How to Use Skype
- Downloading Skype
- Installation
- Starting Skype for the First Time
- Personal Profile Information
- Quick-Start Guide (for advanced users)
- Improving Sound Quality
- Conference Calls
- Skype Tabs
- Contacts and Authorizations
- Online Status
- Speed-dial text field
- Calling with Skype
- Chatting with Skype
- Adding or Changing My Picture
- Translating Skype and Loading User-Defined Languages
- Uninstalling Skype
System Requirements
In order to use Skype software, your computer must meet the following minimum system requirements.
- Minimum System Requirements:
-
- PC running Windows 2000 or XP
- 400 MHz processor
- 128 MB RAM
- 15 MB free disk space on your hard drive
- Sound Card, speakers and microphone
- Internet Connection (either dial-up: minimum 33.6 Kbps modem, or any broadband: cable, DSL, etc.)
However, in order to take advantage of all of the advanced features of Skype and to experience the best sound quality possible, we highly recommend the following configuration.
- Recommended System Requirements:
-
- PC running Windows 2000 or XP
- 1 GHz processor
- 256 MB RAM
- 30 MB free space on your hard drive
- Full duplex sound card (most sound cards made after 1998), headset
- Cable, DSL or equivalent broadband connection to Internet
Downloading Skype
Skype software is free to download and you can always get the latest version here. If you have any problems using Skype, please first make sure that you are using the most recent version of the software.
To download Skype to your computer, simply click the download link. Save the installation file to your computer. Be sure to remember where you saved the file (the desktop might be a good place).
Installation
Once the file has downloaded completely, please open the folder containing the file you downloaded.
Double-click the installation file you just downloaded to start installing Skype on your computer.
Once the installation begins, you will be asked to read and accept our End User License Agreement prior to installing Skype.
Click “Accept” only after you have read and understood these terms and then follow the installation instructions on screen in order to choose a suitable location and other available options to install Skype. Most users will probably want to accept the default location and options.
If you wish, you can allow Skype to start automatically each time you start windows. With Skype always running, other users will be more likely to find you online. You can change these settings at any time from the Skype program by going to the “file” menu and selecting “options”.
Starting Skype for the First Time
The first time you start Skype, you will be asked to choose a Skype Name and password. The Skype Name and password fields are required in order to use Skype. You can choose any name but it must be at least 6 characters in length. If the name is already in use by someone else you will have to try another name.
Personal Profile Information
After you have selected a Skype Name and password, you will be asked to fill in a personal profile. Entering information in the personal profile is optional and if you chose to make the profile available to other Skype users, then they will be able to search for you using this information. PERSONAL PROFILE INFO IS NOT STORED BY US, BUT IS SHARED OUT TO OTHER SKYPE USERS IN THE NETWORK. Please see our privacy policy for more information. If you decide not to fill in your personal profile or if you want to change something, you can always access your User Profile from the File menu in the Skype software.
Quick-Start Guide (for advanced users)
If you are an advanced user or have used an Instant Message application before, many of the features of Skype may be familiar to you. This quick-start guide explains how you can quickly get started calling your friends once you have installed Skype software. Note that your friends must also install and register before they can start using Skype.
- Start Skype
- Log in with your Skype Name and password (this happens automatically by default if you have already chosen a Skype Name and password and you are connected to the Internet).
- When you start Skype for the first time, your Contact List will be empty. To find friends so that they can be added to your Contact’s, select the Search... option from the Tools menu or press the Search toolbar button. A new search window will open where you can search for friends by name, or any other information they have listed in their Personal Profile.
- To add a friend to your Contact List, simply right-click the name from the search results and select “add to Contacts”
- There are several ways to call a Contact
- Right-click the Skype Name in your Contact List or the search result and select “Call”
- Double-click the Skype Name in your Contact List or the search result
- Select a Skype Name and then click the “Call button” at the bottom of the window.
