Anyone with a Windows OS must have heard and used Skype and enjoyed its amazing features for a long time.
Skype is a well-respected application by its users. Still, irrespective of this, the app has multiple Achilles’ heels, with the most common Skype video call frustrations being “The content of this message is unsupported.”
The problem usually occurs when users try to use the video call feature; however, all other features are unaffected.
This video call problem is isolated to Skype Home and has not affected Skype for Business. Moreover, it is not specific to any OS such as Windows 10, Xbox, Android, or iOS skype app, and the problem can even occur as part of an echo/sound test.
The problem is more of frustration because even though it leads to call failure, it does not imply a failed call but points to a problem with hardware or an unsupported device.
Causes for “the content of this message is unsupported” error message
Windows 10 bug: If you have recently updated your Skype windows 10 app, you might want to revert to the older version to resolve this issue. This is usually found in newer versions, and thus it usually means that the app faces some connectivity issues.
Hardware issue: As discussed earlier, the “The content of this message is unsupported in Skype” error implies an underlying hardware functionality problem. This is usually caused by outdated hardware that needs to be updated.
Precautions
Before you fix your beloved application, make sure to follow the below precautions that you should take to fix and protect your system from any mishap safely.
1. Back up Skype data
It is important that you back up Skype data so that you can easily access it when you install it again.
Step 1: Simultaneously press the Windows and “R” key on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type “%appdata%\skype” in it and then press OK.
Step 3: Now move the “My Skype Received Files” folder and “You Skype Name” folder to another location in your system.
2. Create a system restore and backup registry
To reinstall Skype on your system, you would have to completely remove all the related files, which implies making changes to the Windows registry.
However, editing the Windows registry might lead to an unstable system, so it is best to create a system restore and also a backup registry.
(I) Creating system restore point
Step 1: Press the Windows key and S key on your keyboard simultaneously. A search dialog box will appear.
Step 2: Type “restore” in the box and then go to create a restore point.
Step 3: Now, in System Protection, go to Create. Describe the restore point and then create it.
(II) Backup registry
Step 1: Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and R key on your keyboard. A run dialog box will open.
Step 2: Type “regedit.exe” in the run dialog box and then press enter. The registry editor window will open.
Step 3: In the Registry Editor, choose the registry keys and subkeys you want to back up.
Step 4: Go to File and then go to Export to choose the location and the backup files’ name. Save the changes.
3. Restoring from a restore point and registry backup
(I) Restore the system using a system restore point
Step 1: Open the Control panel and then go to System and Security.
Step 2: In that, go to File history. Now go to Recovery and then Open System Restore. Click Next.
(II) Restore registry
Step 1: Simultaneously press the Windows key and R key to open the run dialog box.
Step 2: Type “regedit.exe” in the Run dialog box and press enter.
Step 3: In the Registry Editor, go to file and then go to Import Registry File.
Step 4: Select the location of the backed-up files and then click Open.
4. Addon safety
Other safety precautions that you can take care of to ensure that all your files are properly backed up on:
- external hard-drives or portable storage devices such as compact disks, flash drives, etc.
- Cloud drives such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Apple cloud storage, Dropbox, etc.
Now that we have taken the necessary precautions let’s get on with fixing it to solve the “The content of this message is unsupported” Skype error.
Fixes
Here we have listed five solutions to the “The content of this message is unsupported” Skype error to help you resolve this 60 seconds call drop issue.
We understand how important Skype is for you to connect with your loved ones, especially in this work from home situation, so let us help you resolve this issue.
Fix 1: Update Skype
Skype is a bit of a rebel, and if you refuse to concur to its demands, the app might start acting weird.
“The content of this message is unsupported” error is a part of this weirdness of Skype.
You can undergo the following steps to make things right:
Step 1: Go to the official Skype website. From there, download the latest version of Skype and install it on your device by clicking on the download button.
Step 2: Alternatively, you can search for the latest Skype version updates on Windows Store.
Step 3: You can also update your classic Skype app for PC or switch to the latest Skype, whatever suits you best. For this, open the Skype app and go to the help section. Next, click on “Check for Updates,” and then let the app update.
Fix 2: Uninstall and Reinstall your Skype
Even after updating the windows and Skype versions, if you still see “The content of this message is unsupported” error, you can try to uninstall and then reinstall Skype from your system.
This procedure is a popular fix to resolve the connectivity issue between the latest Skype for Windows 10, and other versions of Skype installed on non-windows devices.
Part 1 – Uninstallation
To uninstall Skype, you need to follow the below-given steps:
Method 1: Manual or GUI (Graphical User Interface)
Step 1: Close Skype and Quit.
Step 2: Press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
Step 3: In the dialog box, type appwiz.cpl and then press OK.
