Skype Commands, Easter Eggs, Bugs, and Tricks

I originally wrote this in July of 2014, when Skype 6.16 was the newest version. As such, many of these commands probably don't work anymore, but I'm putting it here for historic purposes.

Commands

Common commands which are documented on the Skype website

Command	Description
/add [username]	Adds a contact to the group chat. For example, typing "/add john.smith1" would add john.smith1 to the chat.
/alertson [text]	Will highlight whatever text you feed it with a yellow background. For example, /alertson Skype will alert you if the word "Skype" appears in the chat.
/alertsoff	Disables all alerts
/clearpassword	Clears password security
/find [text]	Finds specific text in a chat, for instance typing /find Junk will return the first instance of "Junk" in the chat if it was said
/get allowlist	Returns a list of users with access to the chat
/get banlist	Returns a list of users banned from the chat
/get creator	Returns the creator of the chat
/get guidelines	View the chat guidelines
/get options	Details active options for the current chat
/get password_hint	Returns the password hint if one has been set
/get role	Returns your role in the chat
/get uri	Creates a URL link so others can join your chat.
/golive	This command starts a group call with all participants in the chat. This command can be used even when there's more than 25+ participants in the chat.
/info	Details number of people in the chat, and the maximum number of participants allowed.
/kick [username]	Kicks a user from the chat
/kickban [username]	Kicks and bans a user from the chat, so they can't rejoin and nobody can add them back in
/leave	Leaves the group chat you're in
/me [text]	Your name will appear followed by whatever text you write, for example if you write /me is at the beach and your name is John Smith it'll display "John Smith is at the beach".
/remotelogout	Signs out of all other instances except the current
/set allowlist [[+|-]mask]	Sets who is allowed to join the chat. For instance, if you used /set allowlist +john.smith1, it would allow john.smith1 to join
/set banlist [[+|-]mask]	Sets who is banned from the chat. For instance, if you used /set banlist +john.smith1, it would ban john.smith1 and they wouldn't be able to join or added. They will also be ejected if they are in the group
/set guidelines [text]	Sets the guidelines for the group. You can see them by typing /get guidelines.
/set options [[+|-flag]	Sets the options for the chat. For example, /set options -JOINING_ENABLED switches off the JOINING_ENABLED option, and /set options +JOINERS_BECOME_APPLICANTS switches on the JOINERS_BECOME_APPLICANTS setting. See the "Options" section for more flags.
/set password [password]	Sets a password
/set password_hint [password hint]	Sets a password hint
/setpassword [password] [password hint]	Sets a password and password hint
/setrole [username] [MASTER/HELPER/USER/LISTENER]	Sets a users role
/showplaces	List other instances where the current Skype account is logged in
/topic [text]	Changes the topic
/undoedit	Undos the edit of your message
/whois [username]	Provides detail about a chat member, such as their current role.

Roles

Command	Description
CREATOR	The person who originally created the chat will receive this role. There can only be one creator per chat and this role cannot be assigned. Creators may promote others to MASTER.
MASTER	Also called "chat hosts" in some versions of Skype. Masters have the same powers as CREATOR, but cannot promote others to MASTER themselves. Can kick, ban, change the topic, set the guidelines, and more.
HELPER	A semi-privileged member, they aren't affected by the USERS_ARE_LISTENERS option and can remove users (but not ban.)
USER	A regular chat member who has no special abilities. They can send messages in the group (provided USERS_ARE_LISTENERS isn't enabled) and start calls.
LISTENER	A read-only user, they can receive messages but can't send messages or start calls. Called "Read Only User" in Skype 3.
APPLICANT	A user waiting for acceptance in the chat. They can't send or receive messages until a MASTER or CREATOR approves them. Once promoted, they cannot be demoted back into an APPLICANT.

Options

These are to be used with the /set options [[+|-flag] command.

Command	Description
HISTORY_DISCLOSED	New users can see the conversation that took place before they joined. Limited to 500 messages or two weeks of time, whichever comes first.
JOINING_ENABLED	When turned off, new users can't join. This can't be turned off if any of the JOINERS_BECOME_xxx options are set and must be enabled before the JOINERS_BECOME_LISTENERS and JOINERS_BECOME_APPLICANTS options can be set.
JOINERS_BECOME_APPLICANTS	When turned on, new users can join but cannot send or receive messages or start calls, until approved by a MASTER or CREATOR.
JOINERS_BECOME_LISTENERS	When turned on, new users can join and can receive messages, but cannot send or start calls.
TOPIC_AND_PIC_LOCKED_FOR_USERS	When turned on, users can't change the topic or the picture. Oddly, this can be bypassed with the /topic command.
USERS_ARE_WRITERS	I have no idea, actually. I found this when I took off the USERS_ARE_LISTENERS from my group, but it's not documented anywhere on the Skype website.

Uncommon commands

Commands I found while reverse engineering Skype. Most of these aren't documented anywhere.

