I can't see my online contacts as online

Well, I don't think it's a firewall problem.
I thought it could be because all computers in the net are using the same modem to connect to the web (we're all in the same factory).
Maybe this can be? Is it a known bug?

I have a similar problem. Basically I have 3 things happening:
1. some of my contacts I can see them online and offline instantaneously no problem and they can see me the same.
2. then for a few contacts I often have to go offline and online again (sort of to refresh the memory?) before I can see them, and for them to see me.
3. lastly, there are a few other contacts who cannot see me online and I can't see them but we did authorise each other. we only see each other online when we attempt to call and the other party answer.

Skype is already an exception in windows firewall so it's likely not a firewall problem.

You mean 6th June?
Iread it, but it seems to be quite useless.
we are all using windows xp firewall, but skype is already on expception list...

I read that you send my skype name to the person who diagnose problems like mine, but I've never got in touch; I was waiting for a contact, because I have not skype name or mail address of this responsible.
Should I still wait? or please will you give me the contact?

Hi.

I'm having the same problem. Only thing is all my group members were already in the same group for over a year now and all of a sudden, since the past 60 or so days the problem appeared.

No changes made to the group, no changes to the users computers, OS, nothing... The problem simply started occurring.

Already checked Firewall settings and everyone has Skype listed and checked on their Exception Rules.

Has anyone already found a solution for that problem? Thanks!

could you please stop saying this is a firewall related problem!!

I have seen this issue reported in a lot of forums, communities and the bug tracker of Skype, and ALWAYS someone saying this is probably because of the firewall: BULLSHIT. This is a bug of Skype whose system of detecting presence (users being online or not) is unreliable. I have no firewall at all and have the issue, as do a huge lot of people; all the guides about configuring the firewall never solve the issue, or almost never. We should stop spreading this false myth that this is a firewall problem.

For some reason, Skype developers don't give a f*** about the problem, the evidence of this being that in more than 2 years the situation has not been improved. I don't believe the issue can be that difficult: never seen any other similar program (Messenger, etc) have such an issue. They seem to think it is not that important to know who is online and who is not, just because you can find out by sending a message or calling them. Do I need to say thiat is stupid?

I agree with Matteo. I e-mailed Skype support for this problem and got a half-baked copy and paste from the FAQ about settings and firewalls. If I know why and how to bypass a port on my router for BitTorrent, you'd think that I could allow Skype through my firewall.

What bothers me is that it used to work back in version 2 or 3, and now ever since version 4 it hasn't worked for my specific account. My parents' account is the same and no matter what I do - different computer, different contacts, different networks - nothing fixes it. It is an issue on Skype's side; not a user fault.

I have the same problem. Both me & my friend are online, but skype shows that we are "offline".

If I ignore the "offline" status, go ahead & call my friend. The phone will ring and my friend will answer. After this call, then our status will show "online". However, this is extremely inconveniance.

My old Skype didn't have this problem.

This is MJ again. My email is mjjdjj@gmail.com.

If anybody knows how to fix this "offline" problem, please HELP!!!

This past week I upgraded from version 3 of Skype to v4.1.0.166. Twice already I have experienced this same problem, where one or more of my contacts was online but appeared offline (the same was true on his end). This is definitely a problem with Skype v4, not firewalls, etc.

It's one thing if this affects a call with mom, but this has a direct negative impact on my business. I had an important call on Tuesday which didn't happen because it appeared my client was offline (and at that time I believed what Skype was telling me and didn't try to connect anyway.) He was mad that I "wasn't online" and missed the call.

I was looking forward to the improved voice and video quality of v4, but am forced now to uninstall it and re-install v3. In a business setting there is zero tolerance for this kind of bug. Having it work "sometimes" is not good enough.

It's interesting, Peter, that I haven't seen you admit that this is a problem, even though it's widespread in various forums, discussions, etc. and among the participants in this discussion. Why not?

Last month we deployed an upgrade from business v3.8 to business version v4.0.32.227. Since that time, strange behaviors including users truly online but showed offline, users online but showed as call forwarding, users losing their contacts, users not able to make calls while being connected wirelessly on their laptop.

One glimmer of hope is that we have ask the users to delete their contacts for those who seem to be problematic than add Skype contact again does this force the online status. Only problem, this doesn't always work and secondly, the following day some users revert back to the "offline" status or call forwarding status even though they're online.

Clearly, these issues are not new, in fact, they have been around since Skype was introduced.

We are now forced to reconsider migrating back to v3.8.

It's SAD that a business who 40M users globally can't develop a product that works successfully and secondly doesn't offer technical support via phone - enough with the forums where they don't respond or if they do, it's weeks later as their customer suffers.

I hope a competitor comes along and knocks them down because if you can't stand behind your product, you won't be there very long.

Every time I sign into skype it will give me the list of contacts and say which ones are online. Then if they get offline it still says they are on and it won't show me if somebody else gets on how do I fix this problem.