Skype account migration / username change

08
2014-07
  • Kristian Glass

    Some time ago now I created myself a Skype account. I've since amassed a number of contacts, and also realised that the username I chose really isn't one I wish to continue using, for a variety of reasons.

    Services like Twitter and GitHub offer username-change functionality; I can't find this in Skype. Am I missing something, or does it just not exist?

    If, as I suspect, it doesn't exist, is there anything I can do to migrate my contacts across to a new, more sensibly-named, account, or am I going to find myself having to manually publicise my account name change and adding contacts to the new account one-by-one?

    • Answers
  • techie007

    You can't change your Skype name without making a new account.

    You can change your display/full name without creating a new account:

    You can change your display name without creating a new account. This is the name that you see when you’re on Skype, and is displayed in your friends’ contact lists, when you call someone on Skype, and in the message area when you have an IM conversation*. To change your display name:
    1. Sign in to Skype.
    2. In the menu bar, click Skype > Profile > Edit Your Profile….
    3. At the top of the Profile tab, next to Full name, click your name. An edit box is displayed.
    4. Type the display name you want to use and click the tick icon. Your name is changed.

    Check out the Skype FAQ entitled "Can I change my Skype Name?" for more info.

    If you do make a new user name, I don't believe there's a way to export/migrate the contacts. To move contacts you can probably log in as the old account on one computer, and the new account on another computer and then send your contacts from your old account to the new one. I'm pretty sure the contacts will have to approve being contacted by the new account, so you may want to warn them about the switch beforehand. :)

    Perhaps check out "Can I transfer Skype Credit or Online Numbers to another Skype account?", from the same Skype FAQ.


    • Related Question

    Remove username suggest function in Skype 4.2, Windows Vista?
  • mechko

    My dad currently uses one of my old machines for chat and email and such and most recently, Skype. However, there are a bunch of old suggested screennames belonging to other people who may have used my machine from time to time and I don't want my father to see these for a number of reasons.

    Is there anyway to make Skype 'forget' who has logged in before? I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling it, but it doesn't make a difference.


    • Related Answers
  • Ivo Flipse

    Here's a guide by Skype itself on completely uninstalling Skype

    Save your personal information (if required). Your contacts, purchases and account information are stored on our servers, but other personal files such as chat messages, voicemail and snapshots taken during video calls, are only saved on your computer. To keep this personal information, you need to make a copy of it.

    • Vista and 7: Click Start, type run and press Enter.
    • XP: Click Start and then Run...
    • Type %appdata%\skype and click OK.
    • Copy the Pictures folder and the folder with your Skype name to another location, such as your desktop.

    Uninstall Skype.

    • Vista and 7: Click Start, type run and press Enter.
    • XP: Click Start and then Run...
    • Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
    • Select Skype from the list, right-click and select Remove or Uninstall.

    Delete the Skype application folder.

    • Vista and 7: Click Start, type run and press Enter.
    • XP: Click Start and then Run...
    • Type %appdata% and click OK.
    • Delete the Skype folder.
    • Ensure that the Skype program folder has been deleted.
    • Go to C:\Program Files
    • Delete the Skype folder and the SkypePM folder (if present).

    Delete any Skype entries from the Registry.

    • Vista and 7: Click Start, type run and press Enter.
    • XP: Click Start and then Run...
    • Type regedit and click OK.
    • In the Edit menu, click Find.
    • Search for the keyword Skype.
    • Use right-click to delete all the search results (there can be up to 50).
  • studiohack

    If you want to just remove the usernames and leave Skype on your system, just delete the profile from your computer and it should no longer suggest the username at login.

    You should find a path similar to the following:

    C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Skype

    That path should show folders such as Content, My Skpe Received Files and Wallpapers among others.

    Just look for the username folder in that and delete it. Restart Skype and you should now no longer have the recently deleted username suggested.