How to disable the skype ads (advertisement)?

Question

The Skype client shows a disturbing colored ad at the bottom of the client. The ad is unnecessary and only takes away important space for the contact list.

How can I remove that permanentely?

Even after clicking the close sign on the ad, the ad appears again each time I open/click Skype again...

Solution 1

I got rid of this like that. Go to Tools > Options and uncheck Promotions and Help and Skype tips.

Additionaly, if you go to Tools > Options > Privacy > Show Advanced Options in the bottom of the window, you will see something about Microsoft targeted ads..., unticked this and restarted Skype altogether and so long I haven't seen any ads anywhere (thanks to juanm55)

Solution 2

Put this in your hosts file:

127.0.0.1     rad.msn.com

Update: nZeus suggests using the following:

127.0.0.1     rad.msn.com
127.0.0.1     g.msn.com
127.0.0.1     live.rads.msn.com
127.0.0.1     ads1.msn.com
127.0.0.1     static.2mdn.net
127.0.0.1     ads2.msads.net
127.0.0.1     a.ads2.msads.net
127.0.0.1     b.ads2.msads.net
127.0.0.1     ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1     ac3.msn.com
127.0.0.1     ec.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1     msntest.serving-sys.com
127.0.0.1     sO.2mdn.net
127.0.0.1     aka-cdn-ns.adtech.de
127.0.0.1     secure.flashtalking.com
127.0.0.1     cdn.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1     apps.skype.com

I haven't tested the latter. The first one worked for me.

Solution 3

None of the above methods work for the newer versions of Skype A new method has emerged that works in Skype 6.13 and Skype 6.14, works on Windows using Internet Explorer settings, from Chris123NT:

Open up Control Panel > Internet Options.

Security > Restricted Sites > Sites

Type in https://apps.skype.com, and click Add.

Again, click Add, then Close, then OK. Now open up Skype, click on the home button, and the ad banner should disappear and not come back!

Solution 4

>>Note that the steps below won't work in Skype 6.9 or later<<

To get rid of advertisements upgrade to Skype Premium (from http://www.skype.com/en/premium/):

To disable promotions (from https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA1111/where-are-alerts-and-messages-displayed):

1. Click Tools > Options > Notifications.
2. Select Alerts & messages.
3. Under Show messages about… tick the boxes for the alerts and messages you wish to receive.
4. Click Save to update your settings.

Solution 5

Updated DNS block list; works as of version 6.21.85.104. Add this to your hosts file (typically something like C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts). Works best with IPv6, since 100::/64 is a "drop-all" prefix. Works with IPv4 as long as you don't have anything listening on 127.6.6.6. You can use 127.0.0.1, but I would advise against that, since the connection won't die immediately if you have another program listening on port 443. (127.0.0.0/8 is loopback, not just 127.0.0.1.)

127.6.6.6 a.ads2.msads.net
127.6.6.6 ac3.msn.com
127.6.6.6 ads1.msads.net
127.6.6.6 ads2.msads.net
127.6.6.6 b.ads2.msads.net
127.6.6.6 cdn.adnxs.com
127.6.6.6 cdn.adnxs.com.edgesuite.net
127.6.6.6 cdn.atdmt.com
127.6.6.6 live.rads.msn.com
127.6.6.6 rad.msn.com
127.6.6.6 secure.flashtalking.com
127.6.6.6 wildcard.msads.net
127.6.6.6 wildcard.msads.net.edgekey.net
100::1 a.ads2.msads.net
100::1 ac3.msn.com
100::1 ads1.msads.net
100::1 ads2.msads.net
100::1 b.ads2.msads.net
100::1 cdn.adnxs.com
100::1 cdn.adnxs.com.edgesuite.net
100::1 cdn.atdmt.com
100::1 live.rads.msn.com
100::1 rad.msn.com
100::1 secure.flashtalking.com
100::1 wildcard.msads.net
100::1 wildcard.msads.net.edgekey.net

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Comments

[Alan B]

Whether it's unnecessary or not is a matter of opinion. Microsoft, not being a charity, might think it's necessary.

