Skype Appears To Be Broken (Update: It's Back)

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You may have noticed some difficulty using Microsoft's popular communication software, Skype. Don't worry, you aren't the only one. Skype appears to be broken for the time being, with reports of strange malfunctioning and connectivity issues.

"We have detected an issue that is affecting Skype in a number of ways," stated an official post. "We're doing everything we can to fix this issue and hope to have another update for you soon." These issues seem to be dependent on whether or not you are already logged into Skype and include being unable to change your status and all of your contacts appearing as "offline." If you cannot see your contacts as online, you cannot place Skype calls to them.

Users who aren't already logged in may have difficulty logging in, and profile changes such as credit balance or profile details may take longer to display. In addition, a small number of group chat messages are not being delivered, although in most cases you can still instant message individual contacts. Web pages on the Skype Community may have trouble loading, as well.

Skype insists it is doing everything it can to resolve the problems, and it hopes to have another update on the subject soon. In the meantime, it appears the system is down, and it's currently unknown how long Skype users will have to deal with this inconvenient lapse in communication. We will update this article as more information becomes available.

Update, 9/22/15, 12:35pm PT: Skype's back. From the link above: "[UPDATE September 21 2015 23:53 GMT] Skype services have been fully restored."

Follow Derek Forrest @TheDerekForrest. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Derek Forrest
Derek Forrest
Derek Forrest is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He writes hardware news and reviews gaming desktops and laptops.
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • leoscott
    Please pardon the difficulty. It will take a while to get the new NSA software running correctly.,
    Reply
  • canadianvice
    This is why I sincerely hope to see major improvements in the Qtox software. P2P, encrypted, skype alternative. At present the audio quality and feature set is a little sparse, but it's making marked improvements.

    If only I could get my friends to switch :\
    Reply
  • capt_taco
    I think Microsoft has challenged itself to see just how fast it can alienate any remaining Skype customers. As if not being able to delete voicemails, and having all transactions have to go through auto-pay to a billing address in Luxembourg, wasn't dumb enough.
    Reply
  • skit75
    16661429 said:
    Please pardon the difficulty. It will take a while to get the new NSA software running correctly.,

    No no no.... The NSA had it working just fine. The problem is getting it to work, without the back-doors.
    Reply
  • Deuce65
    "Skype Appears To Be Broken"

    Um guys, has Skype ever appeared to be NOT broken?
    Reply
  • theusual
    Windows Live Messenger was a better instant messaging app. I never recall having trouble adding contacts or seeing when they were online. Also, why does Skype start a new conversation when you add someone to the current conversation? This confuses a lot of people who do not see the other conversation.
    Reply
  • waynes
    Ha, ha. I had a heavy political talk with a freind last week laden with references to certain things and things that happen to phone calls (I've known people who were retired from intrlliegence decades brfore and simply read articles) , it was the piont I mentioned edward s I knew I was certainly over the limit. My phone was hacked the next day and a strange tinny low quality phone call I had with a freind through my normal phone company ended with the skype blop sound as clear as day. I have never used skype on this phone, nor is an acount setup on it. Given the nature of some of the hacking and blunderouse phone call I dont think it was the government, but why would a normal.hacker be bothered. So it could be an coincidental exploit.

    Now Skype, it is unreal, over 100MB for an app that should be a few hundred KB. Also, when I started internet dating I git a scammer straight off the bat, everything too good to be true, so got on a preplanned scam buster skype session to be prrsented with a video of a presentable women typing on a computer messaging me. Why would they allow messaging on a video call. They also make so many things difficult and now seem to prevent you from cold calling.
    Reply
  • waynes
    Who writes skype, it is bazzar the stuff we are talking about?
    Reply
  • stevenrix
    All the american dotcom corporations work for the NSA. @ Microsoft they just need to change the MX record to forward your emails to the persons who does a "search warrant" on you, the problem is that they do it in a illegal way without regular course of the law since 2001 probably.

    Reply
  • Duncan3601
    It was always broken.
    Reply