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How to use Skype for personal and business calls and video conferencing
June 23, 2025
Skype is one of the most popularvideo,voice, andtext chatservices around. Its wide feature set and device compatibility make it one of the best options for keeping in touch with others from a distance. If you are trying to get in on the fun, let us help you with this guide. We’ll show you how to use Skype, as well as the necessary steps for setting it up.
Download the app
The official Skype app is available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The first step, of course, is todownload the app. Alternatively, you’re able to useSkype Onlinefrom any browser.
Create your Skype account
Downloading the app is only the first step. Now you need an account, and the good news is you only need to follow a few steps to accomplish this.
Adding contacts
You have an account, but your contact list is looking empty. You must add your friends and family as contacts. To do this, simply go to theContactssection and select theNew Contactbutton. You can add them using a phone number, typing in an email account, or searching for their Skype name. If you can’t find a contact, you can always ask him/her to provide you with the Skype name.
You will be asked to import your contacts from your Microsoft account upon creation of your Skype account. This obviously won’t work if your Microsoft account is new, but if you already have an account with a full list of contacts, this is a great way to get in touch with all your friends and family without adding them one by one. You may even find old friends in there!
How to use Skype chat, calls, and video chats
Once you have added a contact, you can simply look into yourContactslist and select the contact you want to initiate a conversation with. A chat window will open and you can start typing away. You can also start a voice call or a video call from this window.
Start a group chat
Your conversations don’t need to be with a single person at a time. Group chats can be a fun and convenient way to stay in touch with multiple participants simultaneously. To create a group chat simply go to theChatssection. You will find aNew Chatbutton. Select it and three options will be presented to you:New Group Chat,New Chat, andNew Private Conversation. Pick the first one, set a name for the chat, and select people from your contacts to include them in the conversation.
Keeping it hush with a Skype Private Conversation
Skype Private Conversations offer end-to-end encryption for calls, messages, and file delivery. Content will be hidden from chat list notifications. They will also be exclusive to the devices with which the invite was created or accepted. It’s a great way to protect your private conversations.
To create a Private Conversation simply go to theChatssection. You will find aNew Chatbutton. Select it and three options will be presented to you:New Group Chat,New Chat, andNew Private Conversation. Pick the latter, select the contact you want to have a private chat with, and wait for the person to accept the invite.
Making calls and sending texts to phone numbers
One of the best features baked into Skype is that it can be used as a way to contact phone numbers, not just Skype-to-Skype users. Of course, this is not a free feature. You will need to pay by getting Skype Credit or paying for a subscription.
Another great feature at your disposal is the ability to pay for a phone number. You can get a phone number to which your contacts can call or send texts to. All calls and messages will go through the app and you can continue the conversation from any of your devices.
Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business features
Those using Skype for professional matters are likely looking into Microsoft Teams, which now includes Skype for Business, as well as other professional tools and services. This includes more professional services and a few work-focused features. Let’s cover some of them.
How to set your availability status:
You can easily tell your co-workers about your current availability. You can set your status to available, in a meeting, or presenting. Regular Skype users can also pick Active, Away, Do not disturb, or Invisible.
How to schedule a meeting with a contact
If one of your contacts is busy, Skype for Business makes it simple to schedule a meeting with others.
How to share your screen on Skype
Sometimes showing your computer’s screen is the best way to visualize an idea. This is easy to do on Skype for business.
How to record a meeting
How to schedule a Meeting Broadcast
You can broadcast video meetings to up to 10,000 viewers. This is great for those larger conferences where having a traditional meeting is not the most convenient option.
Now you know how to use Skype and perform all basic operations, go get busy talking to your friends and family. This is also a popular app for work-related conference calls and meetings, so you can also get productive with it. Enjoy!
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