Skype connection failed: what to do. Necessary settings for connecting Skype to the Internet

Messengers are needed to constantly stay in touch with friends, relatives and colleagues. But sometimes errors occur that not only prevent the application from working properly, but also prevent it from functioning in principle. For Skype, one of these common errors is the inability to connect to the network. Why won't Skype connect to the Internet? And how can you fix this?

Why can't the connection be established?

The user can understand that Skype does not have a connection already when launching the messenger. A message with the corresponding text usually appears when the user tries to log into his account.

In most cases, when Skype writes this message, the user’s Internet works fine - he can open new tabs, exchange messages on social networks and download various files without any problems. Therefore, such an error often confuses the user - he cannot understand what the reason is. Let's figure it out.

So, every time a user tries to log into Skype, he enters data such as login and password, which are immediately sent to the server. This is where the accuracy of the entered data is checked. And based on the result, the server sends a response to the application - whether authorization was successful or not. That is, the error “Skype is not connecting to the network” means that the application did not receive a response from the server. It is because of this that I cannot log into Skype.

What is causing the problem?

What prevents the messenger from exchanging data with the server? There can be many reasons. Here are the most common ones:

No internet connection.
You are using an outdated version of Skype.
Skype is blocked by Windows Firewall.
The official Skype server is unavailable.
Problems with Internet Explorer.

Fixing the error “Skype cannot connect”

If you see a message on your monitor instead of a working messenger saying that Skype was unable to connect to the Internet, it is important to understand which of the situations described above applies specifically to you. Let's look at these situations in more detail and figure out what needs to be done in each of them.

All programs do not have a network connection. Sometimes the provider is really to blame for carrying out repair work without warning. Or the user himself, who accidentally damaged the network cable. It’s quite simple to check whether this is a problem or not: open your browser and try to open any website. For example, Google.

If it doesn’t work, then everything is fine with Skype, the problem is basically the Internet connection. In this case, you need to call your provider and ask what happened to your connection.

Your version of Skype is out of date. When the messenger releases updates, it is better to install them immediately. Otherwise, unpleasant errors may occur. It's easy to check if you're using the latest version of Skype. You need to go to the “Help” tab and select “Check for updates.”

If updates are available, you will see an icon with a green arrow in the window that appears, text that will prompt you to install the latest version of the application, and a “Download” button with which you can do this. Just click on it and let Skype update.

But what if you can't access the Skype menu because you can't log into the program? Just uninstall Skype from your computer via “Control Panel” – “Programs and Features”, and then install it again from the official website– https://www.skype.com/ru/. There you will find the latest version of the messenger on your device and can install it on your computer.

Sometimes Skype may write about the inability to connect to the Internet if it is blocked by a firewall. You can check whether the application can access the main domains by clicking on the link: http://www.skaip.su/proverit-dostup-k-skaypu. If at least one server is unavailable, try disabling the firewall and checking again.

To do this, go to your firewall settings and select “Turn it on or off.”

And then in the window that opens, check the “Disable firewall” items and click “OK.”

If, after re-checking, there is still no connection to any of the servers, contact your provider.

It happens that you cannot connect simply because the Skype servers themselves become unavailable. You can find out if there are any problems with the official servers here: http://www.skaip.su/status-serverov-skayp. If some server turns out to be unavailable, try to wait until the developer fixes this problem, and only then try to launch the messenger again.

The work of Skype is directly related to the work of Internet Explorer. It is an important component of the operating system, so a failure in its settings can lead to various errors in other programs. Try resetting your browser settings. To do this, close all programs and launch Internet Explorer. Then press the Alt button and wait for the menu to appear at the top of the screen. In the menu that appears, select “Service”.

Then click on “Internet Options”.

Select the "Advanced" tab and click on the "Reset" button.

When you do this, another window will pop up in which you will need to check the box next to “Delete personal settings” and also click on “Reset”.

