How to Retrieve Skype Users IP

By Dave Wilson

Obtain the IP address of a Skype user.
i keyboard image by Jan Will from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Skype is an easy to use Internet Protocol phone and chat service that provides reliable communication through most firewall and network infrastructures connected to the Internet. Like many chat services, communication through Skype is sent to and from the Skype servers rather than directly to the contact with whom you are communicating. In certain instances, however, it may be helpful to know your Skype contact's IP address, such as when you wish to use another protocol such as FTP to send a file.

Step 1

Click the "Start" button, then click the "Search" box. Type "cmd" in the "Search" box, and then right-click on the command line icon that appears and click "Run as Administrator."

Step 2

Click the "Start" button, then click "Programs." Click the "Skype" program group in the program list that appears, and then click the "Skype" icon. The Skype application window will appear.

Step 3

Click the "Contacts" button located toward the top of the "Skype" window. Locate and then click on a Skype contact you wish call from the list of contacts presented in the Skype window.

Step 4

Click the green "Call" button to connect with the contact through Skype. When the contact has accepted the call and video, audio or an instant message response is received, the connection is established.

Step 5

Type "netstat -nb" on the command line. Press the "Enter" key. Find the Skype program listed in the first column of the command line output. Note the IP addresses listed for the Skype application.

Step 6

Navigate to the large file you wish to transfer using Windows Explorer. Place the mouse cursor over the file, hold down the left mouse button and then drag the file over the icon of the contact that is in the chat session. Release the left mouse button to start the file transfer.

Step 7

Type "netstat -nb" on the command line. Press the "Enter" key once the file transfer has started. Find the Skype program listed in the first column of the command line output. Note the new IP address added to the list for the Skype program, as that is the IP address of the Skype contact to which the large file is being transferred.

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