Products · Product
Skype
Raised as a usability problem by 376 people on Hacker News over 18 years (2009–2026), in 216 threads.
No issue was raised by at least 3 people in 3 threads this year.
No issue was raised by at least 3 people in 3 threads in the last 5 years.
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- 10Can't filter contacts by online statusUnreviewed
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- 17Slow to join callsUnreviewed
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Every issue, all time, most people first
Messages arrive late, sometimes days or dozens of minutesUnreviewed
20092026- Notifications and messages arrive late on mobile2020-08-01
- Messages appear sent but aren't delivered, and online status is wrong2019-08-28
- Messages arrive unreliably, sometimes days or dozens of minutes late2018-09-05
Runs in background and relaunches after uninstall, with no way to disableUnreviewed
20092026- Skype runs in background and relaunches after uninstall with no way to disable it2022-03-20
- Skype keeps starting up on boot and can't be uninstalled despite repeated attempts2019-03-08
- Locked phone launches Skype full screen for contact requests instead of a simple notification, not configurable2018-05-10
Messages read on one device still show as unread elsewhereUnreviewed
20092026- Messages sent from one device don't reach all of the recipient's devices, and history is inconsistent2024-12-09
- Messages and calls don't reliably reach the device the user is actually on2021-01-18
- Messages already read on one device show as unread on other devices2016-12-21
Takes about half an hour to become usable loading chatsUnreviewed
20092026- Opening chats is slow and unresponsive, with content visibly loading in2019-06-25
- Mobile app stalls on login because it pulls the entire chat history instead of recent messages2019-02-13
- Chat takes forever to load once there are many messages, because it downloads every message2018-04-14
Screen sharing is laggy and video call quality is poorUnreviewed
20092026- Calls felt slow, video quality poor, and the interface confusing2020-06-17
- Editing mid-message lags badly, and video call framing and resolution are erratic and hard to control2020-04-27
- Computer audio fails so people must dial in by phone; screen sharing lags2020-03-31
Doesn't use Windows login, so users must sign in againUnreviewed
20092026- Forced Microsoft account login pushed on users, ruining Skype's usability2018-10-26
- Commenter couldn't figure out how to reset a Skype password2016-07-20
- Facebook login doesn't work on Android, forcing a separate Skype account and re-importing contacts2016-02-24
Can't search older history, and results include irrelevant chatsUnreviewed
20092026- Search in chat threads fails to find messages, forcing manual scrolling through months of history2020-07-12
- Find is unusably slow on large chat logs; selecting contacts lags before chat updates2019-02-13
- Can't search older history; search returns irrelevant matches across all chats2018-05-10
Forces all chats into one window, so windows can't be arranged in SpacesUnreviewed
20092026- Small desktop window switches to phone layout, so a friend can't use a quarter-screen chat panel2021-03-30
- Contacts are split into a separate window from conversations, and group chats can't act as persistent rooms2018-01-11
- Combining contacts and conversations into one window made the app non-intuitive and hard to use2013-09-23
Slow to respond on phones that aren't high-endUnreviewed
20092026- App is slow to respond on non high-end phones2022-02-08
- Nothing works properly and the app is very slow to respond2018-01-11
- App is slow to open and refresh, crashes often, forcing restarts to check messages2015-06-04
Can't filter contacts by online statusUnreviewed
20092026- Can't filter contacts to see who is online; must message them to check2018-05-10
- Can't tell whether contacts are online or offline; presence display seems broken2018-05-10
- Can't set online status unless the app stays open; no filter for online contacts2018-05-10
Group calls need repeated restarts because people can't hear or seeUnreviewed
20092026- Must manually construct voice calls, risking calling the whole group2019-03-14
- Calls need checking who joined, and people must hang up and redial to add others2018-04-16
- Group calls need repeated restarts and checks because people can't hear or see each other2017-04-11
Cluttered Snapchat-like UI replaced the more usable designUnreviewed
20092026- Redesign turned messenger into cluttered social app, making it hard to use2024-12-09
- New interface is confusing and non-usable, feels like a social network2021-03-23
- Redesign added squiggles and Snapchat-style features that clutter the interface for business use2018-09-04
Video cropped at the sides, with users unaware of the optionUnreviewed
