2009-08-08

How to disable Skype chat notification popup boxes on the Mac OS X

This blog post explains how to disable the notification box with dark gray (black) background in the top right corner of the Mac OS X screen whenever somebody sends you a Skype chat message. The instructions given here have been verified and found working on Mac OS X 10.5.8 (Leopard), but they may not work in Snow Leopard (10.6).

One of the following solutions should work. Please try both.

  • You will not find the setting in Skype's preferences. To disable these notifications, you have to modify your Growl preferences. In the Apple menu (Apple logo in the top left corner of the screen), select System Preferences / Other / Growl / Application / Skype / Configure / Notifications. (If you don't have the item named Growl above, then that's probably because you are using Snow Leopard, and this howto cannot help you.) Here you can change the settings for various notification types. Disable Contact is typing and all containing message received.
  • (boakananda's solution) In Skype 5.0 for the Mac, the default setting is to have visual popup notifications, which are built into Skype and independent of whether Growl is installed or not. (You have the option of having Growl control the notifications, but the default is to have the notifications built-in from Skype). If you want to get rid of the notifications, go to the Skype menu, Preferences, click on the Notifications button, and select the check box Disable all visual notifications.
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40 comments:

  1. soySeptember 25, 2009 at 2:33:00 AM GMT+2

    Awesome! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJanuary 24, 2010 at 7:15:00 PM GMT+1

    Thanks a million!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 10, 2010 at 8:57:00 PM GMT+1

    thank you! it was driving me nuts!

    ReplyDelete
  4. PA DaveFebruary 19, 2010 at 2:47:00 AM GMT+1

    I would have never found that... wow. I owe you one.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Marjorie K.April 4, 2010 at 6:07:00 AM GMT+2

    THANKS!

    ReplyDelete
  6. MariaApril 12, 2010 at 3:13:00 AM GMT+2

    Dude, thanks a lot! It was driving me insane!

    ReplyDelete
  7. tApril 20, 2010 at 1:31:00 PM GMT+2

    Man, thanks a lot - these notifications were getting me crazy!

    ReplyDelete
  8. BoomanoApril 21, 2010 at 4:32:00 PM GMT+2

    That's really useful, thanks. Couldn't find out how to turn them off!

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownMay 4, 2010 at 12:31:00 PM GMT+2

    Thanks! Really helpful. Somehow it was turned on and distracts since then.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AutoreMay 5, 2010 at 3:19:00 PM GMT+2

    Thanks a lot!!!! I was thinking to smash the mac screen

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownMay 12, 2010 at 2:17:00 PM GMT+2

    THANKS!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. robsadventuresMay 16, 2010 at 2:02:00 AM GMT+2

    Was looking for this for a while thanks

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownMay 19, 2010 at 8:23:00 PM GMT+2

    Thanks a lot bud. Really good tip.

    BTW, how on earth did growl get installed in my mac?

    ReplyDelete
  14. CecileMay 20, 2010 at 10:55:00 PM GMT+2

    Thank you so much. You saved my mental health! :-P

    ReplyDelete
  15. SashaMay 21, 2010 at 1:20:00 AM GMT+2

    many thanks ))

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousMay 26, 2010 at 6:24:00 PM GMT+2

    Thank you very much!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. RodneyJune 6, 2010 at 10:24:00 AM GMT+2

    Agree this is an annoying feature.

    In the Growl control panel ( system prefeences) you can also select the 'Applications' tab, and deselect (uncheck) Skype.

    Rod

    ReplyDelete
  18. RodneyJune 6, 2010 at 10:34:00 AM GMT+2

    Actually, you can select to remove Skype in the 'Applications' tab menu.

    Select Skype ( check box under Enabled) and select below to remove Skype.


    Cheers

    Rod

    ReplyDelete
  19. UnknownJune 13, 2010 at 11:57:00 PM GMT+2

    Maxsaid.....
    Awesome TA, i was looking for it 5min :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. KarisaJune 17, 2010 at 5:19:00 PM GMT+2

    Thank you so much! I was nearing a breakdown it was so annoying!

    ReplyDelete
  21. BrandiJuly 16, 2010 at 5:21:00 PM GMT+2

    thank YOU!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. John BuckAugust 13, 2010 at 5:16:00 PM GMT+2

    thank you very much. that sign on and sign off function was driving me crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Bargain BrianaAugust 15, 2010 at 3:21:00 AM GMT+2

    Thanks! This was driving me INSANE and I only had it going for one day!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Elyse FretzAugust 27, 2010 at 3:40:00 AM GMT+2

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. EricSeptember 16, 2010 at 9:52:00 PM GMT+2

    THANKS MATE !! You save my MacBook Pro from a nice fly over my office... Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  26. peculiarjuliaSeptember 22, 2010 at 2:10:00 PM GMT+2

    i generally regard notifications as a good thing, if i'm having a day when beeps bother me i generally just hit mute.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Linnea WilliamsOctober 9, 2010 at 2:22:00 AM GMT+2

    yes, thank you thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  28. UnknownJanuary 3, 2011 at 10:25:00 AM GMT+1

    I don't have the growl thingy under the other column. WHY?

    ReplyDelete
  29. mingmingJanuary 4, 2011 at 11:33:00 AM GMT+1

    where is the growl thingy???

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:08:00 PM GMT+1

    i know this is an older post, but just came across it from a Google search on the issue. Thank you for posting!

    ReplyDelete
  31. HenryJanuary 8, 2011 at 1:36:00 AM GMT+1

    You're still serving humanity. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  32. WillJanuary 13, 2011 at 12:30:00 PM GMT+1

    Thanks for this!

    ReplyDelete
  33. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:36:00 AM GMT+1

    in Skype 5.0 for the Mac, the default setting is to have visual popup notifications, which are built into Skype and independent of whether Growl is installed or not. (You have the option of having Growl control the notifications, but the default is to have the notifications ‘built-in’ from Skype). If you want to get rid of the notifications, go to the Skype menu, Preferences, click on the Notifications button, and select the check box “Disable all visual notifications”.

    ReplyDelete
  34. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:36:00 AM GMT+1

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Katiée.GeFebruary 13, 2011 at 4:31:00 PM GMT+1

    thanks a lot, i think it helped me, just don't know where i got this growl from? :O

    ReplyDelete
  36. Sian MeadesMarch 1, 2011 at 3:47:00 PM GMT+1

    Thanks for this blog post! I was going batty with all the pop-ups!

    ReplyDelete
  37. UnknownMarch 13, 2011 at 12:07:00 PM GMT+1

    Been looking everywhere for this answer, thanks YOU!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Iain NevillApril 12, 2011 at 10:46:00 PM GMT+2

    Thanks!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. toddMay 17, 2011 at 5:10:00 AM GMT+2

    thx

    ReplyDelete
  40. Tree SurgeonJune 6, 2011 at 3:56:00 PM GMT+2

    omg thanks man I could not survive without this useful piece of advice.

    ReplyDelete