Afterwards, restart the browser.

That's it, most likely, your Skype is now online and you can be in touch again. And if the login error occurs again, you will already be armed with the knowledge of how to connect Skype yourself!

Skype is a free service for communicating between people via the Internet. Users of the program can call and write letters to their relatives without time limits and distances between them. In order to take advantage of all the convenient features of Skype, you must have a good Internet connection. When the user has any difficulties connecting to the network, the program immediately refuses to perform its functions. Let's try to figure out why Skype cannot connect to the Internet. What actions does the user need to take to solve this problem?

Make sure you have the latest version of Skype

Often, when loading Skype, users receive a notification Failed to connect. Difficulties with connection mainly arise due to the use of an outdated version of the program. To try to solve this problem, download an updated version of Skype. If the user has recently installed the application, then, if necessary, it will promptly update it. Try not to miss and install the latest updates. In order to find out what version of the program is on your device, you should go to the Skype work menu and find the Help section and select Check for updates. In the open window you will see a file with an available update and text about the ability to update the program to the latest version.

To do this, use the mouse cursor to select the Download item. The program will now undergo the latest update.

If the user is unable to enter the Skype main menu, the program should be uninstalled. To do this, go to Control Panel, then Programs and Features. The new program can be downloaded from the official website of the Skype program. Find the updated version of the application and download.

Make sure your firewall is not blocking Skype

If you have difficulty connecting the program due to a firewall obstruction, then there are restrictions for Skype in FireWall. The following actions will help solve the problem:

Click on Control Panel then select System and Security and Windows Firewall.
Next, go to Additional settings and sub-item Rules for incoming connections, find information about the program.
Click on Skype with your mouse cursor and check if you have permission to connect.
If a restriction was set, remove it.

Other reasons why Skype can't connect

Another source of difficulties with connecting the program to the Internet is incorrect settings of the Internet Explorer browser. Errors in its operation can cause failures of other programs. To resolve this issue, reset all browser settings and restart.

This can be done this way:

Close all other applications and launch Internet Explorer.
On your device keyboard, press Alt and select the Tools section in the new window.
Using the mouse cursor, click on Internet Options - Advanced - Reset.
Then, in the additional window that appears, check the box next to Delete personal settings and click Reset again.

Sometimes it happens that your Internet provider may prohibit the use of Skype. In this case, if you cannot allow access to the program yourself, you should contact your Internet service provider.

The official Skype server may be unavailable. This happens when developers fix technical problems. You should wait a little.

Blocked by antivirus program. To solve the problem, it is not necessary to remove your antivirus program. Go to its settings and add the application to the list of allowed programs.

And finally, a glitch in the program. To do this, try restarting your computer or Skype.

Sometimes Skype users encounter such a problem that when starting the program, an error appears about there being no connection or the connection goes on forever. And at the same time, the Internet works on the computer, sites open in the browser, and so on.

Causes of the problem

Understanding the cause of this problem when Skype does not connect is extremely difficult. Most often, restarting the computer solves the problem. But in some cases it remains. The issue may be with Skype itself. For example, its data is damaged, or an old version is used. The failure may also be due to incorrect system configuration or blocking of the program by a firewall. Sometimes the essence of the error lies in the operation of the antivirus, which interrupts the connection.

We must also not forget that authentication in Skype occurs with the participation of the Internet Explorer browser. And if its settings are messed up, then various problems may arise.

The result of any of the described reasons is that the program cannot send login information to the server. Then an endless Skype connection occurs or connection errors appear.

Solution

There are 3 simple ways to fix this problem: reinstalling, deleting Skype files and resetting Internet Explorer settings. One of them will definitely help restore communication.

But before you start trying to fix the problem, you should make sure that the problem is related to your computer. Sometimes, when there is no connection on Skype, it's all about the developer's servers. They can be disabled as a result of a failure or during maintenance work.

