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For a few days every time I start Skype I get an UAC prompt from Windows 7 about Skype wanting to make changes to my computer and whether I want to allow it.

Why Skype needs elevated permissions all of sudden? Anyone else experiences this?


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if there's a screen shot, it'll be helpful. :) –  Ye Lin Aung Mar 21 '10 at 14:19
It's a standard UAC prompt in windows 7. –  Tom Mar 21 '10 at 14:54
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3 Answers

Skype most probably wants to update yourself, as you're using an outdated version. Current version is 5.5, and yours is 4.2. In order to install an update, it needs to elevate to Administrator.

I didn't find a way to disable updates in Skype, at least in version 5.5, so I guess you either need to update to a latest version, or live with this nuisance.

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I just say "No" to the prompt. I am yet to find a feature that breaks after I reject UAC elevation.

(and then I send them a feedback item about this - let's all do so!)

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If Skype needs administrator privileges to run, there is still a way to avoid the UAC prompt:

How to Create a Elevated Program Shortcut without a UAC Prompt

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The problem is I use Autohotkey to send typing shortcuts to Skype and apparently it does not work if Skype is started as administrator (probably for security reasons). So the question is why Skype needs admin privileges all of a sudden when it didn't need it before? –  Tom Mar 21 '10 at 16:00
He's after a "why is this happening" response. It's obvious that Skype needs administrator permission because of the UAC, but why it wants it is a mystery that @Tom wants solved. –  Ashley Steel Oct 13 '11 at 22:17
@Ashley: This is an old thread. My answer would be useful if the UAC problem was never resolved. –  harrymc Oct 14 '11 at 5:40
Wow yeah very sorry... didn't see it was so old. No idea how I ended up on this thread... –  Ashley Steel Oct 15 '11 at 4:23
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