Skype

First, you need to download Skype onto your device. The next step is to create an account, if you do not already have one.

Once you have used your account to sign in to Skype on your device, the next step is to add some contacts. See my earlier answer in this post for tips on how to do that.

Once you have a few contacts, it is time for you to start calling, sending messages or sharing files and screens. If you are having trouble finding your way around Skype, you have to search in skype support.

Registered users of Skype are identified by a unique Skype Name and may be listed in the Skype directory. Skype allows these registered users to communicate through both instant messaging and voice chat. Voice chat allows telephone calls between pairs of users and conference calling and uses a proprietary audio codec. Skype's text chat client allows group chats, emoticons, storing chat history and editing of previous messages. Offline messages were implemented in a beta of version 5 but removed after a few weeks without notification. The usual features familiar to instant messaging users to user profiles, online status indicators and so on are also included.

Skype is a computer program that can be used to make free voice calls over the internet to anyone else who is also using Skype. It is free and considered easy to download and use and works with most computers.

There are a lot of things that can cause issues with your audio setup.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that there must be a working microphone and speakers on both sides of the call. For example, if your friend can not hear you it could be a problem with your microphone or with their speakers or both.

There is a basic guide to diagnosing audio issues which is a good place to start. If you are still having difficulty, Skype Support has a guide on solving call quality problems.

Skype is available on a wide range of devices, from computers, mobiles and tablets to home phones, TVs and more.

There are a few things that you can do before starting a Skype call to get the best possible audio and video quality.

☛ Get enough light in the room and on your face

☛ Pick a quiet, comfortable space

☛ Dark backgrounds erase your features

A well lit room can have a big positive impact on the video quality of your calls. If you have a bright light behind you pointing into your webcam then your face will appear dark and featureless to whoever you are calling. If the overall level of light in your room is low then your webcam will try and amplify the light to make the picture brighter and that will reduce the video quality. A well lit room is one where there is a good amount of ambient light and where you will not have any bright lights right behind you.

The first thing to do is check the Heartbeat blog to make sure Skype's services are all running well. If there are no issues reported there, it is time to look a little closer to home for the source of the problem.

From shaky internet connections, to installation problems and firewalls, there are many potential causes for connection issues with Skype. The Skype Support team have put together a guide to solving the most common connection problems.

Using Skype Credit or a subscription, you can make low cost calls to landlines and mobiles. You can also send text messages, buy a Skype Number so your friends can call you and you can answer in Skype or set up Skype To Go™ for your friends so you can call them when you are abroad.

With Skype WiFi you can connect to public WiFi hot spots around the world and pay for the minutes that you need using your Skype Credit.

Before you start your call you can test to see whether your video is working in Skype for Windows desktop and Skype for Mac.

If you find your video is not working, start with the basics such as turning your device off and back on again and checking that your webcam is plugged in. If none of that helps there are more steps you can take to troubleshoot video problems.

No, the person you are calling does not need Skype Translator to receive the call from you, but they do need a desktop version of Skype.

In the preview, first two languages Skype Translator supports are English (US) and Spanish. Skype is working on additional languages and its long-term goal is to be able to translate as many languages as possible. Additional details will be disclosed as other languages become available.

Skype also has 44 languages available to translate instant messages today.

Quiet spaces are best for audio quality because there is less noise for your voice to compete with. But before you go lock yourself in the shed to get some peace and quiet, I should tell you that big empty spaces create echoes which could make it hard for others to hear you. The perfect space for Skype audio quality is quiet but has some obstacles for those echoes, such as a soft comfy couch.

These are the few things you should check before singing in to skype:

☛ Are you connected to the internet?

☛ Is Skype experiencing any service issues?

☛ Can you get to a point where you are asked to enter your Skype credentials?

☛ Are your username and password correct?

☛ Check what is stopping the software from connecting

☛ Get help from the Community

Skype also offers help and support via:

☛ The Skype Support website:

Where you are right now. Search around for your issue, there is probably an article available to help and instructions on how to fix it right away.

☛ The Skype Community:

Expert Skypers and moderators provide answers 24 hours a day. It is searchable so an answer may already exist for your question.

You can contact Customer Service via email and live chat. Make sure you can sign into Skype first, if you can not sign into your account, but still need to contact customer service follow these steps:

☛ Go to the Support request page.

☛ Select the topic you need help with and the issue you are experiencing.

☛ Skype will offer advice that may help with your problem.

☛ If that still does not help, click the Next button.

☛ Select your contact method.

☛ If you chose email, enter your details, describe your issue and then click Send. Skype will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you switch from your phone to your computer to make your video calls, there is no need for the selfie fun to stop there. With hotkeys in Skype for Windows desktop you can set Skype to take a snapshot of your active video call with the touch of a button.

The Skype Translator preview is a pre-release version that provides an opportunity for people to try the product and provide feedback. Skype Translator uses machine learning, which means that the more it is used, the smarter it gets.

The steps to reset your password depend among other things, on how you sign in to Skype:

☛If you signed in with your Skype Name you can reset your password on the Forgotten your password page.

☛If you signed into Skype using your Microsoft account, you can reset your password using the steps on the Microsoft account page.

☛If you signed into Skype with your Facebook account and forgot your password, you can find instructions on resetting it on this Facebook page.

☛If you are still having difficulty, take a look at this guide to resetting your password.

There are some issues such as the blank blue screen which might stop you from even trying to enter your Skype username and password. If you can get to a point where you can enter your credentials.

These can be issues with the way Skype is installed on your device. As a first step, try uninstalling Skype, restarting your device and reinstalling Skype.