How to Uninstall & Reinstall Skype on Mac (3 Methods)
How to Properly Uninstall & Reinstall Skype on Your Mac (2023 Guide)
Skype, the popular video calling and messaging app owned by Microsoft, boasts over 40 million daily active users according to a 2020 report by Statista. With the rise of remote work and virtual communication, it‘s no surprise that many Mac users rely on Skype for both professional and personal conversations.
However, as with any application, you may encounter issues that require a fresh installation. Perhaps Skype is freezing, crashing, or not syncing your messages properly. Or maybe you simply want to free up disk space by removing an app you no longer use.
Uninstalling Skype on a Mac may seem straightforward – just drag the icon to the Trash, right? Not quite. While that will remove the main application, Skype leaves behind various support files, caches, and preferences that can take up unnecessary storage and potentially cause conflicts with future installations.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll walk you through three methods to completely uninstall Skype on your Mac:
- Manual deletion of all Skype files and folders
- Using the free AppCleaner utility
- Utilizing the powerful CleanMyMac X tool
We‘ll also explain how to properly reinstall Skype to avoid any lingering issues, as well as how to preserve your conversation history and contacts during the process.
Whether you‘re a tech-savvy user or a casual Skype chatter, this article will provide the clear, step-by-step instructions you need to confidently remove and reinstall the application. Let‘s get started!
Method 1: Manually Uninstalling Skype
Manually removing Skype requires navigating through your Mac‘s Library folders to hunt down every last file and folder associated with the app. It‘s the most labor-intensive method, but also the most thorough if done correctly.
Note: The ~ symbol used below refers to your Mac‘s Home folder.
Step 1: Fully Quit Skype
First, ensure the Skype app is not running in the background. Click the Skype menu at the top of your screen and select "Quit Skype." If the app is unresponsive, you can force quit by pressing Option-Command-Escape, selecting Skype in the list, and clicking "Force Quit."
Step 2: Delete the Skype Application
Open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder. Locate the Skype icon, then drag it to the Trash bin. Alternatively, right-click the icon and select "Move to Trash."
This will remove the main Skype application from your Mac, but there are still many associated files and folders to delete.
Step 3: Remove Skype Support Files
In Finder, click the "Go" menu and select "Go to Folder." In the text box, enter the following file path and click Go:
~/Library/
This will open your user Library folder, which is hidden by default in macOS. Here, you‘ll need to locate and delete the following items related to Skype:
- The "Skype" folder in ~/Library/Application Support/
- The "com.skype.skype.plist" file in ~/Library/Preferences/
- The "SkypeAudioDevice" folder in ~/Library/Application Support/
- The "Skype" folder in ~/Library/Saved Application State/
- The "com.skype.skype" folder in ~/Library/Containers/
- Any other files or folders with Skype in the name
You can use Finder‘s search function to quickly locate these items. Press Command-F, then enter "Skype" in the search box. Be sure the search scope is set to "Library" and not "This Mac."
Step 4: Empty the Trash
Once you‘ve deleted all the Skype components, right-click the Trash icon in your Dock and select "Empty Trash." You will be asked to confirm the permanent deletion of the items.
With that, you‘ve completed the manual uninstallation process. It‘s effective but time-consuming, and there‘s always the chance of missing a file or two. That‘s where uninstaller tools like AppCleaner and CleanMyMac X come in handy.
Method 2: Using AppCleaner
AppCleaner is a popular, free utility that makes uninstalling apps on macOS a breeze. It finds and removes all the associated files automatically, saving you the trouble of scouring your Library folders.
Step 1: Download & Install AppCleaner
Visit the official AppCleaner website (https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/) and click the "Download" button. Once the zip file downloads, double-click it to extract the AppCleaner app.
Drag the AppCleaner icon to your Applications folder to complete the installation.
Step 2: Uninstall Skype with AppCleaner
Launch AppCleaner from your Applications or Launchpad. Locate Skype in the list of applications and check the box next to it. AppCleaner will automatically find all the related files and display them in the list.
Click the "Remove" button at the bottom of the window to delete the selected items. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
That‘s it! AppCleaner does the heavy lifting for you, making it a much faster and easier method than manual deletion. However, some users prefer an even more robust solution like CleanMyMac X.
Method 3: Using CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X is an all-in-one Mac optimization tool that includes a powerful Uninstaller module. While it‘s a paid app, it offers a free trial that allows you to uninstall Skype and other apps.
Step 1: Download & Install CleanMyMac X
Go to the CleanMyMac X website (https://macpaw.com/cleanmymac) and click the "Download" button. Open the downloaded dmg file and drag the CleanMyMac X icon to your Applications folder.
Launch the app and grant it Full Disk Access when prompted. This allows CleanMyMac to scan your entire system for unnecessary files.
Step 2: Uninstall Skype with CleanMyMac X
In the CleanMyMac X sidebar, click the "Uninstaller" tab. You‘ll see a list of all your installed applications. Locate Skype, check the box next to it, and click "Uninstall."
