How to Lock Skype on Windows PC, Mac, Android and iPhone

Skype is one of the most established and popular video conferencing and instant messaging apps for work and personal use. Skype stores data and files like your messages and videos and the photos you shared, which is convenient. However, just imagine if someone with access to your phone opened your Skype and saw something sensitive or personal in your chat history. You may want to password protect Skype. This article shows you how to lock Skype on desktop and mobile.

 Cisdem AppCrypt

Password-Lock Skype on Computer or Phone

• Lock individual apps, like Skype, with password
• Offer an option to automatically re-lock apps after a period of inactivity
• Record failed attempts to open the locked apps
• Also block websites and pages with password
• Let you block specific sites, URLs with certain words, or all sites except a few
• Let you lock apps and block websites permanently or at certain times
• Easy to use
• Hard to bypass
• Support Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad

Free Download Windows 10 or later Free Download macOS 10.12 or later GET IT ON Google Play Download on the App Store

How to lock Skype on desktop

Applies to: Windows, Mac

To better protect your privacy, you can sign out of Skye after you finishing using it and sign in to it when you need to use it. You can also lock the Skype app with a password, which is easier. This way, one needs to enter the password to successfully open Skype. To password protect Skype on Windows PC or Mac, you can use Cisdem AppCrypt. Below are the steps.

1. Download and install AppCrypt.

Free Download Windows 10 or later Free Download macOS 10.12 or later

2. When you open it for the first time, set a password. (It’s recommended to turn on Launch at System Startup.)

3. Go to the taskbar to click its icon. Alternatively, right-click the icon and choose Open Main Window.

If it’s a Mac, go to the top menu bar, click the lock icon and choose Open Main Window.

4. Enter the password to access the main window.

5. Drag the desktop shortcut to Skype into the main window.

If there isn’t a shortcut to Skype on your desktop, you can go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop. From there, drag Skype.exe into the main window of AppCrypt.

If it’s a Mac, click the plus icon, select Skype and then click Open. Alternatively, you can use drag and drop.

Now Skype is locked.

If someone tries to open the Skype app on your computer, a screen will appear asking for the password.

If the person enters the wrong password, Skype will remain locked, and AppCrypt will record this failed attempt.

To unlock Skype, just enter the correct password when prompted.

Removing the lock also requires the password. Just go to the main window, select Skype by clicking it, and press the Delete key.

Tips

1. Automatically lock Skype when it’s inactive or when you leave your computer

By default, once you unlock Skype, it stays accessible until you manually close it. For better security, you can enable the auto lock feature in Preferences and set a specific inactivity time. Once enabled, Skype will automatically lock again after a period of inactivity or when you leave your computer, helping keep your data protected.

2. Password-lock Skype web

With Cisdem AppCrypt, you can also lock Skype web to prevent others from accessing your private messages through browsers. Go to the “Web Block” tab. Enter the domain name of Skype web into the URL field. Click “Add”. Then Skype will be locked and can only be accessed with the password.

To unlock Skype web, right-click the AppCrypt icon in the Windows taskbar or the Mac menu bar. Select “Disable Web Block”. Enter your password.

How to password protect Skype on Android

You can lock Skype with a password on your Android device using either the built-in app lock feature or a third-party app lock tool.

Use the built-in App Lock

Some Android devices come with built-in features to lock applications with a password, PIN, or fingerprint, or Face ID. Such as Samsung, Xiaomi, and more. It’s usually found in Settings.

1. On your Android devices, open the Settings app.

2. Click Apps.

3. Find and click App Lock.

4. Scroll through the list of installed apps. Select Skype.

5. Click Set password. Follow the on-screen instructions to set a password, pattern, your fingerprint, or Face ID to lock Skype on your Android phone.

Use Cisdem AppCrypt

If your Android phone comes with an app lock feature, just use it. If not, you can use app lock apps like Cisdem AppCrypt.

1. Install Cisdem AppCrypt

GET IT ONGoogle Play

2. Set a 4-digit or 6-digit PIN or a pattern when you launch it for the first time.

3. In the App Lock tab, use the search feature to find the Skype app.

4. Toggle the switch next to Skype to the on position.

Now Skype is locked with the PIN or pattern you set.

How to lock Skype app on iPhone

Here are 2 easy ways to lock Skype app on iPhone.

Use a Shortcut

Here’s the good news. If your iPhone is one of the models that are compatible with iOS 16, you can easily lock individual apps on your iPhone. First make sure that your iPhone is running iOS 16.4 or later.

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.

2. Tap Automation at the bottom of the screen.

3. Tap Create Personal Automation.

4. You will be presented with a list of triggers. Scroll down and choose App.

5. The App trigger has two options: Is Opened and Is Closed. Select Is Opened.

6. Tap Choose and choose Skype by tapping it. Tap Done.

7. Tap Next.

8. Tap Add Action.

9. Type “lock” in the search field and tap the Lock Screen action that appears.

10. Tap Next.

11. Turn off Ask Before Running and confirm by tapping Don’t Ask in the message that appears.

12. Tap Done.

Now, if you tap the Skype icon on the Home Screen, Skype won’t open, and the Lock Screen will appear.

The advantage of this method is that it’s built in to iOS. But you can’t use the method to lock Shortcut itself. If someone with access to your iPhone is iPhone savvy, he or she may go to Shortcuts to delete the shortcut you created. If so, the lock will be removed from Skype.

Use Cisdem AppCrypt

This third-party app locker allows you to password-lock Skype on your iPhone for free.

1. Install AppCrypt on your iPhone.

Download on theApp Store

2. Open its main window. In the App Lock tab, click Add/Remove.

3. Search for the Skype app. Select it. Click Done to add it to the lock list.

4. Click Preferences > Notifications. Turn on Notification and Notification unlock.

5. Follow the prompt to set a 4- or 6-digit PIN.

Now the Skype app is locked on your iPhone.

Can I lock Skype chat?

Instead of locking Skype app, you may only want to lock certain chats. But is this possible?

So far there isn’t a way to lock chats in Skype. But Skype does have a private conversation feature, with the following main benefits.

• End-to-end encryption
• Hidden in your chats list
• Chat history only accessible on one device

Below is how to have a private conversation.

1. In Skype, click New Chat.

2. Choose New Private Conversation.

3. Select the contact that you’d like to have the conversation with. This will send an invitation to the contact.

4. Wait for the contact to accept the invitation.

Conclusion

Like many other video conferencing or instant messaging apps, Skype takes users’ privacy seriously and provides various privacy features and settings. In addition, you can add an extra layer of security. This article shows you how to lock Skype on desktop and mobile. I hope it can help you have a better, securer Skype experience.