Launch multiple Skype programs on your computer at the same time

Image by kirstyfields from Pixabay

Some Skype users have two or more accounts. For example, you need to run a working account and a personal one. But, the fact is that if Skype is already running, the second time you can’t open the program window, and only one instance will remain active. Is it really impossible to run multiple accounts at once? It turns out that it is possible, but only for this a number of additional actions should be done. Let’s see which ones.

This manual works for Windows users.

The way to launch Skype version 8 and higher differs from version 7. You can check the skype version as follows: click on your avatar and select “Settings” — “Help and Feedback” to see your Skype version.

Skype version

Running multiple accounts on Skype 8 and above

In order to work with two accounts simultaneously in Skype 8, you just need to create a second icon to launch this application and configure its properties accordingly.

1. Go to the desktop and right-click on it. In the context menu, select “Create” and in the additional list that opens, navigate to the “Shortcut” item.

Create the shortcut for selected account

2. A window will open for creating a new shortcut. First of all, you need to specify the address of the Skype executable file:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\Skype.exe

On some operating systems, it is necessary to write: “Program Files (x86)” instead of the “Program Files” directory in the address. And the address will look like this:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\Skype.exe

You can also click the Browse button and select the Skype.exe file at the specified address. After that, click “Next.”

Path to application

3. Then a window will open where you need to enter the name of the shortcut. It is desirable that this name be different from the name of the Skype icon that is already on the desktop, so you can distinguish between them. For example, you can use the name “Skype 2”. After naming, click “Finish”.

Icon name

4. After that, a new shortcut will be displayed on the desktop. But this is not all the manipulations that should be performed. Right-click on this icon and select “Properties” from the list that appears.

Icon properties

5. In the window that opens, in the “Target” field, to the record already there, you need to add the following data after a space:

--secondary  --datapath “Path_to_profile_folder”

Instead of the value “Path_to_profile_folder”, you must specify the address of the location of the Skype account directory through which you want to enter. You can also specify an arbitrary address. In this case, the directory will be created automatically in the designated directory. But most often the profile folder is located in the following way:

%appdata%\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\

That is, you only need to add the name of the directory itself, for example, “profile2”. In this case, the general expression entered in the “Target” field of the shortcut properties window will look like this:

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\Skype.exe”  --secondary  --datapath “%appdata%\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\profile2”

After entering the data, click “Apply” and “OK”.

Target field

6. After the properties window is closed, to launch the second account, double-click the left mouse button on its just created icon on the desktop. Next, you need to enter a username and password to enter the account. Activation of the second account on Skype is executed.

Several launched Skype accounts

Running multiple accounts on Skype 7 and below

1. The launch of the second account in Skype 7 and in programs of earlier versions is carried out in a slightly different scenario, although the essence remains the same.
2. After creating the shortcut, go to the “Properties” tab.
3. Add the value /secondary to the existing record in the field “Target”, but do not delete anything, but simply put a space in front of this parameter. Click on the “OK” button.
4. Thus, the following entry will be in the “Target” field:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\Skype.exe" /secondary

or

“C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\Skype.exe” /secondary

Now you have two Skype shortcuts on the desktop, which can be launched simultaneously. In this case, of course, you enter registration data from different accounts into the windows of each of these two open instances of the program. If desired, you can even create three or more similar shortcuts, thereby gaining the ability to run an almost unlimited number of profiles on one device. The only limitation is the size of the RAM of your PC.