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How do I reopen an instance window once it has disappeared from desktop?

rated 0 times [ 3] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 9754 / 3 Years ago, fri, august 27, 2021, 5:41:20

I'm new to Ubuntu. I use Skype and often the main window just disappears from my desktop. The Skype instance itself is still running in the background. I know this because I can see its notifications on the bottom right side of the screen.

If I click on the Skype icon again, Ubuntu will launch a new instance instead of maximizing the running instance. Of course this will not work because Skype will not let you sign in: Another instance of Skype may be running.

How do I refocus/bring to the foreground the existing Skype instance? In Windows, you can restore running instances through the taskbar. I've tried cycling through open windows, but the running instance window is no where to be seen.

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dresuitable

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2 Years ago

answered 3 Years ago afyess · Accepted Answer

It would help to know what version of Ubuntu you are using but Skype has support for the system tray in the menu bar so you might see there a small skype icon. Click on that one and it will show you a huge menu with the option "Activate" which is "Open" in Skype language.

The system tray or top panel is this:

enter image description here

in this case I am using the default Ubuntu desktop (Unity from 11.10) and skype 2.2 Beta

Some settings that might affect this in Skype are:

enter image description here

Start Skype minimised in the system tray

Choose Style

Also as mentioned in the comment above, when you have 2 or more opened skypes they will go crazy. To delete them all and start from the beginning go to a terminal and do this:

sudo killall skype

If that does not work do this:

sudo killall -9 skype

If that still does not work do this: ps -e| grep skype a process for skype will appear with a number like for example:

5859 ?        00:00:11 skype

take that number and do this: sudo kill -9 5859.

Various ways to kill a process. Then just open Skype again.