Use the resource Down right now. There, information about the servers is presented in the form of a graph. The current status is displayed on the right. Up - everything is fine. Down - servers are not working.

Also try disabling your antivirus and logging in to your account again. It can block communication with servers. In this case, you should add the program to the antivirus exceptions.

Method 1: Reinstallation

The most obvious reason for such a failure is an outdated version of Skype. It is initially set to auto-update, but the feature can be disabled. It can, of course, be reactivated. But the best solution would be a complete reinstallation.

Method 2: Reset Internet Explorer settings

You can also try reverting the Internet Explorer browser settings to their original state. To do this, open it and press the Alt key. A toolbar will open, click on “Service”. From the context menu, call the “Browser Options” element.

There you need to go to the “Advanced” section and activate the “Reset” option. A confirmation window will appear, click the “Reset” button again. All that remains is to restart the computer.

Method 3: Deleting program files

In a number of situations, the problem, although related to Skype itself, cannot be solved by a simple reinstallation. This happens because when you uninstall the program, some files are not erased, and the failure occurs precisely because of them. Accordingly, if the previous methods did not give the desired result, try the following:

Internet messenger Skype is the most popular program for users to communicate online. With its help, you can make voice and audio calls, exchange text messages and files, organize online conferences and even call landline and mobile phone numbers. The main advantages of this program are that it is free, simple and has a high level of security.

But even such a reliable and high-quality tool as Skype cannot guarantee that at some point its operation will not fail. Problems with the messenger are not such a common occurrence, but they still occur. One of the most common is network connection failure. The error that appears is that when logging into Skype, it says that the connection could not be established.

The causes of the problem can be different, related both to global network settings and to the program itself, which happens much more often. At the same time, Skype usually does not connect to the Internet, although there is Internet, and other programs that use it connect perfectly to it. Let's figure out why Skype sometimes writes “The connection could not be established,” and what can and should be done to restore its normal operation. We will move from simple to complex.

Temporary unavailability of the service

It's unlikely, but it could be that your Internet Service Provider, network administrator (on corporate computers), or even your own firewall is blocking access to Skype domains. Then it is not surprising that the user cannot log into Skype. To exclude this possibility, go through Internet Explorer (!) to the page www.skaip.su/proverit-dostup-k-skaypu and click the "Check" button. The status of all servers should be “Connection successfully established”.

If a connection could not be established for at least one of the servers, this will indicate one of the three reasons listed above.

If everything is in order with the firewall (how to check it below) and Skype still cannot establish a connection, contact your system administrator or your Internet provider's support service for help. We also recommend checking the functionality of the Skype servers themselves on the page www.skaip.su/status-serverov-skayp. The servers must have the “Working” status, otherwise you need to wait until the technicians themselves fix the problems.

Outdated version of Skype

By default, Skype is updated automatically and this is important, since the correct operation of the messenger on the local computer directly depends on server services.

If you are using an older version, at one point the program will not be able to connect to the remote host, and you will receive the error described above. It is not difficult to determine the version you are using; you just need to select it in the main menu Help - About Skype.

There you can also check the availability of a new version of the application.

If your messenger is out of date, go to the official website of the developer and download the current version. Close the broken program and run the web installer. The latest version will be downloaded to the PC and installed immediately, while the old version will be deleted. If installation problems occur, it is recommended to completely uninstall Skype, including the user directory %userprofile%/AppData/Roaming/Skype, and then clean the registry with CCleaner or another similar tool.

Note: Skype folder, more precisely the main.db file in the directory AppData/Username, contains correspondence history. If you don’t want to lose it, create a backup copy just in case, and in general, first try limiting yourself to deleting the shared.lck and shared.xml files.

Outdated version of Internet Explorer

Since Skype desktop uses MSIE components, the connection error may be related to the Internet Explorer browser. It is noted that in some cases Skype does not work and says “check your Internet connection” in Windows with the sixth and seventh versions of IE. For a successful connection, at least the eighth version of the standard browser must be installed on the system. Update your built-in browser to version 8 or the latest available for your OS.

