Skype Folder in Appdata / Roaming

[redmike58]

Hi,
Not for me but a friend uses Skype via the App that came with his Windows 11 laptop.
He has accidentally deleted his chat to an old work colleague and is trying to retrieve them.

The ideas online say to go into AppData / Roaming and on the Skype folder, select 'main.db' to retrieve the chat.
However, the AppData / Roaming page does not show the Skype folder. I checked 'Hidden Folders' but it is ok.

I checked programs and Skype is not listed there. It is just an App on his system he uses. Is that why no folder for Skype is showing in AppData / Roaming?

I downloaded a program to recover Skype chats (SkypeLogView) but is showing blank and refers me to this 'main.db' folder.

I don't use Skype so not used to the mechanics of how it works. Any advice?

 

[RogerOver]

Hi,

I don't use Skype, so I do not know for sure, but you could try "Shadow Explorer" from Bleeping Computer: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/shadowexplorer/. I just downloaded and tested it, it still works fine on Windows 11 22H2, even if the software is from 2016 (you need "Net Framework 3.5", it installs automatically when installing the software).

I had forgotten about this nice tool, but it's always good to have it !

(After having set "show hidden files" in Explorer !) just look for the oldest shadowcopy on your (or your friend's) computer you can find, go to Users/Username/AppData/Roaming and try to extract the file (if it is still there, ... after a certain number (don't recall the exact number) of copies, the oldest get deletet).

Otherwise there is "Shadow Copy View" from NirSoft: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shadow_copy_view.html, but I do not know it.

You can find more information about shadow copies here: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/shadowexplorer-shadow-copies
Normally it is automatically enabled in Windows. So you may have a good chance to get the file back (even if you have no backup).

Good luck !

 

[redmike58]

Hi,

I don't use Skype, so I do not know for sure, but you could try "Shadow Explorer" from Bleeping Computer: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/shadowexplorer/. I just downloaded and tested it, it still works fine on Windows 11 22H2, even if the software is from 2016 (you need "Net Framework 3.5", it installs automatically when installing the software).

I had forgotten about this nice tool, but it's always good to have it !

(After having set "show hidden files" in Explorer !) just look for the oldest shadowcopy on your (or your friend's) computer you can find, go to Users/Username/AppData/Roaming and try to extract the file (if it is still there, ... after a certain number (don't recall the exact number) of copies, the oldest get deletet).

Otherwise there is "Shadow Copy View" from NirSoft: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shadow_copy_view.html, but I do not know it.

You can find more information about shadow copies here: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/shadowexplorer-shadow-copies
Normally it is automatically enabled in Windows. So you may have a good chance to get the file back (even if you have no backup).

Good luck !

Hi, thanks for your reply and I'll suggest these options to him. Hopefully he can achieve a result.

Cheers

 

[Xploit Machine]

Skype usually stored under somewhere C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.SkypeApp .. try find in there the Database.DB file

 

[RogerOver]

.. try find in there the Database.DB file

There is no single *.db file in this whole folder (whether for Skype or any other app in this folder) !
Search with "Search" or "Everything".
Do you even read the posts, you are replying to ? The OP said that there was no more Skype app in"Applications" !!!
So the app has evetually been removed.

 

[Xploit Machine]

There is no single *.db file in this whole folder (whether for Skype or any other app in this folder) !
Search with "Search" or "Everything".
Do you even read the posts, you are replying to ? The OP said that there was no more Skype app in"Applications" !!!
So the app has evetually been removed.

Skype is no longer provided as in-built application, however users can opt in manually via Microsoft Store .. Teams is believed to replace Skype soon .. personally I only use Whatsapp and Teams as priority messenger