- If someone is calling you, you will hear the sound of a telephone ringing and the Skype icon in your system tray will flash. Go to the Skype application (if not already visible) and select whether you would like to answer or reject the call in the incoming call tab.
- As soon as you decide to answer a call, a two-way voice conversation will begin and the duration of the call will be visible.
- Either party can end the call at any time by clicking the hang-up button (in the call tab or in the quick toolbar, if visible).
Improving Sound Quality
To get the best possible sound quality, we highly recommend you try the following:
- Use a headset with a built in microphone. Headsets are available for purchase in the Skype Accessories Store or at most computer retailers and will dramatically improve sound quality.
- Tell your friend to get a headset. Note that voice quality is affected by the equipment on both sides of the conversation. The best way to ensure high quality sound is to have a headset on both ends of the conversation.
- If you don’t have a headset, you are still likely to improve sound quality if you:
- Use headphones instead of your computer speakers
- Try moving the microphone closer or further away from your mouth
- Use an external microphone (note that most laptops use low-quality microphones)
- Update your soundcard drivers
- Note that if you don’t own a microphone, you may be able to use a pair of headphones as a temporary solution by connecting these to the microphone jack of your sound card. Try it!
Conference Calls
It is now possible for up to 5 people to conference call with Skype! Starting a conference call is simple with Skype and there are several ways to do it. If you want to dial several people all at once and start a conference call with them, you first need to select participants from your Contact List by holding "ctrl" and clicking them. Once they have been selected, click the conference toolbar button. This will show you the conference tab and you will see the names of the participants you have called. If and when these participants answer your call, they will be added to the conference.
Or, if you are already in an active call and would like to add an additional participant to a conference, you can select the person you want to add to the conference from your contact list and click the conferencing toolbar button OR you can simply right-click a new contact from your Contact List and choose "Invite to conference"
Keep in mind that the host of the conference (the person who started the conference) is the only person that can add new participants. In addition, because Skype conferences are done Peer-to-Peer, it's important that the conference host (the person who starts the conference) has a good Internet connection and computer. If you are planning to conference with many participants you should choose the person with the best internet connection to be the initiator (host) of the conference.
Skype Tabs
Skype is divided into several tabs, each with a specific purpose. The Start Tab, Contacts Tab and Call List Tabs are always visible, whereas other tabs are only available when they are needed (for example, if you make a call or if someone calls you). To show a tab, simply click on the title bar. To close a tab, right-click and select “close tab”.
- Start Tab
- The Start Tab is automatically visible each time you start Skype and shows a summary of relevant information, including the number of friends online and whether you have missed any calls.
- Contacts Tab
- The Contacts Tab shows other Skype users which you have added to your Contact List. The icon next to the Skype Name indicates the Online Status of these users. You can right-click any Skype Name in your Contact List to see a number of choices for communicating with, or managing this user in your Contact List. To find friends, simply select the Search... option from the Tools menu. To add a friend to your Contacts, simply right-click a Skype Name in the search result and select “add to friends”.
- Call List Tab
- The Call List Tab shows a list of recent communication, including a list of recent calls you have made. The Call List is a convenient place to see who you spoke with and when. You can also use the Call List as a “redial” button by selecting any previous conversation and right-clicking “Call” in order to reestablish a call.
- Active Call Tab
- If you try to call someone or if someone tries to call you, you will see a new Call Tab appear in Skype. If you are being called, the Call Tab will appear and you will have the option to accept the call (by pressing the accept-call button or reject the call (by pressing the reject-call button.
Contacts and Authorizations
Contacts
Users that you have added to your Contact list are considered "Contacts" or "Friends". In the File->Options->Privacy tab you can choose to accept incoming calls or messages only from people on your Contact list and on File->Options->CallAlerts and TextMessageAlerts you can configure different alert levels for incoming communications based on whether the other party is in your Contact List or not.
