Here’s the latest information I received from Skype tech support.
Windows XP
The procedure for backing up your history files on a Windows XP machine is the following:
Locate the folder “Application Data\Skype\<your username>” and copy it to another location such as a CD or DVD-ROM.
To restore the history files just copy the files back to that folder.
These files are stored as .dbb files and can only be read with Skype itself. Unfortunately you cannot recover from a corrupt history file.
Be aware that the above files contain all of your chat room history files. You cannot save separate chat room history using that method.
/htmlhistory
If you want to preserve the history of one specific chat for reading it later, type “/htmlhistory” (without the quotes) into the chat text area and press enter. The entire chat history will open in an internet browser. You can save it for reviewing later by selecting “File > Save Page As”.
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42 responses so far ↓
1 dimatter // Aug 31, 2008 at 11:05 am
thanks for the info! was looking for the /htmlhistory function!
2 Jerry Leventer // Aug 31, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Yes, it’s a nice, but well-hidden feature. I’m glad I was able to help out.
3 Rohan // Jan 4, 2009 at 8:39 am
wow thnx for the html current chat history saving feature.
4 Lisi // Jan 20, 2009 at 5:09 pm
how about on a Mac OS 10.5.5 or 10.3.9? is there anything for Macs?
5 Jerry Leventer // Jan 21, 2009 at 1:14 am
I don’t know Mac’s as well as Windows, but you should be able to search your system files for /skype/.
6 snoopy // Feb 28, 2009 at 6:47 am
hi!
i’ve copied the folder “Application Data\Skype\†and replaced my new skype folder but there is no history.
when i type in /htmlhistory the browser shows the message ‘You have no chat history with “name” ‘
what’s wrong? how can i get my old history?
7 snoopy // Feb 28, 2009 at 7:12 am
ok, the problem is solved :)
8 Jerry Leventer // Mar 1, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I’m glad you were able to resolve the issue, Snoopy. Skype developers live in a dark cave on a deserted island and they don’t seem to understand how important the history mechanism is to their users.
Have you installed Skype v4.0 yet? I heard it may not support group chat where you can invite others to join. I am reluctant to upgrade without finding this out first.
9 Snoopy // Apr 1, 2009 at 10:20 am
Snoopy,
How did you solve your problem? I am having same issue here trying to restore chat history from my previous pc but without success. I have copied the skype folder (ApplicationData/Skype) and replaced the file in new computer and nothing happens. Please advise. Thank you!!
10 wronskein // Apr 14, 2009 at 3:21 pm
hi there!
i have my gf’s user name and password of skype. but i am unable to see the chat history because we are using different computers. is it possible to get the history from the skype server?
11 Jerry Leventer // Apr 14, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Hi,
Unfortunately, if you don’t save the history on your own computer, you won’t be able to access them. The server erases the files after about 15 minutes. That’s the time during which you can edit a post in your common window. If it is a group room, you have about 1 or 2 hours in which to edit a post (yours or another member, if you are the creator).
If she can zip the entire folder, and send it to you, you may be able to recover her history files that way. But you’d have to be sure not to corrupt your current account files. It would be best to make a full backup copy of YOUR files and save them to a CD-ROM or other drive or partition. Be careful, and make backups that you know how to restore.
12 Archernar // Apr 23, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hi there, i got a little problem: i used an older skype version and had to reinstall my windows. Now i use version 4.00.??? and have saved my old skype folders to have the chat history files. There was a folder called “skypePM” where files like “2009-03-11-2.ezlog” lay. With my version now, there isn’t any folder “skypePM” anymore and i even don’t know, if these files are my history. what is more, the command /htmlhistory doesn’t work for me… dunno why, but when i type it in some chat window, just nothing happens… maybe i do smth wrong :-(
hope you can help me.
13 swea // Apr 27, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Archernar, the same happenig for me..
14 Jerry Leventer // Apr 28, 2009 at 11:02 am
Unfortunately, I have not had the time to look into your issue, Archernar. Honestly, I haven’t even upgraded to 4.0 yet. I’m still using and old version of Skype 3.8 because I heard of some issues with 4.0 – what you are saying is just one more reason I don’t want to upgrade.
Try uninstalling 4.0 and re-installing 3.8. After uninstalling, (if on a Windows PC) you may want to clean your registry. (I use PC Tools Registry Mechanic.)
You can get a download of Skype Older Version 3.8 here:
http://www.oldapps.com/skype.php?old_skype=76
http://www.filehippo.com/download_skype/4911/
15 andrew // May 8, 2009 at 3:39 am
what about windows vista? is it a safe way?
16 Jerry Leventer // May 8, 2009 at 11:42 am
Andrew – I’m not sure I understand your question. Nonetheless, I have not been running Windows Vista, so I can’t comment on it. I’m sticking with Windows XP for as long as possible, until the next generatiion operating system from Microsoft will be available.
17 Thomas // May 17, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I am unable to find the application data folder! There are no users set up on my Windows XP. My OS is on the C drive, but when I go to the Documents and Settings folder, I don’t see the username file or the application data folder. I tried to search for all skype files, but the results don’t show any file that has an application data folder in the path. What is the extn of the file I am looking for? HELP!!
18 Jerry Leventer // May 17, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Thomas, the file extension you might look for on your C: drive is, *.dbb. On my version 3.8, this includes files such as the following: chat256.dbb, chat512.dbb, chatmsg512.dbb, etc.
