Home / ubuntu / Questions / 1260620
Accepted
Stéphane Tréboux
Asked: 2020-07-21 08:21:38 +0800 CST

Skype for Linux does not launch itself in the background

  • 772

Since version 8.62.0.85 (released July 2020) Skype for Linux does not honor the setting "Launch Skype in the background" under Tools -> Settings -> General. A Skype window always pops up after launch independent of the setting.

A screenshot of the Skype settings window is found in this Manjaro forum for reference.

skype

2 Answers

  1. First make sure that the setting "Upon closing, keep Skype running" is active under Tools -> Settings -> General, otherwise this solution will not work.

    Then open /usr/bin/skypeforlinux and add the following lines at the end:

    # Launch Skype in the background
sleep 10
wmctrl -F -c Skype

    This change must be applied again after each update of Skype since the file /usr/bin/skypeforlinux is part of the Skype installation and will be brought back to its original state after each update.

    wmctrl interacts with an X Window manager. wmctrl -c closes a window gracefully. wmctrl -F matches the exact, case sensitive window title.

    A short wait is needed until the Skype window appears, hence the sleep command. 10 seconds worked for me, other/slower computers may need a longer wait. This is a bit flimsy and there are probably more elegant ways to wait for a window to open but it does the job as a workaround.

    The setting "Launch Skype in background" under Tools -> Settings -> General will have no effect. Skype will always start in the background independent of the setting.

    • 1
  2. Best Answer

    Update to Skype for Linux 8.64.0.80 or newer to fix this issue.

    I could not find the release notes for this version but it solved the issue for me (without using the workaround described in my previous answer).

    • 1