Authorized users
Skype protects your privacy by showing the fact that you are online only to those users that you have explicitly authorized to see this information. When another user adds you to his/her Contact list, you'll get an Authorization Request pop-up dialog. If you "Accept" the request, the user is considered authorized by you. If you "Deny" the request, the user will not become authorized (note that nothing is communicated back to the requester). If you "Ignore" the request, the request will be shown on the "Start" tab until you want to deal with it. Note that in the File->Options->Privacy tab you can choose to accept incoming calls or messages only from people that you have authorized.
Blocked users
If you block a user, the user will no longer be able to communicate with you (and vice versa). You will always appear offline to the users that you have blocked. You can edit the list of blocked users in the Tools.ManageBlocked users dialog (or under File->Options->Privacy->Manage Blocked Users dialog).
Online Status
Your online status is shown in the status bar of Skype (located at the bottom of the Skype window). You can change your online status by clicking on the status icon or by selecting your status from the File menu.
Online status can be any of the following:
- Online – this is the default status when you have logged in to Skype.
- Away – this status is activated if you are logged on to Skype, but have not used your computer for a while
- Not available – this status is activated if you are logged on to Skype, but have not used your computer for an extended period of time
- Do not Disturb – you can use this status to indicate that you are busy
- Invisible – when using this status you can use Skype as if you were online, but others will see you as offline
- Offline – this means the user is not currently logged in to Skype, or has chosen to appear invisible or offline
Speed-dial text field
The Text Box near the bottom of the main Skype window allows you to call another Skype user directly by entering their Skype Name and pressing enter.
Calling with Skype
There are several ways to call another Skype user:
- From the Friends List or call log, simply right-click a Friend (who is also online) and select ”Call.” You can also select a Skype Name and press the Call button on the quick toolbar.
- From the textbox, enter the Skype Name of another Skype user and press enter.
- Double-click the Skype Name.
Chatting with Skype
Chat allows you to “chat” with other Skype users using your keyboard. You can chat to several people at the same time. For more info about Skype Chat, please see Skype Chat User Guide.
Adding or Changing My Picture
Open Skype and go to “File” on the menu. Select “Your Personal Profile” and open up your Skype Personal Profile.
You'll see the display picture box at the bottom left of your profile screen. To upload a Photo you that you already have saved on your computer, just click browse and import the image you want. You can upload both jpeg and bmp files.
If you don't have your own image, you can download one of the Skype Pictures from Skype Share site.
Translating Skype and Loading User-Defined Languages
The Skype program was originally developed in English, but it can easily be translated to any other language. We encourage our users to create and share translated language files (.lang) in order to help non-English speakers use Skype.
To translate Skype, choose “Edit Skype Language File” from the Tools menu. A simple text editor will appear, showing the name of the item to be translated on the left side, the original version in the middle, and the translated text on the right side. All of the text on the right side is translatable. To translate Skype, simply start by entering the new translated text on the right side. Items marked “Menu” apply to items in the menus of Skype. Items marked “Caption” appear in the title of Skype dialogues. Items marked “Hint” apply to mouse-over text.
If you are not sure about the context of a certain word or phrase, you can always press the “Apply” button to see your changes appear directly in the Skype program! Note that text which appears on the “About” screen of Skype will not be loaded.
Note that the legal text on our About page are never loaded by Skype in other languages so these never need to be translated.
To save your language file, simply click the “Save” button and give your language file a name. To load a language file, click the “Load” button and select a file with a .lang extension.
We encourage our users to visit our forum in order to share and discuss language files.
Uninstalling Skype
To uninstall Skype, open your control panel (Start->Control Panel, or Start->Settings->Control Panel) and choose “Add/Remove Programs”. Select Skype from the list and click on “Remove”. You will be asked if you would like to keep or remove your Contact List and Call List. This may be useful in case you think you may want to reinstall Skype sometime in the future (that way you don’t lose your Contact List). Choose the appropriate option to remove Skype from your computer.