I finally figured out how to change this; apparently, this is an "advanced" option. So you need to:
- Open Skype.
- Go to Tools > Options > Advanced.
- Uncheck Keep Skype in the taskbar while I'm signed in.
- Click Save, and you're done!
Now Skype will actually minimize to the system tray when you hit the X. Finally!
Comments
20
Subscribe to commentsfincanJun 8th 2010 5:48PM
Now this was a good tip, especially for people like me who uses two skype instances. Thanks!
Muffin_manJun 8th 2010 5:53PM
Eh, I keep it pinned there anyway.
NonprofitTechJun 8th 2010 6:08PM
Ha, I actually want it to stay on my taskbar. But can see how that would be annoying as all hell if you didn't.
In terms of things I want Skype to stop doing... I want it to stop crashing every other time it is opened.
Is anyone having success running Skype on Win7 64? I have tried everything, on a dozen different computers throughout the office, and the same thing happens. It will crash and then refuse to reopen. Only a reboot will coax it back open.
bluemongooseJun 8th 2010 6:17PM
Yeah Skype runs fine on my Win 7 x64 Home Prem and Pro installs. Never had a crashing problem - are you integrating Skype with any other drivers/programs? e.g. bluetooth headsets or something? All I can think of.
Thanks very much for this tip, it's been infuriating. I wonder if that option to turn it off has always been there though... wish I'd seen it before anyway. I just set mine to show the Skype window when I hit Alt + Home, so no visual shortcut is neccessary for me.
JohnJun 8th 2010 6:24PM
Great tip. That was really annoying me too.
rev.dakJun 8th 2010 6:41PM
NO! So dumb. It BELONGS in the TASKBAR, and out of the SYSTEM TRAY!
XP get out of my 7!!!
Android underlingJun 8th 2010 7:41PM
Wow, I just gave them feedback on this issue a couple hours ago. Thanks DS
silversunJun 8th 2010 8:36PM
i've been wondering how to do this for sometime, just never bothered to look around. thanks!
davidJun 8th 2010 9:17PM
Thanks for the great tip. It's been driving me crazy for a while!
David J.
jadecamarorsJun 8th 2010 9:50PM
Great tip, this has been bugging me too and I thought I looked all around the Options and couldn't find it. DOH. Thanks.
jfjbJun 8th 2010 11:57PM
My Skype version 4.2.0.166 does NOT have such a setting in Tools => Options => Advanced, or anywhere else for that matter.
Clicking the x to close its window minimizes it to System Tray -- OK, in WinXP SP3, but still, no such setting in Skype.
Nakul SharmaJun 9th 2010 12:07AM
now i wish there was same option for AIM messenger too, chaging the .exe to compatibility mode to vista/xp doesn't fix the problem as it does on live messenger :(
HumboldtJun 9th 2010 1:18AM
i just let it run in compatibility mode, but I keep the skype button pinned to the taskbar anyways, since it is one of my essential programs and I only have four shortcuts on the taskbar
chodorowiczJun 9th 2010 5:50AM
I was also wondering how to do that, thanks
TuekstaJun 9th 2010 7:51AM
Well, actually clicking X should close the program completely. For minimizing to tray there's the underbar-icon. Alt+F4 won't close skype too - this is sooooo annoying, eating all my RAM.
SpankyJun 9th 2010 10:40AM
I can't believe I can finally enjoy WIndows 7 for the first time because of this tip. I moved from Vista to Win7 and everything was great but I COULD NOT GET THE SKYPE OFF MY BAR. It was driving me ape$hit.
This has improved my entire world view. I walk with more of a spring in my step. My boss has noticed my newfound pep and given me a bonus; and, it's even spiced up things with the wife, if you know what I mean.
Thanks DLSquad! I'm like a new man!!!!!
blasztaJun 9th 2010 1:53PM
A little bit off topic, is there a way to remove Windows 7 Firewall Control from my superbar?
reddy79Jun 9th 2010 2:45PM
I can't find this option and have been looking for that for months now...
Can you post a screenshot?
I chercked every possible option I can find but haven't seen this "Keep Skype in the taskbar while I'm signed in".
AliceJun 9th 2010 6:12PM
I also don't have the option in the specified place, nor anywhere else. The version # is 4.2.0.158.
If anyone knows how to get rid of it from this version, or can tell me how to change versions, please post the answer!
StijnJun 10th 2010 3:28PM
I guess they don't have it in the beta version 4.2.0
Oh well, at least I can use Skype Access (: