Skype 7 blocked from signing in but you can still use older versions

EDIT Jan 16 2019: The 7.40 version stopped working for me today, but downgrading to 7.36 restored the ability to sign in.  I’ve updated the article accordingly.

Coinciding with Update “Patch” Tuesday on January 8th, the latest version of Skype “Classic” 7 is no longer allowing users to sign in and instead prompts you to update:

“It looks like Skype hasn’t been updated for some time.  It’s free, only takes a minute and comes with the latest features and security updates.”

Despite the “What happens if I don’t update now?” and “The next time you sign out or restart your computer” verbiage, I’ve only seen the message pop up after you’ve been signed out or if you try to sign in on a computer that’s been offline.

 

How to keep using Skype 7

Strangely enough, instead of utilizing their prior version-pushing capabilities, only the last version of Skype 7 seems to contain the code to show the above forced upgrade message and using a previous version of Skype 7 will still allow you to sign in.

To continue using Skype 7, download and install the 7.36 version (7.36.0.101).  When the confirmation prompt appears, choose OK to install the older version.

Skype should operate just as before.  One small caveat I have noticed on PCs that do not have Skype already installed previously, the username and password are not being saved and Skype prompts for credentials on every sign in.

Additionally, to avoid upgrade prompts, it appears copying the installer in your profile’s temp folder (Open up Start, type %localappdata%\temp and press Enter to get there), rename the file to SkypeSetup (so technically SkypeSetup.exe) and then right-click, select Properties and set the file to read only.

How long the older versions will continue to work is anyone’s guess, but my prediction is Skype will watch as people are slowly forced off the old version until the user population of 7 is low enough to pull the plug on the servers/protocol version.

The battle for Skype 7

Just to step back a minute, this is not an unplanned or surprising event.  Back in September, Skype claimed that they would be ending support for Skype Classic on the desktop on November 1^st and for mobile platforms, on the 15^th.  This never happened and we moved into the new year with Skype Classic still operating normally.

And that wasn’t the first announcement either, back in July it was announced they would end support on September 1^st, which then was subsequently changed in August to “extended support for some time”.

They’ve also been prodding users with upgrade messages and tidbits on their new features of the latest version for many months:

My primary reasons for sticking with Skype 7 are the integration with my headset’s buttons and LED indicators, easy access to my 13 years of message history, and the many benefits of using a real, non-web based application.

The end of MSN Protocol (MSNP)

Back in August, Bruce Lowekamp, Principal Architect for Skype’s Cloud Infrastructure, did a fascinating talk on “Skype’s Journey from P2P” which among other great information, was littered with small details on Skype’s past and current infrastructure.  I made some detailed notes of the entire presentation, but it was mentioned that Skype moved from Messenger’s protocol to “New Chat Service”.  Although I have no evidence of this at present, I would imagine the Messenger protocol is what is to be removed once Skype 7 no longer works in any form, and thus marking the final end of the Messenger protocol.

Upgrade paths and other options

There are a few options available when Skype 7 will no longer work:

• The official upgrade path, Skype 8, is an electron/web-based application, and thereby uses quite a lot of memory, generally is weak on performance and as far as I am aware of presently, message history is stored “on the cloud” for two years only.
• The built-in Windows 10 Skype UWP version uses far less memory, far less CPU and power, and still does still save to a local database format which appears to be exportable using anything that can read SQLite 3 databases.
• EionRobb’s regularly maintained SkypeWeb for libpurple-enabled clients (Pidgin, Bitlbee, and others) allows use of Skype using a third-party client.  However, voice/video calls are not yet supported.

I plan on trying the UWP version full-time if/when Skype 7 becomes unusable as it seems like the best option, especially when my usage of Skype is primarily for voice calls.

A special thanks to my friend Nojus for discovering that prior versions of Skype 7 were still working.