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If you use Skype for work, there will probably come a time when you need to check something in your chat history. When you try to locate the message in question, you may find that accessing your old messages is more difficult than you thought.
In the previous version of this popular video chat app, exporting your chat history was a breeze. In 2017 a new version was implemented, which made this task a bit more complicated. However, your old chats are not lost; you just have to take a few extra steps to get them. Continue reading to learn how to view old Skype messages on multiple devices.
How to View Old Skype Messages on Windows PC
If you’re simply looking for a specific message that’s no more than a year old, it may still be stored on your Skype. In that case, you can use the search function to find it.
- Open the Skype for PC app and select the conversation in which the previous message is located.
- Click on the magnifying glass icon at the top of the right side panel.
- Write down the part of the message that you remember.
- Use the arrow buttons to browse the search results.
If you can’t find the message you’re looking for, it may no longer be stored on your device. Skype uses cloud storage for chat history, so your conversations are only stored on your PC for a limited time.
On the other hand, conversations made in the previous version of the app may still be stored on your PC if you are using the same device. You will need to use a different method to recover these conversations. Find instructions for your device below.
Are you looking for Skype chats from years ago that are no longer available through your app? The good news is that it is still possible to access your files in one way or another. Here are two ways to take a look at old Skype messages.
Export your history
Since Microsoft acquired Skype, your chat history is no longer stored locally. Instead, the data is in the cloud and you will have to request it to see it. The process is simple, but your request may take some time to process, so this solution may not be ideal if you need information urgently. Here’s how to request access to your chat history and files.
- Go to skype website using your browser and log in.
- Once you are logged in, you will be taken to your account overview. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Low Account detailsto locate Settings and preferences.
- Click Export files and chat history in the background.
- If you only want to export your chat history, select Conversations. For files that may still be stored in Skype, see Files also.
- Click on the blue Send request button.
An “Exports Available” p will appear at the top of the page with your pending request and you will need to wait for it to complete. This will most likely be done within a few minutes, but may take up to a few hours. If your request is still pending after a couple of days, please contact Skype support as this is most likely an error on your part.
Once your files are available, click the blue button Discharge button next to your request. Extract the compressed ZIP to obtain the JSON file containing the data.
You have now acquired your chat history. However, your computer will not be able to open this file as is. So the next step will be to download a parser to read your file. Skype provides its own for this purpose. Follow the steps below to open the file.
- Discharge Skype analyzer.
- Extract the ZIP file and open it index.html using your browser.
- Select and upload the JSON file you downloaded earlier.
- Click on the Burden button.
- Your archived conversations will appear in a list. Select any of the conversations to view the messages.
Access your app data
If you didn’t find the old messages you were looking for using the method mentioned above, there is another technique you can try. Some of your old chat files from this app may still be stored on your PC and all you need is an additional program to read them. NirSoft’s dedicated SkypeLog View is a great option. Download this application and locate your chat files as follows.
- Go to the NirSoft website and download your Skype log view.
- Run the file named SkypeLogView.exe.
- The app will automatically detect your Skype account and locate your history. However, if not, you can also load the history manually by clicking the folder icon and navigating to the following location: C:\Users\(Your PC username)\AppData\Roaming\Skype\(Your Skype username).
- Once the logs are loaded, you can view any message by double-clicking on it.
How to find your old Skype messages on a Mac
Like Windows, you can access your old Skype chats by requesting them or searching for the files on your device. The last option will only work if you use Skype Classic on the same device before updating the app to the Microsoft version. Get your chat files in one of the following ways.
Request your history
Skype chat files are stored in the cloud, so you can download them to your Mac by requesting them from Skype.
- Open skype website and log in to your account.
- Once you are logged in, you will be taken to your account overview. Scroll down until you find Account details.
- Click Export files and chat history low Settings and preferences.
- Check Conversations to export your chat history. You can also export files by checking this option.
- Click Send request.
Your pending request will be displayed under Available Exports at the top of the page. Wait until the request is complete, then click the blue button Discharge button.
Note: You may have to wait a few minutes or hours for your chat history to be ready. If the request is still pending for days, please contact Skype support.
Once you’ve downloaded the ZIP file of your chats, open your Finder and extract it. You will find a JSON file of your messages. Open this file using Apple TextEdit to access your history.
Recover database file
Another way to read old Skype messages is by locating the database file that Skype Classic used to store your chat history. Here’s how to find it on Mac:
- Click Discoverer and select Go.
- So Home.
- Navigate to Libraryso Application supportand skype.
- Open the folder with your Skype username. He main.db The file should be here.
You will then need to download an application to open this file. DB Browser for SQLite is a great option for Mac users.
- Download and install Database Browser for SQLite for Mac.
- go to your Applications folder and start the program.
- Click Open database and find the above mentioned main.db file to open your chat history.
How to recover old Skype messages on an Android device
Skype only stores your chat history for a limited time. Therefore, whether you can recover old messages on the Android app depends on the age of the information you are looking for.
To search for old messages in Skype for Android, follow these steps.
- Start the skype application and log in.
- Select the conversation you want.
- Scroll up to retrieve previous messages.
Messages may take some time to load. If you are having trouble accessing them, make sure your Internet connection is stable.
Scrolling through the entire conversation can be time-consuming if you’re just looking for a specific message. In that case, using the search function might be more productive.
- Open Skype and then the conversation of your choice.
- Tap your caller’s icon to see options.
- Select Search in conversation and write the phrase you remember from the message.
- Use the arrows to navigate the results.
How to View Old Skype Messages on an iPhone
Your Skype chat history is only stored for a limited time on your device. However, you can still try to search for old messages in the iOS app by scrolling through the conversation or using the search feature. Follow the steps below.
- Start the skype application for iPhone and sign in.
- Tap the conversation you want to explore.
- Scroll up to load older messages.
If you are looking for a particular message, you can also try the following method.
- Open Skype and tap the conversation you want.
- press the profile icon of his interlocutor.
- Find the Search in conversation option.
- Enter a phrase you remember from the message you are trying to find and review the results using the arrow buttons.
How to view old Skype messages in Outlook
Microsoft Outlook users could recover their old Skype for Business conversations with just a few clicks on this application. Since your Skype conversations are stored in your Outlook Conversation History, you only need to find this folder.
- Open your Outlook application and look at the folders in your Inbox.
- Find Conversation history Towards the bottom. Your instant messaging history will be stored here.
If you can’t find your past conversations in this folder, archiving may not have been enabled for your chats. Make sure this option is “on” in Skype for Business.
- Open Skype for Business and click the settings button.
- Select Toolsso Options.
- Under the Staff tab, make sure Save my IM conversations to my Email Conversation History folder is enabled.
If this option is available in your version of the app, your future conversations will be stored securely.
Keep track of your files
A reliable record of past Skype conversations is often crucial, especially if you use this application for important business exchanges. Unfortunately, the current version of the app does not make it easy to access your chat history. However, you can use the methods mentioned above to locate and view previous messages that are still available.
