How can I remove that ugly banner in Skype? It showed up in the latest version but I think it is pretty annoying.
I know I can go back to the latest version but I would rather keep my software up to date (you know, viruses and malware and stuff) so I'm looking for something that can fix this problem in the current version of skype (and possibly newer ones)
La MoutardeLa Moutarde
5 Answers
user294732user294732
Luckily, there is a way:
- Start Internet Explorer and click on the cog icon (or press ALT+X)
- Go to Internet Options > Security
- Click Restricted Sites and click on the Sites button
- Enter https://apps.skype.com/ in the textbox and click Add.
- Click Close and OK
(see here)
jaojao9858 gold badges20 silver badges39 bronze badges
Remove Ads In Skype Email
Can you please try this
It not only removes the ad but it removes the whole bar.
Overview of the steps listed in the link
- Add https://apps.skype.com in restricted sites
- Open config file of skype. You can find the config.xml in directory similar to the below exampleC:users[your user name]App DataRoamingSkype[your Skype username]
- Search for AdvertPlaceholder tag and remove the line
- Then make the config.xml readonly to restrict skype from adding it automatically again.
Thanks
UmamaheswaranUmamaheswaran
I am using the Linux Skype client and there is no ads at all on it, so I am not sure my advice would help you.
You can use a network sniffer (like Wireshark) to see the IP the software is trying to load ads from. If it is always the same (it should first retrieve the list of ads, I guess), you can try to block it in your hosts file (by assigning 127.0.0.1 as a alias of this IP, so every request to get ads are redirected to your PC and then fail).
But if Skype is retrieving the ads from the same server as it uses to connect yourself to the Skype services (for communicating with your contacts) it may just break everything..
MickaëlMickaël
I've written a tool that automatically removes the entire Skype advertising. http://www.mediafire.com/download/3s1903x5vc0cfvn/Skype_Werbung_weg.exeTherefore you have to enter your username, because the settings are at %AppData%Skype and then in a folder with the Skype name. But it will not be given to me or third,this shows the fact, that it easily works without Internet.The Tool is Written in German, because I´am from Germany. If you can read in it 'Bitte Skype Kontonamen (der nicht aenderbare) eingeben.(Klicke in Skype auf deinen Namen [Oben links]und dann siehst du ihn oben recht unter 'Konten'):' It means, that you have to enter your Skype Account name. You can find it, in Skype with an click to your username (at the top right corner) and than you can see it under 'Accounts' (At the top right) Tipp: if you have linked with Microsoft, it´s not your Microsoft email Address.If you are interested: This tool is a packed batch with an extra tool to easily add things to hosts file. You can simply unpack with WinRar or 7Zip for example and in the batch I still have some notes for operation made.
Is recognized scanners at VirusTotal of about 3 of 50 viruses, because it´s changing the hosts file..The Notes in the Batch script are also in German.Hopefully you could understand my bad English.
Cookie __XDCookie __XD
protected by Community♦Jul 28 '15 at 15:23
Thank you for your interest in this question. Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged skype or ask your own question.
Skype is one of the most useful communication apps out there, but it tends to display deeply annoying ads from time to time. Here’s how to block them – works on all recent Windows, including Windows 10.
As much as everyone dislikes advertising, the reality is that it is a reliable way to make money from a free app. Most people aren’t willing to pay for a monthly subscription, so software companies opt for display ads. New ad-blocking services make it even difficult for them to make money, as tech-savvy users find ways to block ads even though they’re using the app for free. I think it’s selfish behavior! Though, yes, it should force advertisers to improve the quality of their ads, so that they don’t push users to install ad blockers.
Windows Clan itself runs solely on ads and a passion for writing. We don’t charge readers for anything, except for their attention. No other model for publishers really works online.
Our audience is a tech-savvy one, so today we’re going to discuss how to block those pesky ads in Skype. This is particularly useful for PC gamers who use Skype for voice chat. Gamers don’t like being interrupted while they’re gaming, after all.