Command	Description
/htmlhistory	Generates an HTML file of the chat's history and opens it in a browser. This only works in Skype 3 and is removed in Skype 4.
/goadmin	Enters a mode called "Administration mode". Can only be used by CREATOR. Supposedly, this is meant to add a "Creator" tag next to your name, but it doesn't work. Removed in Skype 6.0.
/call [username]	Can call anyone even if they don't have you added as a contact. Removed in Skype 5.5?
/clear	Clears chat window
/eggy	No idea. This is supposed to be an easter egg that was removed in Skype 4, but it doesn't do anything in Skype 3.
/undoedit	Skype 6 and above only - reverts the last edit of a message
/dbghelp	Outputs a list of debug commands. As of Skype 6.16 this still lists /htmlhistory as a command even though it was removed in Skype 4.
/showmembers	Lists all members of a chat, along with their assigned roles.
/showstatus	Prints information about the current conversation, including object ID, convo ID, "consumption horizon", history date, and message count.
/showactivemembers	Prints out "ACTIVEMEMBERS" but doesn't seem to list anything.
/showname	Displays the name of the original conversation.
/showchatforms	Listed in the Skype strings, but returns nothing.
/showpendingmessages	Listed in the Skype strings, but returns nothing.
/info	Displays the amount of members in the chat, and the maximum number allowed.
/fm [text?]	Returns an error saying "" is not a valid integer value. I'm probably using it wrong. Seems to be the only command that returns an error
/verify	Returns a text about missing messages. No idea.
/fork [username(s)]	Duplicates the current group chat, leaving out contacts which are added in this command. Removed in Skype 6.
/showaccsel	Listed in the Skype strings, but returns nothing.
/showaccfocus	Listed in the Skype strings, but returns nothing.
/accselect	Listed in the Skype strings, but returns nothing.
/debug	Removed in Skype 5, not sure what it does, seems to be an early command for /dbghelp
/debugmsg	Listed in the Skype strings, but returns nothing.
/golive [token]	Opens a management window in a group conversation, which allows to handle conference calls. Not sure what the "token" is but it gives you a link that you can share with others, which allows them to join the conference.
/setupkey [key] [value]	Sets a "key" to a certain "value", or unsets the key if no value is given. No idea what to use this for
/setupkey!	Deletes the "key".
/set listeners [username]	Sets a user as a listener and changes the output of /showmembers.
/get listeners	Returns a list of listeners
/ignore	Supposed to "ignore" others but doesn't work

Hidden Emotes

A bunch of hidden emotes also exist.

Emote	Name	Notes
	(bike)	Added in Skype 6.13
	(blackwidow)	Added in Skype 6.16
	(u) (U)
	(bucky)	Added in Skype 6.16
	(bug)
	(call)
	(captain)
	(cat) :3	Added in Skype 6.13
	(dog)	Added in Skype 6.13
	(drunk)
	(headbang) (banghead)
	(idea)
	(e) (m)
	(mooning)
	(~) (film) (movie)
	(nickfury)	Added in Skype 6.16
	(oliver)	Supposedly a Skype developer
	(mp) (ph)
	(poolparty)
	(punch)
	(rock)
	(sheep)
	(shielddeflect)	Added in Skype 6.16
	(skype) (ss)	Not hidden in Skype 2 or 3
	(smoking) (smoke) (ci)
	(soccer) (football)
	(talk)
	(talktothehand)
	(o) (O) (time)
	(toivo)
	(wfh)
	(zilmer)	Added in Skype 5.5, same emote as (priidu)

Removed Emotes

...And a bunch of removed ones!

Emote	Name	Notes
	(finger)	Removed in Skype 6.13. Still works in other versions below that
	(fubar)	Removed in Skype 6.13.
	(hollest)	Removed in Skype 6.13.
	(malthe)	Skype developer. Removed in Skype 5.5
	(myspace)	Removed in Skype 5.0 after their partnership ended. This still appears if you set your homepage to a MySpace profile.
	(priidu)	Renamed in Skype 5.5 to (zilmer).
	(tauri)	Skype developer. Removed in Skype 5.5

Bugs

Recursion loop in Skype 4.0 for Android

In Skype 4.0 for Android, you can go to Recent -> Profile -> Recent -> Profile (etc etc...)

Easter Eggs

Cat emoticon while writing

Here's how to get a cat emoticon while writing.

1. Open a chat window and talk to someone.
2. Hold down at least 3 keys that aren't close to eachother (C A T will work.)
3. A cat icon will appear when writing for at least 5 messages.

Break the Skype pencil

Do you hate that stupid annoying pencil when someone's writing? So do I. Here's how to break it.

1. Hold down the ASD, QWE, JKL, or SDF keys on your keyboard.
2. An animation of the pencil breaking in half will play.

Clippy parody

You can make a spoof of Clippy from Office 2003 appear by holding SHIFT and pressing the telephone icon. He'll go away if you hover over him. Only works in the newer versions of Skype.

Comic Sans MS Frowny Face

Apparently, Skype hates the Comic Sans MS font. If you go to Tools -> Options -> IM & SMS -> IM Appearance, click the "Change font" button, and set it to Comic Sans MS, the smiley emoticon will turn into a frowny face.

Shortcuts and tricks

Some useful shortcuts and other tricks.

Edit message

Press up on your keyboard to edit a message. You can also right click and click "edit". This was added in Skype 2.

Delete message

Right click your message and press "delete". Make sure to tick "don't ask me again" if you want to delete a bunch.

Change a contact/group/phone number name

Click on a contact you want to edit, hover over their name, and you'll see a pencil icon. Click on it and rename it to whatever.

Stop the ding

Don't want to go on "Do Not Disturb" mode but want to stop the dinging? Just go into a group and type /alerts off and you won't hear it anymore.

Remove Emoticons

Go to Tools -> Options -> IM & SMS -> IM Appearance and uncheck the "show emoticons" checkbox. You can also disable the animations by unchecking the "show animated emoticons" box.

Answer call through shortcut

Press ALT + PageUp to accept a call.