20092026- Video is cropped at the sides and users don't know the option exists2022-09-22
- On-screen controls overlaid on the video obscure the image and can't be dismissed without going fullscreen2020-11-16
- Video call layout confusing; can't find how to fix the picture-in-picture view2018-08-08
Can't log in, reset password or create account after mergeUnreviewed
20092026- Users couldn't find how to log in and ended up creating new accounts2024-04-17
- Trouble logging in after Microsoft acquisition, then lost contact list on new account2020-05-12
- Locked out of account with no support replies; new account creation shows error screen2018-06-03
Voice call doesn't open chat, and narrow chat column wastes spaceUnreviewed
20092026- Switching from a call to chat redraws the page and loses the layout2019-06-08
- Can no longer open a text chat window during a voice call2018-09-23
- Voice call doesn't open chat by default; chat is a narrow column wasting screen space2018-05-10
Chat messages appear out of order with wrong status indicatorsUnreviewed
20092026- Chat messages appear out of order and status indicators are wrong2016-03-04
- Messages reorder and jump around while typing, sometimes scrambling their order2016-02-24
- Windows UI is terrible and messages appear in wrong order2016-01-19
Slow to join callsUnreviewed
20092026- Slow and hard to join; crashes when screen sharing2017-07-03
- Calls drop and screen sharing stops suddenly mid-presentation2017-01-07
- Takes minutes to get connected, needs installs, and screen sharing can't go full screen2016-03-04
Forced repeated password resets, then prompted again at sign-inUnreviewed
20092026- Password reset loops until user enters a credit card2018-05-11
- Password reset loop never worked, forcing the user to abandon a ten-year account2016-07-20
- Forced repeated password resets, and after resetting it prompts another reset at sign-in2016-03-04
Some group chats don't show up in the Linux clientUnreviewed
20092026- Group messages fail to send or appear, and unread notifications get stuck2017-07-03
- Some group chats don't show up in the Linux desktop client2016-09-20
- Can't disable file transfer alerts in group chat; search misses words in chat logs2014-08-03
Huge window and constant hiding of the messages paneUnreviewed
20092026- Large conversation block can't be hidden, taking up screen space even when empty2018-09-05
- Huge window takes a corner of the screen; constant hiding and unhiding of messages pane2013-05-02
- Instant message option does nothing; chat panel hidden until window is dragged2011-01-31
Calls randomly fail to connect, with no sign the other side ringsUnreviewed
20092026- Calls randomly fail to connect, and ringing shows without knowing if the other side rings2018-06-02
- Can't find where to pick up ringing calls, so misses them2013-09-23
- Can't join an in-progress call without the host ringing again2011-04-07
Can't view message history and missed-message alert won't clearUnreviewed
20092026- Missed-message notifications force users to open the app to check for messages2021-02-13
- Can't view message history and a missed-message notification won't clear2018-05-11
- Shows notifications for messages sent months ago, unexpectedly2014-02-24
Keeps ringing on other devices after answering, with no quit optionUnreviewed
20092026- Skype calls often don't ring, so the user never learns someone tried to reach them2017-08-03
- Echo during calls makes Skype nearly unusable on this phone2015-01-01
- Skype keeps ringing on other devices after answering, and iOS app has no quit option2012-10-23
Contacts shown without full names in a cluttered layoutUnreviewed
20092026- Cannot remove unwanted contacts, so the list is cluttered with thousands of unwanted people2015-12-11
- Wastes space on own name box and empty areas, pushing contacts far down2014-10-09
- Contacts shown without full names and cluttered, messy layout2011-06-27
Calling a phone number, even a saved contact, is hardUnreviewed
20092026- Calling a phone number, even a saved contact, is a hard struggle2020-07-11
- Making a call is very hard to do2018-05-10
- Making calls to contacts' phone numbers is frustratingly difficult in the new version2017-07-15
Hard to find contacts and the dial pad in one crowded windowUnreviewed
20092026- Can't dial local contacts without syncing the entire address book; new design unusable2018-01-12
- Took time to figure out how to find contacts and place calls2011-03-30
- Hard to find contacts and the dial pad; everything crammed into one window2011-02-08
Unreviewed issues were grouped by machine: Claude Haiku labelled each comment as a usability complaint, named what it's about and summed up the problem in a line, and a small model grouped similar problems. Nobody has checked them by hand. Expect mistakes.
