Ask Dave Taylor
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • YouTube Videos
  • Top Categories
  • Subscribe via Email
  • Ask A Question
  • Meet Dave
  • Home
  • Computer & Internet Basics
  • How can I disable Skype chat beeps and audio?

How can I disable Skype chat beeps and audio?

September 25, 2010 / Dave Taylor / Computer & Internet Basics, Zoom, Skype & Video Chat Help / 2 Comments

I do a lot of business via Skype and often have a chat window open with my partner while we’re on the line with a client. We have a backchannel conversation going on so we can ensure we’re in agreement on terms, schedules, etc, but what drives me crazy is that each time I get a chat message there’s a small “bloop” sound. Can I turn this Skype audio notification off?

There are a couple of ways you can sidestep this, the most obvious of which is to actually connect via a different instant messenger service with your partner, but there’s also an easy way to tweak Skype to stop pushing out those annoying audio notifications.
I’m with you too. They drive me crazy, and for me it comes up while recording episodes of my two weekly podcast programs Boulder Open Podcast [iTunes] or Three Insight [iTunes]: while we’re chatting we’ll also IM each other time checks, reminders of other topics, etc. Audio notification is not appreciated!
If you have external speakers, you can configure your Mac or PC to use the built-in speaker for notifications, while the audio out from the Skype session itself comes out the external speakers, but that too is a bit of tricky work and might mean that your music, streaming video, etc, doesn’t work as you expect either.
Instead, turns out that Skype offers all sorts of ways you can customize the per-event notifications, whether it’s when you first connect to Skype, when someone wants to send you a file, when a friend connects, or – what we want – when you receive a message.
First step is to launch Skype then go to your Preferences. I’ll show you these steps on the Mac, but it should be identical on the PC once you’re in the Preferences/Settings area:

skype chat message audio 1

That’s not what we want. Click on “Notifications”:
skype chat message audio 2

Now we can see just how many different notifications are available in Skype and tweak them as desired. Click on the Event pop-up and you’ll see that there are quite a few options:
skype chat message audio 3

To turn off the audio notification sound when the event “message received” occurs, choose that particular event, then uncheck the box adjacent to the “Play sound” menu. You can also choose to have the Skype app icon in the toolbar indicate an event has transpired too, if you’re so inclined. I hate that, actually, so I always disable it. In fact, here’s an example of how I set it so that when friends logged in to Skype I wouldn’t get any notification:
skype chat message audio 4

Go through this event by event and you’ll find that you and your partner will be able to have that backchannel discussion while on the line with your client, and all they’ll hear is the occasional clickety-clack of keys on the keyboard!

Let’s Stay In Touch!

Never miss a single article, review or tutorial here on AskDaveTaylor, sign up for my fun weekly newsletter!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please enter all required fields
Correct invalid entries
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz
Please choose a color:
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

2 comments on “How can I disable Skype chat beeps and audio?”

  1. johnson says:
    March 16, 2012 at 6:52 pm

    You did me a great favor, I couldn’t stand the beep a second longer!!

    Reply
  2. jennifer0147 says:
    September 28, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    Thanks for the tutorial!!! That beep was getting annoying.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

  • Switch from 24-Hour Time to AM/PM in Ubuntu Linux?
  • Protect Your Connection and Privacy with Surfshark VPN
  • Can I Send Texts in iMessage with Effects from my Mac System?
  • How Do I Convert a Webp Graphics into a PNG in Windows?
  • How Can I Delete My Phone from My Mom’s Mitsubishi Outlander?

On Our YouTube Channel

Tonor ORCA-001 USB Desktop Microphone -- REVIEW

ONFORU Outdoor Bluetooth LED Light-Up Lantern Speakers -- REVIEW

Categories

  • AdSense, AdWords, and PPC Help (106)
  • Amazon, eBay, and Online Shopping Help, (161)
  • Android Help (201)
  • Apple iPad Help (145)
  • Apple Watch Help (53)
  • Articles, Tutorials, and Reviews (344)
  • Auto Tech Help (12)
  • Business Advice (199)
  • Chrome OS Help (25)
  • Computer & Internet Basics (764)
  • d) None of the Above (165)
  • Facebook Help (383)
  • Google, Chrome & Gmail Help (180)
  • HTML & Web Page Design (245)
  • Instagram Help (48)
  • iPhone & iOS Help (607)
  • iPod & MP3 Player Help (173)
  • Kindle & Nook Help (93)
  • LinkedIn Help (85)
  • Linux Help (167)
  • Linux Shell Script Programming (87)
  • Mac & MacOS Help (895)
  • Most Popular (16)
  • Outlook & Office 365 Help (26)
  • PayPal Help (69)
  • Pinterest Help (53)
  • Reddit Help (18)
  • SEO & Marketing (81)
  • Spam, Scams & Security (93)
  • Trade Show News & Updates (23)
  • Twitter Help (217)
  • Video Game Tips (66)
  • Web Site Traffic Tips (62)
  • Windows PC Help (922)
  • Wordpress Help (204)
  • Writing and Publishing (72)
  • YouTube Help (46)
  • YouTube Video Reviews (159)
  • Zoom, Skype & Video Chat Help (57)

Archives

Social Connections:

Ask Dave Taylor


Follow Me on Pinterest
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Instagram


AskDaveTaylor on Facebook



microsoft insider mvp


This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this site or on any linked site. Further, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to our terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site. Our lawyer says "Thanks for your cooperation."
© 2022 by Dave Taylor. "Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.
Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions - Accessibility Policy