Confirming reports that Skype no longer works with older versions of Apple's OS X, Microsoft on Thursday announced it has ended support for Macs running OS X 10.5.8 Leopard or earlier in Skype's most recent version, though a Leopard-specific variant is on the way.
Update: A Microsoft spokesperson told AppleInsider on Friday that a version of Skype aimed at Leopard users 'will soon be available for download.'
Starting last week, Skype users began to complain on the company's forum that they were being locked out from accessing the popular voice over IP service, reports TUAW. As complaints mounted, it was guessed that Skype was no longer operational on Macs running older versions of OS X.
Microsoft today confirmed the change in service (albeit in a roundabout way) in an answer to a question regarding Skype compatibility with OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, which will for now remain unaffected.
Hi everyone,
there seems to be a lot of confusion around this. First, let me assure you that no-one is locking you out from using Skype on OS X 10.6 - 10.8 and there is no need to upgrade to Mavericks or (the new OS X now in dev preview) Yosemite if you don't want to.
![Skype For Os X 10.5 8 Skype For Os X 10.5 8](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126553325/729141912.jpg)
Jan 24, 2020 The Skype for Mac application is now available for download from the official site. Also, you can download the new version from our blog. At the moment nothing is known, what exactly has changed in Skype 8.56.0.103 for Mac OS X.
All OS X 10.6 - 10.8 users can head over to http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-mac/downloading/ and get version 6.15. This is a very solid release and you can still use all of the main features without any problems (i.e. group video, group chats, screen sharing etc).
Note that you should only use the link above, it serves you with a correct update for your OS version, direct links (to DMG files) can work, but are not guaranteed to do so.
Skype For Os X 10.5 8 0
That said, we still encourage you to stay up to date, meaning upgrading to Mavericks and getting the latest Skype.
If you have problems updating, please let us know in this thread and I'll try to help you.
For reference, Apple's OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard requires only that a Mac have an Intel processor to run, meaning machines that are absolutely unable to run Skype under the new policy are some eight years old.
For those with older Macs, industrious users have fashioned workarounds, including a method of blocking the software's update mechanism from connecting with update servers, though these bootstrapped solutions are hit-or-miss.
In June, Microsoft said it would 'retire' older versions of Skype for both Mac and Windows over the next few months, forcing current users to upgrade to the latest builds for uninterrupted service. At the time, the company noted users with Skype for Mac (6.13 and below) and Skype for Windows (6.14 and below) would be unable to log in until they update.
The latest version of Skype for Mac is 6.19 and which can be downloaded for free from the company's website.
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Following the ruffled feathers and wailing and gnashing of teeth over the news that Skype support for versions of OS X below 10.6 are no longer supported, Microsoft's Skype team has said a new update is coming that'll let Leopard users continue to participate in their online text, voice and video chats. Currently, Mac owners running Leopard can't login to their Skype account thanks to compatibility changes that were made earlier this week.
Skype promises happy faces for OS X Leopard users with compatibility update
In a note on the Skype forums, the development team said,
Those of you that have been using older versions of Skype for Mac until now have recently seen a prompt to upgrade Skype when trying to sign in... There was some confusion on which Skype version is supported on which OS X version. TLDR: Skype will continue to be available on OS X 10.5 - 10.8 and there is no need to upgrade to Mavericks.
Microsoft announced earlier this year that Skype support for older versions of Mac OS X would be coming to an end, and that started happening this week. Mac owners running OS X Leopard found they couldn't login to their accounts and were told to upgrade their Skype app. Unfortunately, the current version requires OS X Mavericks, which left Leopard-running Skype users in the lurch.
Os X 10.5 Download
Mac owners running OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), OS X 10.7 (Lion), or OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) can download and use Skype 6.15 from the special download page set up just for Mac users. OS X Mavericks users can go to the standard Skype download page to get the most recent version.
OS X 10.5 (Leopard) users will have to wait just a bit before they can get back in on the Skype action. The Skype team said, 'We have a Skype version for Mac OS X 10.5 users which will soon be available for download.'
Skype For Os X 10.5 8 16
There isn't any word yet on just how long Leopard users will have to wait, but at least now we know they will be able to use Skype again at some point.