Step 4: In the program and features, search for Skype in the listed programs and right-click on it. Now click Remove or Uninstall to uninstall Skype.
Step 5: Go to C:\Program Files directory/folder and find the Skype and SkypePM folders. Delete those folders.
Method 2: Using Command Line
Step 1: We will use Windows PowerShell for this. Search “PowerShell” in the windows search bar.
Step 2: Choose to “Run as administrator.”
Step 3: In the popped up window, run the following command by pressing the Enter key to uninstall Skype – get-appxpackage *skype* | remove-appxpackage
Part 2 – Removing Skype from the registry
This might not be necessary in some cases, however for those few exceptions, let us understand how to remove skype from the registry.
Step 1: Simultaneously press Windows and R keys on your keyboard to open the run dialog box.
Step 2: Type “regedit.exe” in the dialog box and press enter to open the Registry Editor.
Step 3: Go to the Edit tab and click find. Search for “Skype.”
Step 4: Click Next to navigate through search results. Right-click on every search result and delete it.
Once the uninstallation is successfully completed, restart your computer and move to the next part.
Part 3 – Reinstallation
After the uninstallation, you can reinstall your beloved app by following the below steps:
Step 1: Open Microsoft Store on your PC and search for the “Skype” app.
Step 2: Click on the “Get” button to start downloading it. Once it is downloaded, click on “Install” to install it on your system.
After uninstalling and reinstalling Skype, check whether the “The content of this message is unsupported” error is resolved or not by trying to make multiple video calls.
Fix 3: Switch to the Classic version of Skype App
“The content of this message is unsupported in Skype” error in Skype was not encountered by users until the newer Skype for Windows 10 became available.
Thus, we can assume that the older classic version of Skype was free on this bug, and replacing your newer version with the classic version of Skype seems like the best, easiest, and a guaranteed option for most of us.
Yes, we know you had switched to newer Skype because you like that it was available with many stylish and exciting new features. Also, classic skype is heavier on resources and irritates notorious ad banners that rendered us mesmerized with the clean and stylish new Skype.
But getting tortured by “The content of this message is unsupported in Skype” error is not worth it.
To install the classic version of Skype, follow the uninstallation steps from fix 2 and then follow the below steps.
Step 1: Go to Skype’s official homepage and go to the Download Skype page.
Step 2: In the Skype for Desktop section, select “Get Skype for…” according to your Operating system. For Microsoft Windows desktop OS, select “Get Skype for Windows” in the dropdown menu next to the download button.
Step 3: Save the downloaded file and then double click on it to install.
Step 4: Follow the instructions to download it successfully.
Step 5: Now launch the class Skype version and get calling.
Fix 4: Check for Windows Update
If updating Skype did not resolve your issue, there might be incompatibility due to an outdated Windows version.
Using Skype on an outdated Windows version can lead to crashes and failures in your Skype app.
To update your windows version, follow the below steps:
Step1: Open the “Settings” app in your system, and go to the “Update & Security” option. To open the Settings app, press the Windows key, and I key simultaneously on your keyboard or search Settings in the windows search bar.
Step 2: In the Update & Security, click on the “Check for Updates” option.
Step 3: From the list of available updates released by the Windows team, download and install all of them.
Step 4: Once the installation is complete, restart your system to allow the changes to occur.
Now, try to start Skype and use the calling feature. Your issue might have been resolved.
If this solution cannot resolve your issue, keep reading ahead.
Fix 5: Update your drivers
Sometimes the error “The content of this message is unsupported in Skype” might be due to faulty or outdated drivers.
If the drivers installed in your system are incompatible, they can lead to a very messy system that leads to the Skype video calls getting dropped after 60 seconds.
For this, you need to remove those drivers and reinstall or update them either manually from the system vendor’s website or let the system do it.
Here are a few steps that might be helpful to you in troubleshooting drivers manually:
1. Driver Manager
Step 1: Press the Windows and X keys simultaneously on your keyboard and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Locate the device that has a faulty symbol next to it and right-click on them.
Step 3: Select the update.
Restart the system after uninstallation is completed to allow the changes to take effect.
2. Device Verifier
Step 1: In the start menu and search “Verifier.”
Step 2: Open Verifier and then follow the prompts to troubleshoot the drivers.
Final Words
Trying to use skype on Xbox, Android, Windows, or iOS skype desktop app for making video calls but getting a content unsupported error has been faced by almost all skype users.
In this article, we tried to help you fix the skype windows 10 and other OS errors caused by outdated apps, windows version, drivers, or echo sound test.
If these fixes are unable to provide a solution for your issues, you may share the problem on skype help and chat with the authorized person or get in-person help from experts.
The experts may require you to share your email address related to your skype account and screen-shot with the person in charge to receive a personalized solution.
