How to run Skype on startup in Windows 8 and 8.1

Skype used to allow you the option to run automatically on startup but unfortunately the new Skype app in Windows 8 and 8.1 no longer includes this option… at least officially.

However you can still use this quick unofficial method to setup Skype to run automatically as soon as you turn your computer on.

  1. Go to the Desktop
  2. Right-Click and go to New and then click on Shortcut
  3. In the window that appears type the following into the textbox: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c start “” “skype:”
  4. Click Next
  5. For the name type in Skype and click Finish. A new icon called Skype should appear on your desktop.
  6. Right-Click on the new Skype shortcut icon and click copy
  7. Now we need to move this shortcut into the startup folder. On your keyboard press the Windows Key and the R key at the same time to bring up the Run window.
  8. Type in %appdata% and press enter.
  9. Navigate through the folders to Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
  10. Right-Click inside this folder and select paste. The Skype shortcut will appear inside the Startup folder.

Restart your computer and now Skype will start whenever you turn your computer on!

5 thoughts on “How to run Skype on startup in Windows 8 and 8.1”

  1. This didn’t work for me. On startup I get the error “Cannot find “” “.
    I tried looking for the skype.exe and I can’t find it myself – but I know it’s installed because I can use it!
    Any ideas?

  2. ipreg: Make sure that you are running Windows 8 or 8.1, that the latest version of the skype app is installed, and make sure that you correctly entered the text in step 3.

  3. Thanks, it works perfectly, but how do i get to know the “codes” for other apps, installed from the store?? Can you help me on this??

  4. On startup I got the error “Cannot find “” “. However, I deleted the shortcut and the copy that I pasted into my Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
    I tried it again, this time when I created my shortcut instead of pasteing from this webpage I typed in the quotes from my keyboard instead of the ones that came from this site that were kind of slanted. When I restarted the computer… It worked! I think my computer does NOT like the slanted type of quotes because it wouldn’t recognize them. Hope this helps someone.

  5. I cant find the microsoft folder. is it in c drive or what?
    I hate windows 8 and skype. They are always changing them making them worse and more annoying.

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