Skype for Business is an enterprise communication platform created by Microsoft. It is a part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite and, thus, integrates with all suite components. The app has both useful features and significant disadvantages, e.g. high RAM consumption, automatic launch.

Actually, you could stop it in the Task Manager, yet often users wish to get rid of it. In this brief post, you’ll find several ways to uninstall Skype for Business in Windows 10, such as manually, via registry, third-party software.

Note that it won’t be possible to remove Skype for Business in case it has been introduced as a  Microsoft Office 365 component. Then you’d have to wipe the whole suite. The following step-by-step instructions are only relevant for a standalone version. Also, pay attention to special uninstaller tools, as it ensures effective leftovers cleaning afterwards.

• How do I Remove Skype For Business From Windows 10?
• How do I Remove Skype For Business?
• How do I Completely Uninstall Skype?
• Disable Skype For Business Startup Registry
• Disable Skype For Business Office 365
• Uninstall Skype Mac
• Stop Skype For Business From Starting Automatically Mac
• Uninstall Skype Ubuntu
• Uninstall Skype For Business Jamf
• Why Can’t I Delete Skype For Business?
• Why Does Skype For Business Keep Popping up?
• How do I Completely Uninstall Skype?

How do I Remove Skype For Business From Windows 10?

Skype for business sometimes brings you some troubles, like eating lots of disk space.

Therefore, you can choose to disable or uninstall Skype for Business from your PC. And this article shows some working methods to disable or uninstall Skype for Business.

Read Also: Make Money With Registry Repair Review Sites

It is important to note that if you are using Office 365 Skype for Business, it is impossible to uninstall it from your computer unless you remove the reset of the Microsoft Office site.

Method 1: Disable Skype for Business via Skype Settings

To disable this feature to prevent it from starting up, please following the instruction below.

Step 1: Open the Settings of Skype for Business, navigate to the Tools tab and choose the Options option.

Step 2: Select the Personal option from the left side, and uncheck Automatically start the app when I log on to Windows 10 and Start the app in the foreground, and then click the OK button to confirm the changes.

Step 3: Click the Settings button again on the Skype for Business interface and choose File and Exit in order.

After the three steps, you have successfully disabled Skype for Business from your PC and you will no longer see it although it is still on your computer.

Method 2: Uninstall Skype for Business via Control Panel

This method requires you to clear all your profile cache for the Skype for Business account and then uninstall it from Windows 10 via Control Panel.

Here is the detailed tutorial on uninstalling Skype for Business.

Step 1: Open your Skype for business and then sign out of this application.

Step 2: In the Sign in interface, please click the Delete my sign-in info option.

Step 3: Close Skype for Business.

Step 4: You should uninstall Skype for Business like any other software on your computer. Therefore, please go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Uninstall or change a program.

Step 5: Choose Skype for Business and click Uninstall.

Method 3: Uninstall Skype for Business via Registry Editor

If the above two methods don’t work, the third choice is to uninstall it in your registry.

Now, let’s see how to uninstall Skype for business from Windows 10 via Registry Editor.

Step 1: Press the Windows icon and R key simultaneously. After getting a Run box, please type regedit and click the OK button to access the Registry Editor window.

Step 2: In the Registry Editor window, please navigate to the Edit tab and then choose the Find option.

Step 3: Type Skype for Business into the Find box and click the Find Next button.

Step 4: Use right-click to delete all the search listings.

How do I Remove Skype For Business?

Skype for Business is primarily an enterprise program, so it’s likely installed on your work computer.

If so, you might not have the ability to uninstall Skype for Business. Your system administrator can restrict your user account from carrying out certain actions; uninstalling Skype for Business might be one of those.

Even if your account has no restrictions, it’s wise to check with your IT administrator before uninstalling Skype for Business. Doing so might cause them a headache down the line.

1. Uninstall Skype for Business via Settings

Before trying anything advanced, attempt to uninstall Skype for Business like you would any other app or program.

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
2. Click Apps.
3. Within the Search this list field, input Skype for Business.
4. If Skype for Business appears, select it and click Uninstall.

