My Skype account may be restricted, locked, or compromised

We will restrict your account from using Skype's paid features if:

• We notice unusual activity, for example markedly different usage of your Skype Credit or subscription, that suggests someone other than you might have taken control of it.
• You are disputing a payment (also called a chargeback), since this indicates that there is a problem with either your payment method or your account.
• There is a violation of Skype’s Terms of Use.

If your account has been restricted from using Skype's paid features:

1. Sign in to your account from Skype.com.
2. Follow the banner to Fix your account.
   
   

• You may have noticed unauthorized charges, spam being sent to your contact list, or unrecognized names in your file sharing. This could mean your account has been hacked or compromised.
• You may have received a message “Help us secure your account” when trying to sign in to Skype. This could mean out-of-the-ordinary activity has taken place and Microsoft has taken steps to lock down your account until you can take action.

If you've experienced either of these issues, please go to How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account.

If we notice any unusual activity on your account, we will temporarily lock it to help protect you from potential fraud or abuse. Please go to Account has been locked for more information.