19 m // May 25, 2009 at 9:44 am
I am having the same problems as Snoopy and snoopy. I copied my old files into my new skype folder. I can see that they are there but typing /htmlhistory does not open them. Somebody please help!
20 Sladuranka // May 29, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Thanks,
on my laptop i have Vista – i zip from AppData/Skype my skype user name folder and i send to my new PC with Windows XP and i unzip it in AppData/Skype all my history is here now – perfect.
Thanks again man – love ya for help.
Sory for my bad english!
21 Jerry Leventer // May 30, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I’m glad that worked for you.
22 Apo // Jun 1, 2009 at 1:43 am
If you open a DBB file with Notepad, you can partially read it. That’s why, for example when ypu have worked at some place for some time, and have used skype there, be sure to copy (if you want) and then DELETE the folder with your skype name!!!
23 John // Jun 2, 2009 at 10:24 am
I am trying to recover the history from my old skype account because I forgot the password. I tried copying the all the files from the folder with my old login name to the folder with my new login name. When I log in, I have all of my contacts, but no history. I tried /htmlhistory, but it tells me there is none.
Anything else I can try?
24 Adeem // Jun 10, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I have ver 4.0.0.206, when i type /htmlhistory nothing happens, and there is no option to save conversation in skype either. how can i backup my conversations?
25 Mike // Jul 7, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Hi, I’ve a problem – tried to find Application Data\Skype\, but I’m working in Safe Mode in XP … nor //htmlhistory
It seems all my history remained somehow in to normal mode. No *.dbb files?
Can anyone help me?
26 Jerry Leventer // Jul 7, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Mike, what version of Skype are you using? 4.0 no longer allows the /htmlhistory command. You should have no problem finding files in XP Safe Mode. Try looking in a different /user/ account, or look in /All Users/.
27 Daisy // Jul 27, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Hi I have 2 laptops and an iPhone and I wanted to know if you could see the old chat history from 3 weeks from the PC on the iPhone if I downloaded the app for Skype right now? Or would it be completely empty on my iPhone?
28 Jerry Leventer // Jul 28, 2009 at 10:57 am
It would be empty unless you copy the history files from the PC to the iPhone.
29 natt // Sep 30, 2009 at 10:38 pm
hey. i am having the same issue as the snoopys. i am a mac user who wants to back up my chat history before downloading the new skype. i currently have 2.7.0.330. how do i go about this?
30 anya // Oct 10, 2009 at 6:02 am
how are vista how do you retrieve your history from another computer ??
31 graziana // Nov 11, 2009 at 5:22 pm
hi, please tell me is there any way to backup the skype history on a mac, if all the private data have been deleted from this computer, or better, if i canceled the account “inside” which I had also skype with all it s chat history, but the computer wasnt formated? thanks a lot.
32 Slana Klis // Dec 14, 2009 at 7:30 am
Is there a possibiliti to copy folders and that others does not notice.Others in the chat room.I m a mom,snooping my dothers chat room.I dont wont her to know!!
33 Albert // Dec 23, 2009 at 3:04 am
Tengo un problema:
Tengo la version 4.1 del Skype y estoy tratando de recuperar el historial del chat y no lo logro, tengo la carpeta chatsync con todos los ficheros de datos y la sustituyo por la nueva pero no logro ver el historial. Como podria hacer?
34 Boyana // Jan 4, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Hey! I’m using an iphone and pretty much all the chat history disappears after just a little bit . The problem came when it turned out the other person was not even getting the messages I sent when they were offline.
Does anyone have more experience with skype on iPhone? Is there a way to keep the chronology on the phone or that’s only for comp?
P.S. Tried the /htmlhistory and didn’t work :(((
35 Jerry Leventer // Jan 4, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Hi Boyana,
You know, I don’t even own an iPhone (yet?) so I can’t help you with that.
As far as I know, /htmlhistory only works up to skype version 3.8 . However, there is a way to get it to work with 4.x but it’s rather complicated. I may write a post on it at some point. But it probably won’t help you if your iphone isn’t even keeping a history at all.
36 Mark // Jan 17, 2010 at 9:57 am
I went to my skype folder under program files and I couldn’t find application data or my SN anywhere on a folder. What am I doing wrong? Plus for some reason search turns up no results.
37 Mark // Jan 17, 2010 at 9:59 am
Oh I should have said this, I found it in XP, but I’m transferring it to a Windows 7 system and I can’t find it on Windows 7.
38 Greg // Jan 17, 2010 at 11:35 am
The easiest way is to backup Skype chat history directly to Gmail with G-Recorder (http://www.g-recorder.com)
39 Rudy // Jan 25, 2010 at 4:36 am
Hey
I uninstalled my skype, but i asked to save all the history .Now i installed skype again, but i cann’t see the history, and it’s on disk, i can see all the files, what can i do?
40 Preethie // Feb 13, 2010 at 4:35 am
hi
i accendently deleted the skype chat history . Pls tell me any way to recover the deleted chat history details.
41 ouadhah // Feb 13, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hi Jerry,
How about this complicated way to backup and keep Skype History for version 4.x? link to a blog or a few lines from your self.
Cheers,
42 JPB // Feb 16, 2010 at 3:28 am
/htmlhistory dos NOTHING – Skype 4.1.0.179
Please help – Im losing valuble data
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