Skype User Manual

How to use video chat

Table of Contents
Getting started with Skype (Windows) ......................................................................................................... 3 To create a Skype account ........................................................................................................................ 3 To download the latest version of Skype .................................................................................................. 4 To sign in to Skype for the first time ......................................................................................................... 5 Finding your way around Skype (Windows) ................................................................................................. 8 Adding contacts (Windows) .................................................................................................................... 10 To add a single contact ....................................................................................................................... 10 To import multiple contacts................................................................................................................ 12 Calling someone who's on Skype (Windows) ......................................................................................... 14 To call someone in your contact list ................................................................................................... 14 Useful things you can do on a call....................................................................................................... 16 Making a conference call (Windows) ...................................................................................................... 16 To call a new group ............................................................................................................................. 17 To call a saved group........................................................................................................................... 20 Useful things you can do on a call....................................................................................................... 20 Making a video call (Windows) ............................................................................................................... 20 Before you make a video call .............................................................................................................. 20 To make a video call ............................................................................................................................ 20 Useful things you can do on a call....................................................................................................... 23 Making a group video call (Windows)..................................................................................................... 23 Before you make a group video call.................................................................................................... 23 To make a group video call ................................................................................................................. 23 Useful things you can do on a call....................................................................................................... 27

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Getting started with Skype (Windows)

Never used Skype before? Dont worry, its easy to get started. All you need to do is: Create a Skype account Choose your Skype Name and enter your details so friends can find you on Skype. Get Skype Download Skype to your computer. Sign in to Skype Sign in and add your friends as contacts, then call, video call and instant message with them, wherever you are. It's that simple.

To create a Skype account

1 Go to Create an account. Enter your name and email address.

Enter your profile information. The more details you enter here, the easier it will be for your friends to find you on Skype. Enter a Skype Name. This is the name your friends will use to contact you on Skype.

4 It must be between 6-32 characters, start with a letter and contain only letters and numbers (no spaces or special characters).

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Important: After you have created your Skype Name, you cannot change it so make sure youre happy with it. If someone already has the Skype Name youve entered, select one of the suggestions displayed or try entering a different one. Enter the password you want to use to sign in to Skype. Your password is case sensitive, must 5 be between 6 and 20 characters, and must contain at least one letter and one number. Enter the security words displayed in the box. This just verifies that youre a real person.

7 Read the Skype Terms of Use and the Skype Privacy Statement, then click I agree Continue.

To download the latest version of Skype

a. 1. Download Skype now 2. When the File Download screen is displayed, click Save. b. c. 3. Choose somewhere on your computer to save the SkypeSetup file and click Save. 4. When itd. downloaded, go to the location you saved the SkypeSetup file to and doublehas click it. e. 5. When the Open File screen is displayed, click Run. 6. Select your language, read the Skype End User License Agreement and the Skype Privacy 2. Statement, and then click I agree next.

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Your Skype installation starts. When it is complete, Skype opens and the Welcome to Skype sign-in screen is displayed.

To sign in to Skype for the first time

On the Welcome screen, enter your Skype Name and password and click Sign me in.

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If this is the first time that you have signed in to Skype, you can now check your sound and video to ensure they are set up correctly and add a profile picture for your Skype account. Click Continue. Select the speakers, microphone and webcam you want to use with Skype, and then click Continue.

3 Dont worry if youre not sure what sound and video you want to use with Skype or dont want to adjust your settings right now - you can change your settings at any time.

You can now add a profile picture to make it easier for your friends and family to find you on Skype. 4 Click Continue. If you dont want to add your profile picture right now, just click Add later and go to Step 6. To take a picture of yourself using your webcam, click Take a picture.

Alternatively, if you already have a picture that you want to use as your profile picture, click Browse to find and select it. The picture you have taken or selected is displayed. If you want to resize the picture, use the slider underneath it.

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If you are not happy with the picture, click Try again to take another picture or select a different one. When you are happy with your profile picture, click Use this picture. Your profile summary is displayed. Click Start using Skype.

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Finding your way around Skype (Windows)

To open Skype, double-click the Skype icon on your desktop (or choose it from the Windows Start menu), then sign in with your Skype Name and password.