Resetting IE settings won't hurt either. To do this, open its properties (via the classic control panel or by pressing Alt and selecting Tools – Browser Options).

Next, switch to the “Advanced” tab in the window that opens and click “Reset.” Before resetting, we recommend checking whether the SSL 2.0, SSL 3.0, TLS 1.1, TLS 1.2, TLS 1.0 checkboxes are checked in the same tab. If not, install the birds, restart the browser and check the operation of Skype.

Blocking by firewall or antivirus

If you are using a built-in or third-party firewall, try disabling it for a while.

Restoring the connection will indicate that Skype is blocked by a firewall. Disabling this protection completely for the sake of Skype alone is not the best idea, but you can create a separate rule for the messenger that allows incoming and outgoing connections. You should also check whether Skype is accessible in the settings for allowing interactions between applications and components.

At the same time, it’s worth checking your antivirus’s “loyalty” to Skype and, if necessary, adding the application to its white list.

Action of viruses and modification of the HOSTS file

The cause of the problem may be a common virus that has overwritten the contents of the HOSTS file. Carefully scan the system with an anti-virus program, check if there are any “rogue” servers in the specified file. The HOSTS file is located at C:/Windows/System32/drivers/etc, you can open the file itself with any text editor.

By default, the contents of this file should look like the one shown in the screenshot.

If there are any addresses listed below, delete them.

Ports and proxies

If you use IP address spoofing programs on your PC, temporarily disable them or create (if the appropriate option is available) an exception. Users who have previously configured a messenger connection through a proxy should check the validity of the IP address and port. Skype will not work and the connection will not be established if the port is blocked or has low bandwidth. We remind you that proxy settings can be changed on the “Connection” tab in the application’s advanced settings.

For the messenger to work correctly, ports 80, 443, 3478-3481 UPD and 49152-65535 UPD+TCP must be open on the computer. Check them in any online port scanner, for example, 2ip.ru/check-port and, if any of these ports are closed, open it by creating a separate firewall rule for it or a group.

Interestingly, some users reported that the connection was restored when they unchecked the boxes that allowed the use of ports 80, 443 and the upnp protocol. Try this option too.

Router settings

Incorrect router configuration is another reason why the “Connection could not be established” message appears in Skype. The ports may be blocked on the network device itself. To enter the router settings, go to the browser at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, the default login and password are admin/admin. In most routers, the subsection you need is called “Virtual Servers,” but there may be another name. For example, in D-Link it is “Firewall”.

Virtual servers or VPS are a special service that simulates the operation of a real physical server. On a separate computer, it provides complete and independent control over the local network and can be used to set up various restrictions, for example, parental controls. In theory, the “Virtual Servers” subsection should be empty. If there are already settings there, try to find out who made them and for what purpose. Perhaps you yourself ordered this service from your provider and forgot about it.

Pay attention to the “External port (end)” parameter. Let's say it's 49650.

So, this value must be specified in the additional Skype settings on the “Connection” tab, namely “Use port [number] for incoming connections.”

If the “Virtual Servers” subsection is empty, you can create your own VPS to resolve the Skype connection error. In this case, we take the values for the start and end external ports from the range 3478-3481 UPD and 49152-65535 UPD+TCP. Select the appropriate protocol.

Perhaps this will be interesting

Above, we looked at the main causes of problems and learned what to do if Skype writes “The connection could not be established.” Most of the tips offered concerned the desktop and portable versions of the messenger, but this program also has a web version that can be used in IE, Chrome and Firefox. It is available at web.skype.com. In general, the web version duplicates the functions of the desktop version, but for it to work correctly you need to install a plug-in. You will be prompted to install it when making your first incoming or outgoing call. If you have Windows 8.1 or 10, don't forget about the universal version of the messenger.