Run two skype accounts on Mac OSX 10.6.8 [ Edited ]

[ferdyrkg]

Anybody can giude me step by step how to run two skype accounts on my mac? Appreciate for reply (ies). Thanks

[NormanM Moderator]

Moved.

[ccalhoun]

You posted "moved" but I don't see the referring link to where the solution was posted.. can you please add this so folks can find it easier? Ok to delete my reply, I have the Windows command line fix just looking to validate the Mac solution is similar, thanks!

( Option #1, Open a terminal window and start a second instance by typing ...

sudo /Applications/Skype.app/Contents/MacOS/Skype

then enter your admin password when asked )

( Option #2, Right/Ctrl click on Skype app icon, Show Package contents, navigate to Contents -> MacOS -> then launch Skype from there .. this comes up with a window that tells you, you have another copy of skype running, then exits.)

I wonder if theres a text file for command line arguments you can set for a second instance, copy the app, etc., to make it easier for less savvy people?

[helio]

This is an idiotic problem that occurs when you don't pay attention to the launch screen when you open Skype. Make sure that the check box that says log me in when I sign on is unchecked. If you ck it or it gets ck'd by the system when you first login you're forever tied to that acct. without recourse to another.

I'm having the same problem because it's really diffiuclt to uncheck from the splash screen because everything happens so quickly !

Skype should really fix this problem through another interface option for changing this.

It's really stupid that such a great product has this idiotic flaw in the interface.

I don't have time to complain about it to them, so any help on this front appreciated.

Also an easier to access live chat or phone in customer support option would make them a lot of money....if anyone is listening ?

[mkichaa]

Simply sign out of the account (from the File dropdown menu), then sign back in.  As you note, unticking the auto-login box will prevent the problem in the future.  But by signing out, you'll avoid the need for superhuman reflexes.

[Tashar]

I also need two Skype accounts open at once on my MAC like ccalhoun. Can anyone help?

At the moment I have to keep loggin in and out of the two accounts to check if there are any messages - which is not practical.

Many thanks in advance.

[ayratn]

On MacOs you may run two instances the following way:

1) First instance run as usual

2) Second one run in terminal:

sudo /Applications/Skype.app/Contents/MacOS/Skype /secondary

Regards

[mepossem]

doesn t work with me - using mac osx terminal and it's asking for a password - tried the osx admin manager password, did not work, and tried the skype password - did not work.

something wrong there ...

[exclusivebeauty]

I can easily run as many versions of Skype as I want (currently I have about 7 running).  I'll detail the process below.  But for those who already know how, my issue is that I can't copy/cut/paste in any of the non-primary instances because they are being run under other user accounts.  Any ideas on how to get the other user clipboards to function?

To open multiple versions:

1) System Preferneces

2) Users & Groups

3) Click the lock on the bottom left and enter your admin password

4) Click the '+' sign above the lock

5) Click the dropdown at the top and select Administrator.

6) When naming the account I suggest staying consistant (account1, account2, etc.)  MAKE SURE YOU ENTER A PASSWORD.  THIS WONT WORK IF YOU DONT MAKE A PW.

7)  In applications goto Utilities >> Terminal

 Type:  

su account## -c "/Applications/Skype.app/Contents/MacOS/Skype && exit"

For the step above, replace account## with whatever account name you made.

9)  Enter the password for that account.

As mentioned above, you can't cut/copy/paste in any of the secondary accounts, so if anyone knows a way around this it would be very helpful.  Thanks.

[zacharysyoung]

For those who don't know, using sudo is not trivial and will require some extra setup. You'll need to edit /etc/sudoers (Google, sorry, "Bing" for that).

This is if you don't want to make yourself an Admininstrator just to use sudo.