here's how to use skype
use the clickable sections below to skip
through different parts of this tutorial
skype is a video audio and chat platform
available on desktop mobile and tablets
we'll use the desktop app version for
this tutorial
first go to skype.com and download the
program or application onto your
computer
and install to use skype
you'll need to sign into your microsoft
account
if you don't have one already you can
get one for free
at microsoft.com once you've signed in
you'll be taken to the skype home page
on the top left you'll see your profile
name
click here to see more of your profile
underneath your profile name you'll see
your username
your profile name is your display name
your skype username
is your unique name you'll share with
others so they can find you
underneath your username you can change
your status from active
we'll set ours to away so our contacts
know not to call us
underneath you'll see your status where
you can share with others what you're up
to let's let them know we're in a
meeting
under your profile you'll find the tabs
chat call contacts
and notifications click here to launch
each section
under the chat tab you'll see all your
chat activity and conversations
under the call tab you'll see your call
history
click on the contacts tab to find a
contact you've already connected with on
skype
to see all your latest news open up the
notifications page
to chat with someone on skype click on
the chat tab
and then new chat from the drop down
choose new chat again and then select
the contact you want
a chat window will appear
type your message in the window and then
click send
there are other functions you can use in
the skype chat window
as well as typing a message such as
adding emojis
attaching files and sharing your
location
you can find all of these functions here
once you've sent a message you'll see an
icon appear under the message
to show you they've received it if they
start responding
it'll show their typing here
to video or audio call the contact
you're chatting with
click on the icons here if you want to
change your chat to a group chat
click the group icon here and then add
the contacts you want to join
you can audio and video call another
skype user
for free to call someone
click on the calls tab and then select
new call pop-up window will appear
showing all your skype contacts search
for the contact you want using their
name
or username and you'll see them appear
if they're not already in your contacts
they'll appear under more people
click the check mark next to their name
and then select
call if you have their contacts saved
it may give you the option to call free
on skype
or to call their mobile choose call free
on skype
to call them for free select
call again in the top right corner and
then
call free on skype again to audio call
you can also select video call
let's start with an audio call you'll
see the call is connecting in the top
left corner
once the call starts ringing to mute and
unmute yourself during the call
click on the microphone icon to turn
your camera on
and swap the audio call to a video call
click the video icon here
to send a chat message to the other
person on the call click on the chat
icon
you can show them what's on your screen
by clicking on the
share your screen button
to send animated emojis click on the
react button
and select the emoji you want from the
drop down
to hang up click the red icon
you can also call a mobile or landline
using skype for a small charge
on the home page next to your profile
name you'll find your skype balance here
this is how much credit your account
currently has to make calls
you'll need some credit in your account
to be able to call a mobile or landline
to add credit click on the amount and
then continue on the pop-up window
you can add credit or choose a monthly
subscription from the options below
select the choice you want
and then click buy credit or
try free for a month and then continue
to process the payment
once you have credit in your skype
account click on the calls tab
and then new call from the pop-up window
select the dial pad icon in the top
right corner
and then type the phone number you want
to call
click the call icon to start dialing
to start a video call click on the calls
tab
and then meet now from the drop down
choose host a meeting and then continue
you'll see yourself appear in a video
call
next to what is this meeting about type
in a description
to add contacts to the call click skype
contacts
and then search for the people you want
to add select them using the check mark
next to their name
and then done you can also ask people to
join by sharing a link to the meeting
click
share invite and then choose how you
want to send it from the drop-down menu
click start meeting to begin the call
to mute or unmute yourself click on the
microphone icon
to turn your video off click on the
video icon
click on the chat icon to message
everyone in the meeting
and share documents you can also raise
your hand during a group skype call
by clicking the raise your hand icon
you can change the way you see other
people on the call by selecting the drop
down arrow next to grid view
and selecting a different view if you're
hosting a meeting
you can use the record function to
record a copy of the skype call
to end or leave the conference click on
the hang up button
to add a skype contact click on the
contacts tab
and then select new contact a pop-up
window will appear
you can search for contacts by their
username display name
or mobile number select the contacts you
want from the list below
and click add they'll receive a
notification
asking them if they want to accept the
connection request