Related:How to record Skype calls
Add Skype’s ad domain to restricted sites
The simplest method to blocking ads in Skype is to restrict part of their website from loading at all on your Windows PC. Skype ads are sent out from apps.skype.com, so by blocking this domain, you can remove ads from your Skype experience. It’s an eight-step process:
- Launch the Control Panel
- Go to Network and Internet
- Click on Internet Options
- Go to the Security tab
- Select the ‘Restricted sites’ zone. It’s the one with a red icon.
- Click on the ‘sites’ button next to Restricted sites.
- Type ‘https://apps.skype.com/’ to the form that asks you to ‘Add this website to the zone’.
- Click on ‘Add’
That’s it! Try restarting the Skype app on your Windows PC. There should not be any ads displayed in it.
Related:Improve Skype screen sharing quality
Alternative method for removing Skype ads
If this host-blocking method doesn’t work, consider changing your profile’s region to something like Antartica. Since ads are based on the country you’re in, you’ll see less or no ads at all if you select Antartica. Be prepared for the occasional “Sexy Penguins near you” ad, though.
Champions is a multiplayer modification for the game Mount & Blade: Warband which allows you to create unique characters with the use of the 3 loadouts in these loadouts you can determine characteristics and equipment. Mar 22, 2017 It is very stable, and has a ton of content. The best thing about that mods is completely functional battlefield magic, which is very best magic system of all Warband mods. I know it's not the original question, but you seem to have tried a lot of mods, what is, the very best one you've tried? Even if it doesn't have guns. Aug 19, 2013 I suppose I might be spoiled by playing a ton of prophecy of pendor, but are there any decent mods with firearms? I've played quite a bit of with fire and sword, but it's god awful. Is there anything that either fixes up Fire and Sword, or is a great singleplayer experience with firearms? Mount & Blade: Warband. All Discussions Screenshots. Mount and blade warband machine gun mod. Mar 03, 2011 Author Topic: warband mod with a gun powder firearms (Read 12295 times) 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Mount&Blade: Warband » The Guildhall - Warband Discussion » The Warlord's Den - Single Player (Moderators: Orion, Erminas) ». 1860s Old America mod for Mount & Blade: Warband. Never playing regular Mount and Blade again. This mod is awesome, it plays much differently to native Mount and Blade where I wouldn't dare take on another force if it was greater than my own where as in this mod I would go in guns blazing and take em out. View All Top Mods.
This method has been tested working in 2016. Chances are Skype will change it some time from now. We’ll update this post, or write a new one if that happens. Until then, happy Skyping!
If anyone from the Skype team is reading this: improve the ads experience, guys.
Related posts:
Immediately after updating to Windows 10 Skype was a real problem because it would launch when ever a phone number was point to. I was doing some major contact management and it started whether the phone number was in Excel, Work, Edge or even Filemaker. First attempt was to disable at start-up and restart. That did not work. After considerable effort I thought I found the path late yesterday. From the start screen select SETTINGS, then SYSTEM then APPS & FEATURES. From there it can be found and uninstalled. It was not found in Programs and Features on Control Panel. Also, I was not able to find it through Task Manager, maybe I didn't look through all possibilities other than what Task Manager calls APPS and BACKGROUND PROCESSES. Based on your comments, I checked Task Manager again, and WOW, it is still in StartUp after the apparent APP uninstall. So I tried looking at Office 2013 through Start, right clicking and Uninstall. That took me to Programs and Features. Tried change Office, could not find Skype. Went back to Task Manager / StartUp, did a right click on Skype for Business and chose File Location to see if it was actually there. It was. A click and it started. I stopped it, changed the file name and hope it does not come back to bite me. Even tried CHAT twice and could not get more specific help that 'it's in Programs and Features' or disabling in StartUp will work.
Thanks for the reply and please wish me luck on the rename.
