Skype and firewalls
Skype needs unrestricted outgoing TCP connections to some TCP ports. If you fail to connect to the Skype network, it is likely that your firewall is blocking these and you need to open up some outgoing TCP connections. Note that this is about outgoing connections, not incoming connections. In most firewalls, you have to specify a destination port or port range to open. There are four options for Skype to work:
- Ideally, outgoing TCP connections to all ports (1.65535) should be opened. This option results in Skype working most reliably. This is only necessary for your Skype connection to be able to connect to the Skype network and will not make your network any less secure.
- If the above is not possible, open up outgoing TCP connections to port 443. This will only work if you are using Skype version 0.97 and above.
- If the above does not solve the problem, open up outgoing TCP connections to port 80. Some firewalls restrict traffic to port 80 to HTTP protocol, and in this case Skype can not use it since Skype does not use HTTP. In some firewalls it is possible to open up all traffic to port 80, not just HTTP, and in this case Skype will work.
- If the above is not possible, Skype versions 0.97 and above can use a HTTPS/SSL proxy. In order to do that, you have to configure the proxy address in Internet Explorer options. Skype will then be able to use it as well.
- Please use our problem reporting form to report details of all instances when you have experienced a problem with Skype and a firewall.