How to wean Skype from minimizing to the system tray

By default, the Skype client starts with the system, runs in the background, and minimizes to the notification area when closed. It's a little annoying if you use the app to occasionally chat with family and friends and don't want to be called when you're busy with work, games, or watching a movie. Fortunately, this is not difficult to fix.

Classic Skype

This method will work only in the application for Windows, macOS and Linux - the same one that you download from the official site.

Open Skype options by clicking on the ellipsis in the upper left corner of the screen and selecting "Settings".

To prevent Skype from minimizing to the system tray, change the settings

Click on the General tab. Disable the "Start Skype automatically" and "Don't stop Skype on close" items.

To prevent Skype from minimizing to the system tray, disable the items "Start Skype automatically" and "Do not stop Skype on closing"

From now on Skype will not start together with the system. And when you click on the button to close the window, the program will not be minimized to the tray, but simply quit.

Skype UWP

In the app that's available in the Microsoft Store, the settings are different, and there's not even a Quit Skype option in the taskbar menu.

Therefore, if you do not want tiled Skype to remain running all the time, you should remove it from startup. To do this, press Win + R, enter the command