Disable Skype ads: 1.) Add hosts to your hosts file 2.) Flush DNS resolver cache (ipconfig /flushdns)
hosts
# Block Skype ads |
127.0.0.1 *.msads.net |
127.0.0.1 *.msecn.net |
127.0.0.1 *.rad.msn.com |
127.0.0.1 a.ads2.msads.net |
127.0.0.1 ac3.msn.com |
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net |
127.0.0.1 adnexus.net |
127.0.0.1 adnxs.com |
127.0.0.1 ads1.msn.com |
127.0.0.1 ads2.msads.net |
127.0.0.1 aka-cdn-ns.adtech.de |
# Keep 'apps.skype.com' if you want to see Skype Home (prepend # at line below)! |
127.0.0.1 apps.skype.com |
127.0.0.1 b.ads2.msads.net |
127.0.0.1 bs.serving-sys.com |
127.0.0.1 cdn.atdmt.com |
127.0.0.1 cds26.ams9.msecn.net |
127.0.0.1 db3aqu.atdmt.com |
127.0.0.1 ec.atdmt.com |
127.0.0.1 flex.msn.com |
127.0.0.1 g.msn.com |
127.0.0.1 live.rads.msn.com |
127.0.0.1 msntest.serving-sys.com |
127.0.0.1 rad.msn.com |
127.0.0.1 sO.2mdn.net |
127.0.0.1 secure.flashtalking.com |
127.0.0.1 static.2mdn.net |
127.0.0.1 static.2mdn.net |
# PRO-TIP: Removing the adds does NOT remove the add placeholder side bar(s)! |
# This can be removed by going to: %appdata%/skype/YOUR_USER_NAME/config.xml |
# and set all Advert-related values to 0: |
# |
# <AdvertEastRailsEnabled>0</AdvertEastRailsEnabled> |
# <AdvertLargeEastRailCutoff>0</AdvertLargeEastRailCutoff> |
# <AdvertNorthRailCutoff>0</AdvertNorthRailCutoff> |
# <AdvertPlaceholder>0</AdvertPlaceholder> |
# <AdvertSmallEastRailCutoff>0</AdvertSmallEastRailCutoff> |
commented Dec 11, 2015
commented Dec 11, 2015
I'm not sure (please correct me if I'm wrong), but correctly setting the ip adress to 0.0.0.0 instead of 127.0.0.1 will prevent a connection even to localhost. At least on windows. On linux that ip stands for 'ask anyone the web'. |
commented Feb 2, 2016
@d-kr It depends on the context, not the OS. 0.0.0.0 is an invalid IP address, but in the context of routing 0.0.0.0 means any network. So I would guess 0.0.0.0 would probably route to any interface, including the external ones. So it won't work. Haven't tested this, though. |
commented Feb 13, 2016
'apps.skype.com' should not be blocked as this host provides the Skype Home. I unblocked it and I haven't seen any ad so far. |
commented Mar 1, 2016
This no longer works as of today - I'm getting ads with all of these host edits. Did MS add new ad sources? |
commented Mar 2, 2016
Just block 'apps.skype.com'. I don't need Skype Home. |
commented Mar 27, 2016
Blocking apps.skype.com seems to block every ads. The problem is that this domain also provides the Skype Home. I'm going to investigate in order to find new ad domains. But for the moment, we'll either have to face the ads or to remove the Skype Home. EDIT: after like an hour of investigation, I found out that AdNexus was using many subdomains, and I also found out that wildcards such as * do not work in hosts files. There is nothing more we can do. Either find a software that allows wildcards (eg blacklist *.adnexus.net), or use PeerBlock with the 'Ads' subscription list. |
commented May 19, 2016 • edited
edited
Keep 'apps.skype.com' if you want to see Skype Home ! This line is useless. Without, Skype is ad-free !!! Thank you @eyecatchup ! Â |
commented Oct 10, 2016
Thank you! It worked. And cz*76, thx for the tip. |
commented Nov 9, 2016
I've add some urls in my fork: https://gist.github.com/joielechong/d0042338fd3132013aec4ee56045e558 |
commented Sep 27, 2017
commented Jul 6, 2018
using only 127.0.0.1 apps.skype.com is enough to blocks all ads (but deactivate the skype home panel as well as a benign side-effect) |
commented Aug 1, 2018
Hi! Recently my Skype has stopped working after I've used hosts file to block ads. The problem is that my hosts file is custom: it includes many sources.. So it's hard to find which one made Skype unusable. Any ideas where to find hosts I should whitelist to unblock Skype? |
Sign up for freeto join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment
The Skype client shows a disturbing colored ad at the bottom of the client. The ad is unnecessary and only takes away important space for the contact list.