If you don’t see Skype for Business here, it’s because you’re using a version that is integrated with other Microsoft 365 apps.

If you want, you can uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from here, but obviously, that will remove other programs like Word, PowerPoint, and Access that you probably want to keep. As such, keep reading.

2. Install Office Without Skype for Business

Though the standard Office installation doesn’t let you choose not to install Skype for Business, you can use an advanced technique to achieve it.

First, uninstall Office using the steps described above. Alternatively, go to the “Uninstall Office from a PC” Microsoft support page and use the second option to download the Office uninstall support tool.

Next, download the Office Deployment Tool. Open it and choose where to extract the files to. This will give you three configuration.xml files and a setup.exe file.

Decide which configuration file you need: x64 is for 32-bit systems, x86 is for 64-bit systems, and Enterprise is if you are installing Office Enterprise edition.

Right-click the configuration file and choose Open with > Notepad.

First, look for the line that begins with:

Add OfficeClientEdition=

Amend the opening of the line as follows, replacing C:\Office with the path of where you extracted the files:

Add SourcePath="C:\Office" OfficeClientEdition=

Next, look for these two lines (your product ID may be “ProPlus2019Volume” instead of “OF365ProPlusRetail” and your language ID may be different):

Product ID="O365ProPlusRetail"
Language ID="en-us"

Paste this line beneath:

ExcludeApp ID="Lync"

Then save the file.

Do a system search for Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.

Input this into Command Prompt:

cd C:\Office

Again, replace the C:\Office path with where you extracted the files.

Then, run the following commands one after another (replace the configuration file name with whichever you are using), which may take some time:

setup.exe /download configuration-Office2019Enterprise.xml
setup.exe /configure configuration-Office2019Enterprise.xml

This will then install Office without Skype for Business.

How do I Completely Uninstall Skype?

If you’re having technical problems with Skype, sometimes uninstalling and reinstalling Skype can help.

Windows Desktop

1. Quit Skype. If you can see the Skype icon in the task bar, right-click it and select Quit. If you can’t see it, right-click the task bar (or press Ctrl+Alt+Delete) and click Task Manager, then select Skype and click End Task.
2. Press the Windows  and R keys on your keyboard at the same time.
3. Type appwiz.cpl in the Run dialog and click OK.
4. Find Skype in the list, right-click it and select Remove or Uninstall.
5. Download and install the latest version of Skype.

Mac

1. Quit Skype by secondary clicking Skype, then select Quit Skype.
2. Open your Applications folder and drag your copy of Skype to the trash.
3. Open Finder and search for “Skype” using the search feature in Mac OS X. Move all of the results returned to the trash.
4. Secondary click on the trash icon, and select Empty Trash.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Download and install the latest version of Skype.

Disable Skype For Business Startup Registry

By default, Skype will start automatically when Windows starts. You can change this setting.

Run Skype for Business.

1. Click the gear icon to open the Options dialog box. (If you click the arrow next to the gear, you will need to select Tools, then Options.) In the list on the left, click Personal.
2. On the right, under My account, you’ll see a checkbox for Automatically start the app when I log on to Windows.
3. Check this to have the app start automatically.
4. Uncheck this to prevent the app from starting automatically.
5. Click OK.

Disable Skype For Business Office 365

Step 1: Stop Skype for Business from starting automatically

1. In Skype for Business, choose the tools icon and Tools > Options. Options”>
2. Choose Personal, then uncheck Automatically start the app when I log on to Windows and Start the app in the foreground. Then choose OK.
3. Choose File > Exit. Exit”>

Skype for Business is still on your computer, but you’ll no longer see it.

Step 2: Remove Skype for Business from your computer

IMPORTANT: If you are using Microsoft 365Skype for Business, you can’t delete it from your computer without also uninstalling the rest of the Office suite. This is because it’s integrated with the other Office apps. The following instructions are for customers who have standalone versions of Skype for Business.

1. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Uninstall or change a program.
2. Choose Skype for Business > Uninstall. If you don’t see Skype for Business listed, then you’re using a version that’s integrated with other Microsoft 365 apps. The only way to uninstall it is to remove all of Office from your computer.
3. At the Ready to uninstall? box, choose Uninstall.
4. When it’s done uninstalling, choose Close.

Remove Skype for Business from your registry

If the above instructions don’t work for you, then another option is to disable it in your registry. For instructions, see this post in the Skype community: Completely Uninstall Skype for Business.

Uninstall Skype Mac

The steps to uninstall Skype for Business are almost the same as for the regular version of Skype. The difference is the list of temporary files you will need to find and remove for Skype for Business. Also, Microsoft recommends deleting the application’s support files with the help of Terminal.

Below, we will explain how to do this. However, you can uninstall Skype for Business using the manual method above or with App Cleaner & Uninstaller that we will explain how to use below.

Steps on how to uninstall Skype for Business:

1. Quit Skype for Business.
2. Remove Skype for Business from the Applications folder.
3. Launch Terminal. It’s a default Apple application that you will find in Applications → Utilities.
4. Type the following commands in the Terminal window. After each command, press Return:
   • sudo rm -rf /Applications/Skype\ for\ Business.app
   • sudo rm -rf /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/MeetingJoinPlugin.plugin
   • defaults delete com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness || true
   • rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness
   • rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Skype\ for\ Business_*
   • rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness.savedState
   • rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness.plist
   • rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/CrashReporter/Skype\ for\ Business_*
   • rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.apple.sharedfilelist/com.apple.LSSharedFileList.ApplicationRecentDocuments/com.microsoft.skypeforbusiness*
   • rm -rf ~/Library/Cookies/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness*
   • sudo rm -rf /private/var/db/receipts/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness*
   • rmdir ~/Library/Application\ Scripts/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness
   • find -f /private/var/db/BootCaches/* -name “app.com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness*” -exec sudo rm -rf {} +
5. Once you finish with the command line, open Keychain Access. You will find it in Applications → Utilities.
6. Switch to the Login section. Find and delete Skype for Business keychain.

Note that App Cleaner & Uninstaller allows you to completely uninstall any Mac application, including Skype for Business.

Stop Skype For Business From Starting Automatically Mac

In case you are using Skype on Mac, you may have noticed that Skype starts automatically on Mac and keeps running in the background. You will find below the steps to Stop Skype From Starting Automatically on Mac.

1. Stop Skype From Starting Automatically on Mac

In case you are noticing slowdown or drop in performance of your Mac after installing Skype, it is likely that “Open at Login” option is checked for the Skype App on your Mac.

Luckily, it is really easy to uncheck this option, in case you are able to access Skype from the Dock on your Mac.

Right-click on the Skype icon located in the Dock of your Mac > hoover your mouse over Options and click on Open at Login option in the contextual menu.

This will uncheck “Open at login” option and prevent Skype from starting automatically on Mac, the next time you start your computer.

Uninstall Skype Ubuntu

1. Click the “Ubuntu” button, type “Terminal” (without the quotations) and then press Enter.
2. Type sudo apt-get --purge remove skypeforlinux (earlier package name was skype) and then press Enter
3. Enter your Ubuntu password to confirm that you wish to completely remove Skype and then press Enter
4. Click the “Ubuntu” button, type “Home” (without the quotations) and then press Enter to open your home folder.
5. Press Ctrl–H to display hidden folders. Locate and delete the “.skype” folder. Copied and pasted.

Uninstall Skype For Business Jamf

If you are about to deploy Skype for Business Mac, you will first need to remove Lync 2011 and Skype for Business Mac Beta.

This is a script to remove all items listed on How to perform a clean uninstall of Lync for Mac. In addition, it will remove the corresponding Skype for Business Mac Beta files. The script removes Apps, caches, cookies, Keychain entries, preferences, receipts and logs. (But not Dock items). There is a similar, more mature script with feedback posted on jamf Nation here, though it’s not as thorough.

Feel free to improve upon this.