Review the items to be removed and confirm by clicking "Remove." CleanMyMac will delete the selected files and display the amount of disk space reclaimed.
In addition to uninstalling apps, CleanMyMac can also clean up junk files, optimize your Mac‘s performance, and protect your privacy by removing traces of online and offline activity – including old Skype chat logs and cached files.
Speaking of privacy, it‘s important to ensure your Skype conversations aren‘t left behind when you uninstall the app. In the next section, we‘ll cover how to export your chat history and contacts before removal, and optionally reinstall them later.
Preserving Your Skype History & Contacts
Skype stores your message history and contacts locally on your Mac as well as in the cloud (if sync is enabled). Before uninstalling, you may want to export this data for safekeeping or to import into a fresh Skype installation.
According to Skype‘s support documentation, here‘s how to export your data:
- Sign in to Skype.
- Click Contacts in the top menu bar, then select "Advanced" and "Backup Contacts to File." Choose a location and name for the exported contacts.csv file.
- To export your chat history, quit Skype and navigate to the following folder: ~/Library/Application Support/Skype/SKYPE_NAME/ (replace SKYPE_NAME with your actual Skype username).
- Copy the "main.db" file to a safe location outside the Skype folder. This database file contains your message history.
After uninstalling Skype, you can restore your data by placing the "main.db" file back in the same location in a fresh Skype installation. Your contacts will automatically sync from Skype‘s servers once you sign in.
It‘s worth noting that Skype does offer end-to-end encryption for voice, video, and text communication. However, files, pictures, and screen shares are not end-to-end encrypted. If privacy is a top concern, you may want to consider a more secure alternative like Signal or Wire.
Now that your data is backed up, you‘re ready to reinstall a fresh, error-free version of Skype on your Mac.
Properly Reinstalling Skype
Removing Skype is only half the battle – a clean, properly configured reinstallation is just as important to avoid any lingering issues. Follow these steps to get Skype back up and running smoothly:
Step 1: Download the Latest Skype Version
Visit the official Skype download page (https://www.skype.com/en/get-skype/download-skype-for-desktop/) and click the blue "Download Skype for macOS" button.
Note: Be sure to download directly from the official Skype website to avoid any modified or malware-infected versions.
Step 2: Install Skype
Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the Skype icon into your Applications folder. Double-click the icon to launch Skype.
Step 3: Sign In & Sync Your Data
When prompted, sign in using your Skype account credentials. If you exported your contacts and chat history, Skype will automatically sync your contacts from the server.
To restore your chat history, quit Skype and copy the "main.db" file you backed up earlier into the ~/Library/Application Support/Skype/SKYPE_NAME/ folder (replacing SKYPE_NAME with your username).
Relaunch Skype, and your previous conversations should now appear in the message history.
Comparison of Uninstallation Methods
To help you decide which uninstallation method is right for you, here‘s a quick comparison table:
| Method | Time Required | Difficulty | Thoroughness | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual | 20-30 minutes | High | Depends on user | Free |
| AppCleaner | 5 minutes | Low | High | Free |
| CleanMyMac X | 5 minutes | Low | Very High | $39.95/year |
As you can see, the manual method is the most time-consuming and tedious, with a higher chance of human error. Both AppCleaner and CleanMyMac X offer a streamlined, user-friendly approach that‘s suitable for most users.
CleanMyMac X has the added benefit of other optimization and privacy tools beyond just app uninstallation. However, its yearly subscription fee may not be worthwhile if you only need to occasionally uninstall apps.
The Importance of Fully Uninstalling Apps
You might be wondering, "Why go through all this trouble? Can‘t I just delete the Skype application and be done with it?" While that would free up some disk space, it leaves behind megabytes (or even gigabytes) of leftover files that serve no purpose.
Over time, these orphaned files can build up and waste valuable storage space, especially if you frequently install and uninstall applications. They can also cause conflicts with new software installations, as outdated preferences or corrupted support files may interfere with the fresh versions.
Additionally, old chat logs and cached data may contain sensitive personal information you‘d rather not leave sitting on your hard drive. In an era of increasing digital privacy concerns, it‘s good practice to tidy up after yourself when you no longer use an application.
Conclusion
Uninstalling Skype (or any application) on a Mac may seem daunting at first, but with the right methods and tools, it‘s a quick and painless process. Whether you prefer the hands-on approach of manual deletion or the convenience of a dedicated uninstaller, the end result is a cleaner, more efficient macOS system.
As a Mac user myself, I find AppCleaner to be the ideal solution for most app uninstallations. It‘s free, simple to use, and removes all the associated files without any extra fluff. For power users looking for more advanced optimization features, CleanMyMac X is a worthwhile investment.
Whichever method you choose, remember to always download Skype (and any other software) from official sources to minimize security risks. Regularly uninstalling unused apps and clearing out old files is a good habit to keep your Mac running smoothly.
If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with your fellow Skype users or anyone looking to clean up their Mac. As always, if you have any questions or tips of your own, drop a comment below!