How to Run Multiple Skype Accounts On One PC

Multiple Skype users are often logged into and using their own separate Skype accounts in the same house or office. This is simple- if they are each using their own computer, with their own phone and hardware settings.

But it is also possible to run multiple Skype user accounts from a single PC at the same time. An advantage of this setup is that each user can make and receive Skype calls from separate USB phones at the same time, from the same PC. As an example of this setup lets say two users, Mom and Dad want to run their Skype accounts from one PC. Their Skype ID's are SkypeMom and SkypeDad and they each have a USB phone, MomsHandset and DadsHandset, connected to the PC.

Create separate Windows user accounts, UserMom and UserDad:

Start --> Control Panel --> User Accounts --> Create a new account --> Enter a name for the new account: UserMom --> Account type: choose "Computer administrator" --> Create account --> Create Password --> Close User accounts window.
Repeat step 1 to create another Windows User Account for UserDad.

Configure each Skype account with separate audio settings for each Windows User Account:

Log on to UserMom Windows account (Start --> Logoff --> Switch User --> select UserMom)
Start Skype, logon to SkypeMom account and configure it to use MomsHandset.
Repeat steps 1 and 2, but for UserDad, SkypeDad, and DadsHandset.

Note that only one Windows User Account is visible on the computer monitor at a time. But since both Windows User Accounts are running separate Skype accounts, Mom and Dad will both be able to receive and make calls from their USB phones(even at the same time).

In this example there were only two users running Skype from a PC. But you can run any number of separate Skype accounts at a time like this. The only limit would be the number of simultaneous Skype connections your Internet connection could handle.

Tip: Mom and Dad may want to select distinct ring tones and/or use differently colored USB phones.