Today, almost every user of a personal computer uses Skype. This solution cannot be called absolutely ideal for calls on the Internet, but it has a number of positive qualities, including ease of use and installation, as well as multi-platform. However, many users are concerned about how to remove ads on Skype, because it is too intrusive. Fortunately, there is a way out of this situation.
Start from the bottom
Obviously, the owner company needs to make money on its product, but everything has reasonable boundaries, and Microsoft also applies to this rule. First of all, I want to get rid of ads on Skype, which is located in the lower area of ​​the contact list. I am glad that this problem can be solved simply by removing a certain checkmark in the software settings.
So, pay attention to the top of the main program window, click on “Tools” and select “Settings”. Go to the “Alerts” tab, select “Notifications”. Next, uncheck the boxes next to Skype Tips, as well as Promotions. After that, click the "Save" button. From now on, the obsession will become less. So we figured out how to remove ads on Skype from the contacts window. However, there is still a lot of work ahead in order to fully achieve the desired goal.
Call window
One problem has been resolved, now we’ll look at how to remove ads on Skype from the calls window. We need to block Skype access to advertising servers, for this we launch Explorer and go to drive “C”, then into the Windows folder, then open the System32 directory, look for the Drivers folder there, and finally open etc.
We start the hosts file using notepad or its alternative (the actions that need to be done when using Windows 8 will be discussed below). Add the line: "127.0.0.1 rad.msn.com". Thanks to this, Skype will not find the server from which the advertisement is being received. Save changes to the document. After restarting your computer, ads should disappear forever. Thus, it was decided how to block ads on Skype from the call window. There are other nuances that we will describe below in order to make your calls as comfortable as possible.
How to disable ads on Skype when using Windows 8?
The problem is that the attempt to save the hosts file in Windows 8 fails. The explanation is simple: in operating systems presented in the eighth series, security rules are tightened. It should be noted that this makes sense, since numerous viruses enter the malicious codes they need exactly in the specified file.
In turn, antiviruses have long and be sure to check this file for changes. However, what should ordinary users do in this situation, and how to disable ads on Skype? All we need is to open the system file with a program that is launched by a user with administrator rights. There are several ways to do this.
Command line editing
Right-click on the lower left corner, select "Command Prompt". In the window that opens, enter the notepad command, and then the path to the hosts file. If everything is done correctly, a regular Windows Notepad window will open, but it will start as administrator and will make it possible to make the necessary changes to the hosts system file.
The solution described above has an alternative. You must download the editHOSTS.cmd file. Click on it with the right mouse button. Run as administrator, for which select the appropriate item in the menu that opens. A notepad window opens, in which you need to edit the file.
Manual start of the text editor as administrator
Fundamentally, this method does not differ from the previous one, but now we
you need to go to the folder where the executing file of the traditional text editor is located, for example, Windows Notepad (this method will also suit other editors, for example Notepad ++). We go to drive "C" in the Windows folder, and then - in system32.
At this level, we are looking for the notepad.exe file. We right-click on it and run it with administrator rights. Click on the “File” button, then the “Open” item.
The "Explorer" window appears, through which you need to go to the folder with the hosts system file (the path was specified above). Select in the lower right corner the item “All files” and open the specified file. We make all the necessary changes, and then save the file. Congratulations, you have done everything you need.
How to remove ads on Skype: “shareware” method
To summarize. After all the steps described above, the display of advertisements should stop, however, empty places located above the list of your contacts, as well as a frame for advertisements in the Skype program itself are preserved. For some users, this state of affairs may also cause dissatisfaction.
We turn to official sources that report that to solve this
You need to replenish the question in the call service itself. Transferring funds to the system is a simple procedure, however, there is a snag. Skype accepts a minimum payment of US $ 5. Obviously, for certain users this is not too critical.
But not everyone wants to deposit 150 rubles in an account for the sake of fighting advertising. It is for such users that we report that there is an alternative. Skype has the concept of "vouchers", in other words, receipts for the necessary funds - they can be easily purchased, moreover, they are also found with fairly "affordable" denominations.
For example, you can purchase a voucher for 1 euro. If you are so tired of advertisements during calls, you may want to become the owner of such a “currency”, and it will seem inexpensive to you. How to activate the acquisition, you will find out from the seller. Now you know how to remove ads on Skype and communicate with even greater comfort. Spend even more time with friends, taking advantage of the wide possibilities provided by the Skype service. However, one should not forget that live communication can never be replaced by even the most modern technologies.