Time Needed : 10 minutes

The following methods will help eliminate network-related errors and minor software glitches that might have hindered your device from connecting to the Skype server. Before you begin troubleshooting, verify and ensure that the Wi-Fi network is active and your phone is connected. Note that you won’t be able to use Skype without an internet connection as it’s one of the main requisites to use these online apps and services. If your phone is connected but you’re still unable to connect to Skype, go ahead and try these subsequent tweaks.

1. Refresh Wi-Fi connection.

   To ensure good quality (HD) video calling, you have to have at least 1.5 Mbps bandwidth for upload and download. For internet stability, a Wi-Fi network connection is recommended. To determine the actual internet speed on your phone, do a series of speed tests. There are a lot of free reliable speed test platforms you can use including fast.com and speedtest.net. If your internet speed doesn’t meet the minimum required bandwidth for Skype or the bandwidth is fluctuating, refresh your Wi-Fi. If possible, reboot your wireless router or modem. It’s a very effective way of refreshing the internet connection. Just turn the modem/router off then unplug it from the power source for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. After the elapsed time, plug it back in and turn it on again. This method is also referred to as a power cycle.Disconnecting from and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network is also an option, if the previous method isn’t possible.Wi-Fi connections can also be refreshed by turning the phone’s Wi-Fi feature off for a few seconds and then turning it back on again.Be sure to reconnect to the Wi-Fi network afterwards and once the connection becomes stable, retry loading Skype and see if you can now connect successfully.

2. Force stop Skype app.

   Any app could suddenly get erratic and stop working as intended and Skype is no exception. To deal with random app glitches, forcing the app to stop can help. To force stop Skype, just go to Settings-> Apps menu then select Skype from the list of apps. From the Skype main screen, scroll down to the bottom-rightmost and tap Force stop. Doing so will force the app to stop and close. Also ensure that the Skype app is not running in the background. To check, you can launch the Recent apps screen and see if Skype is present. If necessary, swipe up on the Skype app’s preview to quit the app.

3. Clear Skype cache and data.

   In-app glitches inflicted by corrupted temporary data stored in the Skype’s memory are also among the possible culprits. To clear these out, clearing cache and data that have been accumulated by Skype can help. To clear app cache and data, go to Settings-> Apps menu then tap Skype. From the Skype menu, tap Storage then scroll down and tap the option to Clear data and Clear cache.After clearing the app’s cache and data, quit the Skype app from running in the background, restart your phone and then launch the app again to see if the problem is gone.

4. Update Skype.

   App updates are pushed not only to add new features but also to fix existing stubborn bugs that caused app malfunctions. All you need is your phone to have a stable internet connection, sufficient storage space and battery life. Once you’ve met all the said requisites, go ahead and check for any pending updates for the Skype app.To check for updates, open the Play Store app then open the Quick menu icon. Select My apps & games then go to the Updates tab. Scroll down to the Updates pending section then find Skype in the list. If Skype isl listed, it means that there’s a pending update for the app. In that case, just tap the Update button next to Skype or tap the Update All button above to install all pending app updates at once.After installing app updates, restart your phone to refresh Skype and apply the recent software changes.

5. Reset network settings.

   If all the above methods failed to fix the problem, the next option you’ve got is to reset the network settings on your phone. There might be some invalid network configurations that eventually messed up Skype’s normal operations. This is usually needed if the problem started after making changes to your phone network settings.To reset network settings, go to Settings-> General Management-> Reset menu and then tap Reset network settings. If prompted, tap the option to confirm network settings reset.Performing this reset does not affect any saved data on the phone’s internal memory, so there’s no need to back up files beforehand. This reset however will erase all saved networks, Bluetooth connections, and other relevant settings on the phone. The default network settings are then restored.When the reset is finished, you will need to set up your Wi-Fi network and connect to it like the first time. This denotes the need for you to enter the Wi-Fi password.