[FiveO]

Correct, but I'm aware of that Skype can make unlimited* calls or its other features. Microsoft does not need to remind me all the time. Also a Word 2010 does not remind you the whole time that there's a new version or that it can handle automatic reference lists or similar ;-)

[Suresh Kamrushi]

Detailed blog how you can remove ads from Skype: sforsuresh.in/remove-ads-from-skype-on-window

[Pere]

This is not enough to hide the advertisements

[Volodymyr Molodets]

Well, yes, it's not enough. But if you carefully look at the screenshot OP provided, you'll see that he wants to remove promotions, but NOT ads.

[Pere]

At least for me, after disabling these 2 options I still see advertisements at the bottom of the client, very similar to the one in the screenshot the OP provided. And after reading the question again, I would say these are the ads the user wanted to remove.

[Camilo Martin]

Just in case somebody does not know what this does, this makes any attempt to connect to rad.msn.com impossible by making its IP point to localhost. I'm pretty sure it's safe to do, but I don't know if it works (didn't test it).

[Yoto WP]

It actually worked for me. Just have to sign out and re-login again. Otherwise it's still there.

[Thunderforge]

For future reference, location of the hosts file in Windows XP and later (including Windows 8) is %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. Just open it in Notepad and add the line in this answer.

[David Goodwin]

Works on OSX, but does leave a big white square within the 'Skype Home' pane.

[David Goodwin]

On OSX (Skype v6.9) there's no comparable option under Preferences/Notifications.

[juanm55]

Additionaly, if you go to 'Tools' > 'Options' > 'Privacy' > 'Show Advanced Options' in the bottom of the window, you will see something about "Microsoft targeted ads..." I unticked this, and restarted Skype altogether and so long I haven't seen any ads anywhere

[Gavin Smith]

That hostname isn't enough to do anything for me. I put together a list of suggested hostnames to block here: superuser.com/a/708801/130906

[Churro]

Thank you, Pere and @leetNightshade. It is working in Skype v6.13.32.104 on Win 7.

[nZeus]

I would like to minus you, but I can't... yet

[Victor Zakharov]

Please also include this line 127.0.0.1 ad-emea.doubleclick.net Found here.

[Karmalakas]

Because it doesn't work. See here - community.skype.com/t5/Windows-desktop-client/… Total morons work at Skype support and I'm still fighting.

[jaume]

1) I edited my answer and added that the steps explained won't work in Skype 6.9 or later. 2) I'm sorry to hear that you have trouble getting rid of those ads, but don't take it out on me, the answer was correct at the time of writing one year ago. I don't use Skype anymore, but you do - if you find out how to fix it edit my answer (as explained in Improve posts by editing or commenting in superuser.com/tour) or write your own answer. Thanks!

[Admin]

I prefer to use ip address 0.0.0.0 since I work as web dev and certainly don't want unwanted apps to contact my local http server!

[Giacomo Lacava]

OSX users can achieve the same by typing the following in a terminal window: sudo su && echo "127.0.0.1 apps.skype.com" >> /etc/hosts

[easwee]

@JuanManuelLF That does it. Thanks. Should be added to the answer.

[Gio]

This works on v6.21, however it will also disable the Facebook integration, at on the Home view.

[Steven Lu]

Nice. I need this for my Macbook because constant 30% CPU usage courtesy of Flash via Skype Ad is simply criminal... Skype times out for about 30sec on startup desperately trying to phone up its ad. Then gives up. Yeah, that's what I thought.

[Zenexer]

@leetNightshade I got them using a mix of Wireshark, Process Explorer, and good old trial-and-error That is literally wildcard.msads.net, not *.msads.net. Microsoft has some weird naming schemes, apparently.

[culix]

Downloading and running code from an untrusted source isn't really the best idea. Could you post the code here in your answer or create a gist snippet on github so people can look at the code without downloading a foreign zip file?

[Cypher]

@culix and the paranoid: gist.github.com/anonymous/0111365ffd7eaf0312ce3dbec3737feb

[SomeAmbigiousUserName]

works in skype version 7 win7

[Trevi Awater]

I wrote a script that does this github.com/awatertrevi/skype-ad-blocker :)

[Bri Bri]

This list is still blocking the ads on mac! Thanks!