#!/bin/sh
# script to remove items listed on https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2691870 "How to perform a clean uninstall of Lync for Mac 2011"
# 10/25/2016-added lines based on script Dave Fisher posted on Slack
# 10/25/2016-Lucas Vance from jamf support helped with cut commands for userEmail
# tested in an AD environment

# Pull current logged in user into 'user' variable.
user=`ls -l /dev/console | cut -d " " -f 4`

# #2 Kill Lync & SfB
killall "Microsoft Lync"
killall "Skype for Business"

# #3 Delete the Lync & SfB applications
rm -rf /Applications/Microsoft\ Lync.app
rm -rf /Applications/Skype\ For\ Business.app

# #4 Delete caches, cookies, OC_KeyContainer, preferences, receipts & logs (if present) 
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Application\ Support/com.apple.sharedfilelist/com.apple.LSSharedFileList.ApplicationRecentDocuments/com.microsoft.lync.sfl
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Cookies/com.microsoft.Lync.binarycookies
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.Lync
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Group\ Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Lync
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Logs/Microsoft-Lync*
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Preferences/ByHost/MicrosoftLync*
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.Lync.plist
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Receipts/Lync.Client.Plugin.plist
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Keychains/OC_KeyContainer*

rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusinessTAP.plist
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Logs/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusinessTAP
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Application\ Support/Skype\ for\ Business
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Application\ Support/com.apple.sharedfilelist/com.apple.LSSharedFileList.ApplicationRecentDocuments/com.microsoft.skypeforbusinesstap.sfl
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Application\ Support/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusinessTAP
rm -rf /Users/$user/Library/Cookies/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusinessTAP.binarycookies

# #5 Delete Lync & Skype User Data (but keep Lync Conversation History)
rm -rf /Users/$user/Documents/Microsoft\ User\ Data/Microsoft\ Lync\ Data 
rm -rf /Users/$user/Documents/Microsoft\ User\ Data/Microsoft/Communicator

# #6 remove this file from the Keychains folder and therefore, the Keychain
rm /Users/$user/Library/Keychains/OC_KeyContainer*

# #7 Delete the following KeyChain entry using security command
# $user variable is still in place from earlier

# Pull current logged in user's e-mail address into 'userEmail' variable.
userEmail=$(dscl . -read /Users/$user EMailAddress | cut -f2 -d":" | cut -f2 -d" ")
security delete-certificate -c $userEmail /Users/$user/Library/Keychains/login.keychain
security delete-generic-password -l "OC_KeyContainer*" /Users/$user/Library/Keychains/login.keychain

Why Can’t I Delete Skype For Business?

If you are using Microsoft 365Skype for Business, you can’t delete it from your computer without also uninstalling the rest of the Office suite. This is because it’s integrated with the other Office apps.

Why Does Skype For Business Keep Popping up?

According to some analysis, this issue could be related to the settings of the Windows System.

So far, this is happening to 3 out of the users where they’ve installed O365 (we are in the process of converting to O365). 

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Word (and all the Office programs) work completely correctly — all files open in the right application.

The issue is that if Skype for Business is running, while you are in another Office Application (like Word) the Skype App will pop up and steal focus. It mostly happens when you click on an Office menu item, but it can happen if you are just typing normally into a Word document.

How do I Completely Uninstall Skype?

1. Power on your Windows 10 computer and then press either the Windows key on your keyboard or click the Windows button located at the bottom-right hand corner of your screen.

2. Scroll through the applications on your computer, and then right-click on the Skype app and click “Uninstall” from the pop-up menu. This will launch the Control Panel. How to uninstall Skype

3. In the Control Panel, scroll through your applications until you see Skype appear on your screen. Double-click the app and then confirm that you want to uninstall the software from your computer.

Conclusion

While Skype is one of the most popular video conferencing applications, there are a slew of other options that you can use as well. Some can be better than others, but it all depends on convenience and personal preferences.

If you have Skype on your computer, but no longer use it and wish to clean out some space on your computer, here’s how to uninstall Skype on your Windows 10 computer in completely different ways.