You have heard about multi-yahoo and multi-msn but haven’t heard about using multiple Skype accounts on a single computer. Skype has given this facility and its great because sometimes you need to use more than one accounts on a single computer for multiple communications at the same time. This is valid for 4.0 version and later
In order to use more than one account on the same computer at the same time you need to start a new instance. Many people will think that its very easy to go and search for installed Skype and press the button or double click with this mouse. Here comes the tricky part and that is given as under:
-
From the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run (or press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time)
-
In the Run window, enter the following command (include the quotes) and press OK
-
"C:Program FilesSkypePhoneSkype.exe" /secondary
If you get any error messages, please copy and paste the exact command from this post and try again. You may can get this error if you have changed the installation directory at the installation time.
Second Solution : A Better One
-
Find the Skype executable file (Skype.exe) in: C:Program FilesSkypePhone
-
Right click on it and choose: Send to > Desktop (create shortcut)
-
Locate the shortcut on the desktop, then right-click on it and choose Properties
-
In the Target field, add: /secondary. The Target field should now be: "C:Program FilesSkypePhoneSkype.exe" /secondary
-
Click OK. You can now start a new instance of Skype every time you double-click on the new shortcut.
The above solution will make a second instance for future use, you won’t be given the first method’s command every time on RUN menu to open the second instance. You just double click the secondary instance from your desktop and it will up for you.
To make it more convenient and easy, you can put this shortcut in windows32 directory under window directory and use it a global short, for that copy this shortcut in windows32 directory. Enter the name of the shortcut in RUN menu and it will work.
This is a very relevant and informative post. It will greatly help me and my husband to run our own individual skype accounts on the same PC. Even by using Comfi and ActionVoip accounts concurrently with Skype on the same PC which allow cheaper PC-to-phone services.
I tried following the advice about setting up a second Skype account but fell at the “change the Target field” fence. It just won’t let me change it (it says Skype 5.0 in faint, unselectable grey). Any suggestions?
If you have Windows XP or 2000 you can make another admin user. Start Skype by right clicking its icon and go to “run as ..” . Select “the following user” and enter the credentials of the newly created admin user.