Removing Skype

SteveThomas
Newbie

Like **bleep** near all apps, Skype keeps running in the background all on it's own despite the efforts of my MANY startup and task killer apps.

 

When I try to uniinstall the Skype application itself, most methods just give me an error. When I utilize the Market to uninstall the app it ONLY permits me to uninstall the update and not the full app. 

 

I wish the Android OS had a way to STOP all apps but those I select from randomly starting on their own, but for now I would settle for being able to remove one of the biggest members of the Start-When-I-Want gang of apps; Skype.

 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated folks. Thanks for reading.

 

- Steve Thomas

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dbeech
Newbie

I agree!!  I can kill all APPs, go to main screen and back to ATK and there they are again.

 

What is the purpose of shoving APPS down our throats that we may not want?  If we want them we can add via Market.

 

 

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crimedoggies
Specialist - Level 1

SteveThomas wrote:

Like **bleep** near all apps, Skype keeps running in the background all on it's own despite the efforts of my MANY startup and task killer apps.

 

When I try to uniinstall the Skype application itself, most methods just give me an error. When I utilize the Market to uninstall the app it ONLY permits me to uninstall the update and not the full app. 

 

I wish the Android OS had a way to STOP all apps but those I select from randomly starting on their own, but for now I would settle for being able to remove one of the biggest members of the Start-When-I-Want gang of apps; Skype.

 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated folks. Thanks for reading.

 

- Steve Thomas


Some apps are pre-installed, and as such can not be removed.  As far as stopping them is concered, the Froyo update pretty much renders app killers useless.  You need to go to settings, manage applications, running, select Skype and then force stop.  This will stop the app until the next time you launch it.

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w40d1n1
Enthusiast - Level 3
Nope, it will only stop the app until the next time you receive a phone call. Also affects My VZ Mobile too. I beleive this is because those apps are spying on my calls...prove me wrong before you challenge/comment on that (hint: you can't)
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jharrin123
Newbie

Can't remove them, can't stop them.  There is no way to stop them. 

 

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crimedoggies
Specialist - Level 1

w40d1n1 wrote:
Nope, it will only stop the app until the next time you receive a phone call. Also affects My VZ Mobile too. I beleive this is because those apps are spying on my calls...prove me wrong before you challenge/comment on that (hint: you can't)

I have force stopped my Skype, and unless I start the app or I receive an incoming Skype transmission the app stays closed.  I hardly doubt that ANY APP is spying on your calls.  Of course I can't prove they aren't any more than you can prove they are!

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jacomoman
Newbie

w40d1n1 is absolutely right.  I just tried it myself.  I force-stopped Skype Mobile, verified that it wasn't running anymore.  Then I made a call myself.  After the call...  there it is again under the running apps. 

 

I also tried the same thing and had someone call me, and again...  it's running again.

 

I swear to God as soon as the Unrevoked guys fix their 1-click rooting I'm rooting this thing so I can take full control of it and remove all this garbage apps.

 

VERIZON...  Isn't it enough that you're hosing us for monthly fees?  Why can't we have control over apps running on *OUR* phones?

 

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phillj
Newbie

Amen to that!

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Judicator
Newbie

Not sure if this will help you, but I just tried something this evening and it might work for others. I, too, have been having the issue with apps auto-starting since the update. With all my strength I've attempted to ignore my compulsion to check running apps and thus have allowed skype to run freely.

 

I began checking app versions and noticed that froyo came with skype 1.0... and the version of skype available on the market was 1.5... I downloaded skype from the market, which downloaded 3 of the said 6 megs. Once installed, I killed the skype process in running services, NOT manage applications->running. I made and received a phone call and skype DID NOT turn back on in running services. I bet it will when I reboot my phone, but so did Gtalk before froyo and I always needed to kill it upon turning on my phone.

 

Other froyo apps that needed updating:

Google Search

Voice Search

Amazon mp3

 

Google Search and Voice Search both improved upon downloading the market apps. When you download the apps from the market it only updates the current app on your phone and doesn't duplicate it. My thought is that these apps--from our newly released update--are outdated and maybe froyo will manage the updated apps better? Also, downloading the apps from the market allows you the option to auto-update the stock apps.

 

It's not a solution, but I hope this helps.

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JKnobby
Newbie

--Judicator --

 

 I tried updating my Skype and Amazon MP3 because these are obviously two of the apps that start when calls are made or received but it didn't work for me. I tried the running services idea and when I made a call, bam, right back. Thanks for the idea to try though and I'm glad it works for you at least

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elgallo
Newbie

Phone: LG Vortex

Problem: Need to remove Skype

 

Installed Skype at Verizon Store because no one knew if camera on back side only would support video/conservation. It doesn't. Need to remove the application. Help !!!!! & Thanks !!!!!

Has there been any changes since Steve Thomas' plea of 2010 ?

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nimiaj
Contributor - Level 3

Skype is a pre-installed app and cannot be removed unless you are rooted. Also, for all those fretting over the background process, it is just that. A background process. It is not comsuming any active resources and if any other app needs more resources, Android will take it from these background apps and make it available to other apps that need it.

 

In fact, my trying to stop them you are doing more harm, as the system keeps checking on the status of these services/apps and keeps restarting them at regular intervals.

 

Best thing to do, uninstall all updates on skype, never take an update and clear data on the app so there is no login info stored with it. All the app is doing at this point is cached in the background.

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