The newest 50 complaints
- Redesigned interface feels web-style and less usable, distracting animated emojis during calls2026-04-01
- Takes minutes to log in and doesn't show presence or incoming calls2025-03-03
- Got worse after the buyout; screen reader use suffered2025-03-02
- Forced to integrate with Microsoft login to use the app, making it cluttered and hard to use2025-03-01
- Software is clunky and gets in the user's way2025-02-28
- Calls were slow, laggy and unstable for most of the time2025-02-28
- Must log in every restart and startup takes minutes, with freezes and repeated login screens2025-02-28
- Forced UI and design changes made the app unusable2025-02-28
- Interface became bloated and cluttered compared to its earlier simple design2024-12-09
- Confusing UX and added complications after Microsoft bought Skype2024-12-09
- Messages sent from one device don't reach all of the recipient's devices, and history is inconsistent2024-12-09
- At large font sizes the interface spills over itself and becomes unusable2024-12-09
- Redesign turned messenger into cluttered social app, making it hard to use2024-12-09
- Users couldn't find how to log in and ended up creating new accounts2024-04-17
- Elderly user with poor sight and touch can't get past terms prompt blocking calls2023-09-20
- Slow to respond, and messages with URLs wait for a timeout before delivery2023-08-24
- Overall usability is very poor and the app feels neglected2023-08-06
- Links open in an in-app browser with no visible setting to turn it off2023-06-27
- Update popups steal keyboard focus and interrupt typing mid-sentence2023-05-09
- UI changes so often user can't find how to make or hold calls2022-12-20
- Newer Skype UI is worse than older versions, making it harder to use2022-09-22
- Video is cropped at the sides and users don't know the option exists2022-09-22
- After redesign, user can't tell what the app is for anymore2022-08-13
- People on different app versions couldn't call each other; couldn't join meetings via browser link2022-08-13
- Calls and interface are so hard to use it is described as totally unusable2022-06-12
- Skype runs in background and relaunches after uninstall with no way to disable it2022-03-20
- App is slow to respond on non high-end phones2022-02-08
- Current Skype UI feels more app-like and slower than older versions2021-12-05
- Forced account conversion left duplicate accounts with no easy way to manage them2021-07-22
- Changing email silently created a second account, splitting contacts and credit2021-07-12
- Small desktop window switches to phone layout, so a friend can't use a quarter-screen chat panel2021-03-30
- Couldn't delete a malicious link sent to friends, so had to warn each one individually2021-03-23
- New interface is confusing and non-usable, feels like a social network2021-03-23
- Skype became totally unusable after Microsoft acquired it2021-03-23
- Translator appears as a third voice, confusing the other party who isn't expecting it2021-03-11
- Missed-message notifications force users to open the app to check for messages2021-02-13
- Close button mishandled, so windows don't behave as users expect2021-02-10
- Messages and calls don't reliably reach the device the user is actually on2021-01-18
- Skype on Raspberry Pi won't use webcam or microphone, and setup menu entry is missing2020-11-20
- On-screen controls overlaid on the video obscure the image and can't be dismissed without going fullscreen2020-11-16
- Can't split or place windows, scrollback breaks, and every device rings on calls2020-10-23
- Search only works on loaded messages, so users must scroll back slowly first2020-10-12
- Redesigned Skype interface became hard enough that users switched to other apps2020-08-28
- Notifications and messages arrive late on mobile2020-08-01
- Search in chat threads fails to find messages, forcing manual scrolling through months of history2020-07-12
- Calling a phone number, even a saved contact, is a hard struggle2020-07-11
- Frequent updates and Windows logins triggered support phone calls for elderly relatives2020-06-22
- Calls felt slow, video quality poor, and the interface confusing2020-06-17
- Trouble logging in after Microsoft acquisition, then lost contact list on new account2020-05-12
- Screen sharing never works and desktop control fails between Mac and Windows2020-04-28