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Skype Backup and Restore: Conversations, Chat History, Contacts

Skype backup looks obsolete in a new era, but many users still have a need to backup Skype for business contacts, personal links and important chat history. In Handy Backup, you can easily save any or all Skype data by accessing an application folder via the standard "Computer" plug-in.

Free Download

Version 8.4.6, built on April 25, 2023
116 MB

Advantages of Handy Backup as Skype Backup Tool

Regular Running

Due to internal scheduler, you can run Skype backup and restore tasks automatically. You can choose a starting time and a repeating interval for a task, or even trigger it to some system event (in advanced task mode).

Saving All Data from Skype Backup Folder

It is not a matter what you want to save: backup Skype for Business contacts, or a chat history, or an entire set of Skype-related information. The "Computer" plug-in will easily take a "hot" copy of all Skype backup data for you!

How to Backup Skype Data Simultaneously?

In Handy Backup, the task for Skype data backup allows saving an entire dataset related to Skype, including the next information:

Skype backup contacts: all users enlisted to your contact list;
Skype settings: default and customized configurations ;
Skype history backup: a chat history with all Skype messages;
Skype log: calls, errors, received messages;
Archived voice calls (if any).

How to Backup Skype Messages in Archives?

Because Skype does not save online audio-streamed dialogs, this is the only one way for Skype backup conversations: by capturing the audio stream to some popular audio format, such as MP3 or WAV, with performing Skype calls backup using these files.

Note: From version to version, the program locates some Skype backup messages Skype server instead of the local machine. In these cases, program capabilities may alter, reduce or restrict the overall strategy of Skype data backup.

How to Backup Skype Chat History?

This is another principal question. To backup Skype history in Windows 7 or under most other Windows editions, find the file called main.db in the Skype setting folder. Backing this folder up, you are also performing backup of Skype chat history.

Frequency of Saving Data

How frequently to backup Skype is completely a matter of taste and need, but as chats are sharing the volatility with other types of talks, we recommend to backup Skype chat history as frequently as possible, perhaps no less than once per day.

Handy Backup Standard

If you want to save your contacts, settings or chat history, then the Standard is a perfect solution for you, as well as any higher edition. Free 30-days trial version!

How to Backup Skype Conversations with Handy Backup?

To backup Skype contacts and settings with Handy Backup, please follow this instruction.

Start Handy Backup and create a new task by selecting "New task" from menu or by clicking on a button on the management panel. Select a backup task.
Select a backup task on Step 1. The mode (simple or advanced) has no principal matter here
On a Step 2, select the "Computer" option in the "Local or network drive" group as a data source.
Click on "C:" and select in a window appearing the folder (folders) containing your Skype settings. Default folders for seeking a Skype backup file location are:

C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop

Note: To backup Skype chat history, please check for the Skype conversation file called main.db in one of these folders.

Press "OK" to finish selection.
If you have also an archive of voice calls in some audio format, please select the folder where you are storing these files and include it in a backup set, too.
Now you can select a destination for your backup, set compression or encryption actions, schedule your backup task and make other steps for completing the Skype backup action. These steps are not specific for Skype backup; any backup task may be tuned in this way.
Give a name for your Skype backup task, and click "Finish". You have completed a task creation! You can then run it manually any time you need it, or wait for scheduled starting sequence.

Free Download

Version 8.4.6, built on April 25, 2023
116 MB

Other Microsoft products to backup:

ICQ Backup Tool

3 comments

huzaynr
Hi.. I overcome the below issue(i.e.,main.db locked while skype is running) by a workaround, using your "Action Before/After" tab, where a bat script to kill skype was written, before taking a backup, and a bat script to start the skype back, after taking the backup. That tab helped me :-) ..thanks!!
HB_Moderator
We are glad to see you are using our software with such a skill and creativity:). Your solution is an excellent example of versatile application of Handy Backup features. To avoid the obstacle you described, we are also recommending running the program as the administrator with full rights and privileges in Windows: Right click on the program's shortcut or an .exe file and click on “Run as administrator”. Then create New Task and try to back up your data. Unfortunately, not all of the windows folders can be accessed simultaneously even by the administrator. Try to grant access to these secured folders using the sequence of control elements: Right Click - Properties -Security - add permissions to user and program. This way, you may set permissions to any particular folder to be backed up by Handy Backup automatically.
huzaynr
Good Tool..!!..But problem is main.db is locked while skype is logged on(i.e., skype process is running), and as a result scheduled backup fails; An e.g: ".. STATUS:>01:05:54 Backing up file "main.db"... ERROR:> 01:05:54 Error occurred while reading the file: The handle is invalid (0x00000006) WARNING:>01:05:54 The error is ignored. STATUS:>01:05:54 *** Operation Summary *** ERROR:> 01:05:54 Status : FAILED. STATUS:>01:05:54 Errors ignored : 1 STATUS:>01:05:54 Files backed up : 0 .."