A. Menu bar. Includes all the options that will help you get the most out of Skype. B. Status bar. You can change your Skype status and access Skype Home from here. C. Call phones bar. Displays the dial pad so you can call phones and mobiles.

D. Contact list. Lists your contacts and lets you see their status. E. Facebook list. Lists all of your friends from your Facebook account, and shows whether they are online, away, or offline on Facebook. F. Recent list. Lists the recent conversations youve had in Skype .

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G. Contact summary. Displayed when you select a contact or set up a group chat. Summarizes the details of the contacts youre currently chatting to in Skype. H. Conversation window. Displayed when you select a contact or set up a group chat. Shows the
instant message conversation youre having. The buttons at the top of the conversation window let you call someone on Skype, send files, send contacts, share your screen or add more people to the conversation. You can also check your call quality information.

I. Conversation box. Displayed when you select a contact or set up a group chat. Use this box to type and send your instant messages and text messages.

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J. Add a contact. Lets you search for your friends and add them as contacts. K. Create a group. Lets you create a group so that you can make a conference call or group video call.

Adding contacts (Windows)

It's easy to find your friends who are using Skype and add them to your contact list.

To add a single contact

1. In Skype, from the menu bar, click Contacts > Add a Contact.

2. Enter the email, phone number, full name or Skype Name of the person you want to add. 3. If one match is found and it's the person you are looking for, click Add.

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4. 4 If more than one account matches your search, click View to see a list of matches. From the list of matches, click Add contact below the one you want to add.

Now you need to send the person a contact request. Enter some text to introduce yourself and 6 click Send request.

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The contact is added to your contact list, but will appear offline until they accept your request. When they have accepted your request, you can see when they are online, and make free calls and video calls with them.

To import multiple contacts

To import contacts from Facebook or your email address book: In Skype, from the menu bar, click Contacts > Import Contacts.

2 3

Select the type of email account you have. If you cant see your email account, click Other for more options. Enter your user name and password for the email account and click Import.

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The people in your address book who already have Skype accounts or phone numbers associated with their email accounts are listed.

To import all contacts listed, click Add contacts. To import only some contacts, remove the checks from those you dont want to import and click Add contacts.

If you dont want to add any contacts from the list, click Skip. The people in your address book who dont have Skype accounts or phone numbers are listed. 5 To send a message to some or all of these people inviting them to download Skype, select the people you wish to send a message to, type a message or use the one provided, and click Send email.

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If you dont want to send any messages, click Skip. Your selected contacts are added to your contact list, but will appear offline until they accept your request. When they have accepted your request, you can see when they are online, and make free calls and video calls with them.

Calling someone who's on Skype (Windows)

You can talk to anyone else on Skype, anywhere in the world, for free. First you need to find your friends who are using Skype and add them to your contact list. Get help with adding contacts. When you've added your friends, it's really easy to call them.

To call someone in your contact list

In Skype, click the Contacts tab.

2 Find the person you want to call. If you have lots of contacts, you can type a name into the
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search box to find the person you're looking for. Click the contact. You will see their details in the main window.

Remember: if the contact has one of these status icons next to their name it means they're on Skype so it's free to call.

If you see one of these icons it means they're on a phone or mobile so you will need a little Skype Credit or a subscription to call.

Click Call.

The screen changes colour, a call bar appears near the bottom of the screen and you will hear
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ringing until the other person answers. If you don't hear the other person or they can't hear you, click the call quality icon in the call bar (you may have to move your mouse to make the call bar appear).

Get more help with checking your call settings. To hang up, click the End call button. 6

Useful things you can do on a call

1. Hide or reveal your Contacts, Facebook or Recent lists. 2. Show the IM window so you can instant message the person you are talking to. 3. If you've got a webcam plugged in, turn on video so that the other person can see you. Learn more about making a video call. 4. Mute your microphone so the other person can't hear you. 5. Send files, send contacts, share your desktop or add people to the conversation. 6. Adjust your call settings, including your speaker volume. 7. View or exit full screen mode.

Making a conference call (Windows)

You can share a conference call with up to 25 people, anywhere in the world, and if everyones on Skype its completely free. If youre calling people who are on a phone or mobile, youll need a little Skype Credit or a
subscription.

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To call a new group

In Skype, from the menu bar, click Contacts > Create New Group.

From the Contacts tab, click a contact you wish to add to the conference call and drag it into the Empty group area.

