How to Back Up Skype UWP Chat History in Windows 10
Note: Microsoft retired Skype on May 5, 2025. You can still export your conversations and media from Microsoft’s official export page, but the app itself is no longer being updated. This guide shows how to request and view your chat history after the retirement. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Chat history for Skype UWP
Open any browser and visit Microsoft’s Skype data export page. Sign in with your Skype/Microsoft account. Choose what you want to download (Conversations and/or Files) and click Submit request. When your archive is ready, return to the page and click Download to get your chat history as a .tar archive. Processing can take from minutes to days depending on your data size and, during peak periods, more than 30 days. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Viewing chat history
Your archive downloads as a .tar file. On macOS, double-click to extract. On Windows, use a tool like 7-Zip/WinRAR if File Explorer doesn’t open .tar natively. Inside, open the messages.json for chats and a media folder for shared files. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
For a readable view, download Microsoft’s Skype message viewer (parser). Extract it, open index.html in your browser, click Choose file, select messages.json, then click Load. The viewer presents threads in an easy-to-browse interface. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Optional alternatives: If you prefer different output formats, community tools like TheAlbatrossCodes/skype-parser (TXT output) or Skyperious can parse your export. Use at your discretion and always keep a backup of your original archive. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Tip: If Skype is blocked in your region, try a VPN to access the export page.
FAQ notes after Skype retirement
- Can I still get my chats? Yes—use the export portal linked above; Microsoft continues to provide data export for account holders even after retirement. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Where did the old desktop/UWP apps go? Microsoft unified Skype into a single Win32 desktop app years ago and has now retired Skype entirely in favor of Microsoft Teams for personal use. Data export remains available via the web portal. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
What’s New in This Update
- Added notice that Skype was retired on May 5, 2025, with link to Microsoft’s guidance.
- Clarified realistic processing times for exports (can exceed 30 days during peak periods).
- Refreshed steps for using Microsoft’s official skype-parser viewer and added optional community parsers.
- Added extraction tip for
.tararchives on Windows/macOS.
Last updated: 2025-10-10
