Try the beta version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skype.insiders They have shrunk the massive text bubbles, and re-added the ability to 'share' things from other apps to Skype. Presumably these changes will make there way to the normal app, but for now I'm using the Insiders version because it is way more usable.
Try downloading older versions from the following two places, https://filehippo.com/download_skype/ https://skype.en.uptodown.com/windows/old
Hope it helps, but I think they'll force you to update sooner or later.
Prices - http://www.skype.com/intl/en/prices
When you ask for a Skype Number, you choose what country you are from.
You can send SMS messages from skype.
All of this found on Skype's website.
8.15.0.416 sounds pretty old and if it's the last version Microsoft released for Android 5 then they probably don't care much about the old phones.
​
You can try "Skype Lite", I found it run better on my old phone:
https://www.apkmirror.com/?post_type=app_release&searchtype=apk&s=skype+lite
​
I'm posting these links as BACKUPS for whenever the current links start to fail and until someone replaces them for new working links.
SkypeSetup_6.21.0.104.msi
4shared: http://www.4shared.com/file/N41wDkLuba/SkypeSetup_6210104.html
Filedropper: http://www.filedropper.com/skypesetup6210104_1
MODS: If I wasn't supposed to do this, then please go ahead and delete this comment.
I have the same problem and it is very frustrating. It actually happens in newer versions of the Skype Lite app too, in addition to the regular Skype app. To avoid the problem for now, I am using an old version of Skype Lite.
The version where they added this annoying functionality is version 1.15.0.28404, released on August 31, 2017. Version 1.15.0.28339 does not have this problem. You can download the .apk file for this version here: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/skype/skype-lite/skype-lite-1-15-0-28339-release-release/
I think I might have killed the update, finally! It has been about a day since the last forced update. I've been keeping tabs on all the usual places the updated installer pops up and haven't seen any changes today. I only had to do a few things different, once I figured out what was still going wrong.
C:\ProgramData\Skype\ in a folder with a long gibberish name, a skype installer was hiding. This is separate from the ProgramFiles updaters. I'm not sure if it's still going to re-appear (it hasn't yet), but if it does I'll try replacing it with a restricted permission dummy file.
I would recommend anyone with persistent update problems do a full search of their computer for any Skype files hiding out. I even found an installer in my Pictures folder for some reason. Not sure if it was there because my computer often thinks it's my default downloads location for some reason or if I misplaced it myself, but there it was.
The permissions in your post weren't quite strict enough, Skype was still overwriting my dummy updater files. I restricted permissions to just Read for ALL users, including admin, except for the main user permissions which I allowed Read And Execute (So I could, you know, run the program.) This presented the problem that even I, as the admin, could not modify/delete the files or uninstall Skype. The only way to modify the files was to take ownership of them with the admin profile, which I used this tutorial to do: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/windows-7-access-denied-permission-ownership/ (I'm on Windows 8, but the process was similar enough that the tutorial worked just fine) If you edit your post telling people to restrict permissions as severely as I did, you might want to include a link to that tutorial just in case.
So far so good, haven't seen the update in a while. Hopefully this info can help the other handful of people who kept getting forced updates as well.
This is a pretty good list, though not inclusive.
I'll probably be going Telegram Desktop, which is small (blessedly, not based on Electron, like Skype 8, Discord, etc) and surprisingly capable, though no spell-check or video chat (at least on desktop).
The correct installer is available again:
http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-full
That said, you are free to copy Skype's program directory to another PC and run it there. It doesn't need to be installed. Of course, you'll be copying your Skype data directory structure anyway.
You know that software can't be a replacement for your hardware webcam because you need something to actually take the pictures of you right?
As for screen sharing, Skype has it built-in: http://www.skype.com/en/features/screen-sharing/
I suggest trying out Skype Lite, which is little-known but does exist:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skype.m2&hl=en_US
Some prefer it, because it hews much more closely to how Skype Android used to be before all the much-loved improvements.