How can I remove that permanentely?
Even after clicking the close sign on the ad, the ad appears again each time I open/click Skype again..
FiveOFiveO5,21911 gold badges44 silver badges74 bronze badges
8 Answers
I got rid of this like that. Go to
Tools
>Options
and uncheck Promotions
and Help and Skype tips
. Additionaly, if you go to
FiveOTools
>Options
>Privacy
>Show Advanced Options
in the bottom of the window, you will see something about Microsoft targeted ads..
, unticked this and restarted Skype altogether and so long I haven't seen any ads anywhere (thanks to juanm55)5,21911 gold badges44 silver badges74 bronze badges
Volodymyr M.Volodymyr M.1,3631 gold badge11 silver badges18 bronze badges
Put this in your hosts file:
Update: nZeus suggests using the following:
I haven't tested the latter. The first one worked for me.
None of the above methods work for the newer versions of Skype A new method has emerged that works in Skype 6.13 and Skype 6.14, works on Windows using Internet Explorer settings, from Chris123NT:
Open up Control Panel > Internet Options.
Security > Restricted Sites > Sites
Type in
https://apps.skype.com
, and click Add
. Again, click
leetNightshadeleetNightshadeAdd
, then Close
, then OK
. Now open up Skype, click on the home button, and the ad banner should disappear and not come back!8471 gold badge8 silver badges11 bronze badges
>>Note that the steps below won't work in Skype 6.9 or later<<
To get rid of advertisements upgrade to Skype Premium (from http://www.skype.com/en/premium/):
To disable promotions (from https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA1111/where-are-alerts-and-messages-displayed):
- Click Tools > Options > Notifications.
- Select Alerts & messages.
- Under Show messages about… tick the boxes for the alerts and messages you wish to receive.
- Click Save to update your settings.
4,7971 gold badge18 silver badges29 bronze badges
Updated DNS block list; works as of version
ZenexerZenexer6.21.85.104
. Add this to your hosts file (typically something like C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts
). Works best with IPv6, since 100::/64
is a 'drop-all' prefix. Works with IPv4 as long as you don't have anything listening on 127.6.6.6
. You can use 127.0.0.1
, but I would advise against that, since the connection won't die immediately if you have another program listening on port 443. (127.0.0.0/8
is loopback, not just 127.0.0.1
.)8671 gold badge8 silver badges17 bronze badges
I created a Windows Batch script to help remove the ADS from Skype, it can add a blacklist to Windows hosts file and also change a parameter on the Skype user settings file.
This way I was able to remove all ADS from Skype 7, including the ADS block that appears on the right side of the chat.
This script was tested on Skype 7.85.105.101 and is intended to run on Windows Vista, 7 or 8.
You can get the script here: disable_skype_ads.zip.Unpack the zip and read the readme.txt file to know how to use it.
If you find any bugs or have suggestions, please add a comment bellow, so I can fix/improve it.
Anthony GaudinoAnthony Gaudino
The way that works for me (version 6.11.0.102) is the following:
- Go to Tools -> Change Language -> Edit Skype Language File..
- Navigate to s_LANGUAGE_NAME (line 129 on my English language file)
- Change the string to something else that is arbitrary (I use 'NoAds')
- Click 'Save As..' and save the file to what you named it (for me, 'NoAds.lang')
- Finally, make sure this language is selected as the current language in the Tools -> Change Language menu (if it isn't, use the 'Open Skype Language File' option to locate and load it)
From what I remember about this trick.. since the ads are targeted towards language, putting in a bogus string value will essentially cause Skype to fail at finding an advert to display, and in turn, it will not display one.
This has worked for me on multiple installs of this same version of Skype, and in versions past as well.
Note: I also do this in tandem with what Volodymyr does in his answer.
ShamtamShamtam
I wrote a program which hides the biggest and in my opinion most annoying Skype ad.
One can find it at:
Just remember, as it says in the
README.txt
, that Skype must be used in the Default View
mode (View -> Default View
) for the thing to work.Jelle GeertsJelle Geerts
protected by Community♦Jun 10 '13 at 15:02
Thank you for your interest in this question. Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?