Repeat this for each of the contacts you wish to add to the conference call, or click the + button and select Add people to this conversation. In the Add people screen, select who you want to 3 add (Ctrl-click to select multiple people) and click Select and then Add.

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You can add up to 24 contacts. Click the Call group button.

4 The screen changes colour, a call bar appears near the bottom of the screen and you will hear ringing until the first person answers.

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If you can't hear each other, click the call quality button in the call bar and check your settings (you may have to move your mouse to make the call bar appear).

Get more help with checking your call settings. To drop individual people from the call, move your mouse over the persons image and click the red icon. Youll only be able to do this if you are the host of the conference call. To end the call completely, click End call. 6

You can save this group in your contacts so you can call it again. At the top right, click the Save group in contacts button, enter a name for the group and click OK.
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To call a saved group

1 On the Contacts or Recent tab, find the group you want to call and click it. If you have lots of contacts, you can use the Search box to find the group. Click the Call group button.

Useful things you can do on a call

1. Send an instant message to the people on the call. When you receive an instant message, an orange dot appears on the icon. 2. Mute your microphone so the other people can't hear you. 3. Send files, send contacts, or add more people to the conversation. 4. Check your call quality settings and adjust your speaker volume.

Making a video call (Windows)

First you need to find your friends who are using Skype and add them to your contact list. Get help with adding contacts. When youve added your friends, its easy to video call them.

Before you make a video call

Check that your system meets these requirements. The person you are calling will also need to meet these system requirements. 2 Check that your webcam is working properly. If its not working, these tips can help. 1

To make a video call

1 In Skype, click the Contacts tab.

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Find the person you want to call and check that they are online. If they are, you will see this status icon next to their name.

2 If you see one of these icons, it means the person is on a phone or mobile so you wont be able to video call, but you can make a voice call with a little Skype Credit or a subscription.

Click the contact. You will see their details in the main window.

Click the Video call button. 4 The screen changes colour, a call bar appears near the bottom of the screen and you will hear ringing until the other person answers. Smile, wave, say hello!

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If you can't see or hear each other, click the call quality button in the call bar and check your settings (you may have to move your mouse to make the call bar appear).

To hang up, click the End Call button.

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Useful things you can do on a call

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Hide or reveal your Contacts, Facebook, or Recent lists. Show the IM window so you can instant message the person you are talking to. Turn your webcam off so the other person cant see you. Mute your microphone so the other person can't hear you. Send files, send contacts, share your desktop, take a picture or add people to the conversation. 6. Check your call quality information and adjust your volume. 7. View or exit full screen mode.

Making a group video call (Windows)

Before you make a group video call

1 Check that your webcam is working properly. If its not working, these tips can help. At least one of the people on the call must have Skype Premium (for personal accounts) or a 2 group video subscription (for business accounts). 3 Each person on the call will also need to ensure that their system meets these requirements.

To make a group video call

1 In Skype, from the menu bar, click Contacts > Create new group.

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From the Contacts tab, click a contact you wish to add to the group video call and drag it into the Empty group area.

Repeat this for each of the contacts you wish to add to the call, or click the + button and select Add People to this conversation. In the Add people screen, select who you want to add (Ctrl3 click to select multiple people) and click Select and then Add.

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You can add up to nine contacts, but for the best quality, we recommend group video calls with up to five contacts. Click the Video call button. 4 The screen changes colour, a call bar appears near the bottom of the screen and you will hear ringing until the other person answers. Smile, wave, say hello to everyone!

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If you can't see or hear each other, click the call quality button in the call bar and check your settings (you may have to move your mouse to make the call bar appear).

To drop individual people from the call, move your mouse over the persons image and click the red icon. Youll only be able to do this if you are the host of the group video call. To hang up, click the End Call button. 7

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Useful things you can do on a call

1. Hide or reveal your Contacts, Facebook, or Recent lists. 2. Show the IM window so you can instant message the people on the call. 3. Turn your webcam off so the group cant see you. When your webcam is off, a red line appears on this icon. 4. Mute your microphone so the group can't hear you. When your microphone is off, a red line appears on this icon. 5. Send files, send contacts, share your desktop, take a picture or add people to the conversation. 6. Check your call quality information and adjust your volume. 7. View or exit full screen mode.

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