Seems to work here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skype.m2&hl=en_US&gl=CN
But I'd be more worried that it's a year old, so yes, pretty much discontinued.
http://download.cnet.com/MiniTool-Power-Data-Recovery-Free-Edition/3000-2094_4-10561431.html
Try this free software! My friend deleted some files and managed to restore them with this. Best of luck!
Downgrade to Skype 7.40 from https://go.skype.com/classic.skype and get the last reasonable Android APK from https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/skype/skype-skype/skype-skype-7-46-0-596-release/skype-free-im-video-calls-7-46-0-596-android-apk-download/ because Skype 8 won't get better. Taking features away from you is its raison d'être.
Not your answer directly but this is what you need SoundSource Unfortunately it is not on the PC platform. I post it to perhaps it can guide your search better. You might be able to find an alternative here.
Good luck. You'll make a good husband someday!
There are 94: https://alternativeto.net/software/skype/?platform=windows
I'm considering several others, starting with Trillian, which has more features when it comes to written communication than you'd ever want--but the free version is ad-supported ($20/yr otherwise). Others, none of which are perfect or necessarily even acceptable: Telegram (really likable but definitely missing stuff), Pidgin (haven't looked at it in ages), Skype for Business (if your business has it, and note that it's deprecated for the truly awful Teams, but should work for years to come), and on and on. Also not a fan of Discord (way too limited). Would love to hear about others here.
For Windows, I just used DB Browser for SQLite and opened a recent main.db file to view the logs. Not sure how things work for Linux, but it was under the body_xml column within the Messages Table unencrypted.
From what I've observed:
If the host mutes his microphone, newly added people can't hear anyone. Every session after the 1st one is super loud, full of white noise and you can't adjust your sound.
I have absolutely no clue what is the problem and it's pissing me off to no end. Version 7.16 seems to fix it.
WowApp is a Skype alternative with an interesting twist: it pays backs users of the network, with 70% of revenues from ads and paid calling. It's paid me $2.61 so far, not a ton, but will be interesting if it scales. Check it out: https://www.wowapp.com/w/tjstacey/Tom-Stacey
Did you update it ?
Mine stopped working after an update, it said the same thing : to check my internet connection. I deleted everything, followed every step of every thread I found with google, re-installed it but I get exactly the same message. Everytime.
Now I use jumpchat, because there's nothing to install, but some people from work only use skype so I'm screwed.
I was able to downgrade to the newest version that hasn't been fucked by Microsoft. That version is 6.35.0.54, but if they make this version not work anymore, I'm telling all my skype friends to switch to Wire, and never touch Skype again until they fix the mobile version.
skype is old tech, it was the first to do what it does really well but it has not evolved. it is not supported cross platform (you try using the client for linux) and really does not seem to do as well as some other programs.
Google hangouts are a better way to so every thing skype does and more.
skype was one of the services mentioned in the documents by Edward snowden as not really being private any more.
https://tox.chat is where I am trying to get people to go.
I'd love to use Tox, even tried it out. Hell, my Skype status is "I'll leave Skype soon: https://tox.chat/", but the idle traffic is insane IIRC and it is hard to convince people to use a different software.
Uninstall skype, go in to programs (x86) and delete the skype folder (don't worry you will keep all your messages, settings etc.) then install skype through this: http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-full
Are you using the pre-installed/app version? If so download the desktop version here: http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/ (I thought exactly the same when I saw the app version, it looks fucking awful)
If you want the old interface, then install Skype for Desktop: http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-windows/downloading/
Also, Metro apps have their own design language. There is no back button because you are at the home screen of the application. To go back further, hit the windows key to go to the start page or Win+D to go to the desktop.
They layout is a standard tabbed approach. You have your recent and active conversations on the left (text, audio, or video), then a splash screen, then a favorites tab that you manually set for you contacts, then your contacts.
To add to your favorites, tap +. To see all contacts, tap the arrow next to people. To IM someone, tap their contact card and start typing in the IM window. Tap the phone icon to call them.