Skype is a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It's free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers. Now it also supports video conferencing over the net. 'Some of you may experience problems with Skype presence and may not see online. We have detected an issue with the status settings of Skype. Affected users will not be able to change their status.
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You can quickly troubleshoot issues with Skype contacts, passwords, audio, video, conversations, webcams, Wi-Fi — and just about anything else that hampers your success with this communication system.
Anyone Else Had Problems Downloading Skype For Mac
Here are some common problems, alongside possible solutions to improve your Skype experiences.
Skype Problem | How You Might Handle |
---|---|
My Contacts search yields too many names and I can’t find the person I’m looking for. | It helps to sort the list by Country/Region. Just click the column header of the search results. Entering more precise search terms also helps. The more data you enter, the better the search results. |
I signed up with Skype, but no one can find my Skype Name. | Add more information to your profile to yield better search results for your new contacts. At the very least, fill in your country and language. |
I want a secure password, but it needs to be one I can remember. | Pick two easy but unrelated, words. Separate them by a number, such as latte67chair. |
I can’t find the audio jack in my Macintosh computer. How do I use a headset/microphone with it? | Macintosh accepts audio input from USB devices. Purchase a USB microphone or headset. |
I misplaced my microphone, and no one I speak with using Skype can hear me. | In a pinch, use an extra set of headsets that you plug into the microphone jack. Not the best quality sound, but it works. |
I have 50 contacts, but I want to converse with only 15. That’s a lot of scrolling, clicking, and inviting. | Create separate groups in your Contacts list (family, club, softball buddies) and add contacts from your Skype Contacts list to your new group. Click the contact group of your choice and then start your conversation. |
I want to transfer a file to 15 buddies simultaneously. What do I do? | Highlight the groups you have created. Right-click the group you want to send a file to and select Send File. You will need to locate and open the file you want to send. A quicker way to send the file is to just drag the file onto the conversation window when you have already chosen the group. |
I’ve changed the font style in my conversation window and I want to go back to the default but don’t remember what font it is. | Tahoma, 8 points, Western Script. |
I have too many devices attached to my computer during a video conference. Help! | Get a webcam with a built-in microphone and noise cancellation. Your life will get easier! |
I just installed a video driver, but my video is not working correctly. | Make sure that you turned off anti-virus and anti-adware software before installing video drivers. |
I just installed a new webcam, but it’s not working properly. | Make sure that you plug in the webcam when the software prompts you. Most video drivers are installed first; the webcams are plugged in after installation. |
My video is not working properly. | Check for the latest updates from your webcam’s Web site. |
I put my Skype online number on my business card and now I’m getting calls at 2 o’clock in the morning! | Always indicate your local time zone when giving out your Skype online number. |
I don’t hear anything through my USB headsets. | Plug in your headsets before your start Skype. If you’ve started Skype, quit and restart. |
I have a Bluetooth headset to use with my Macintosh speech-recognition software, but nothing is happening. | A Bluetooth headset does not work with some older Macintosh speech recognition systems. However, you can use a Plantronics CS50-USB wireless headset (it’s not Bluetooth). |
I’m trying to make an International call, but it’s not working. | Remember to enter a plus sign (+) before a country code and then enter the telephone number. |
I set up a Skype Internet Telephone with a USB base station. Now I don’t hear the music from my computer’s MP3 player. | Check your audio settings. Some Internet phones become the default audio device and work only with Skype. |
Skylook records my conversations. Where do I find them? | Skylook creates a Conversations folder in your Outlook inbox. |
I’m using Pamela. I want to record sometimes, but not all the time. | Ignore the recording prompt. It will go away after 10 seconds and not record anything. |
When I’m in a Skype conference and transferring a file, our voices get harder to understand. | Put the conference on hold, transfer your files, and then resume the conference. The files will transfer faster and your voice quality won’t suffer. |
How do I let skypers know what time zone I’m in? | Include your time zone in your Skype Profile. |
I want to find out my Skype contact’s e-mail address; how do I search for it? | You can’t through Skype; e-mail addresses are not revealed. Just ask your contact. |
I have a webcam that I use with Skype, but I’m afraid someone will see me in my pajamas. | Don’t worry. Skype video does not start automatically. You have to select the video to activate it or choose it to activate when you receive a call. |
Can I make an emergency call on Skype? | No. You must use a regular phone. |
I want to purchase Skype credits. What do I need to do this? | You must have a Skype password and a valid e-mail address to purchase Skype credit. |
I have Skype credit. Do I need to use it up in the 180-day time limit? | No. Just keep it alive by making one call within 180 days to extend it for another 180 days. If you don’t use it at all, however, it will be lost after 180 days. |
I have Outlook Express. Will Skylook work? | No. Skylook works only with Outlook. |
I have a huge list of Outlook Contacts showing in my Skype Contacts list. What do I do? | This is happening because you have a check mark next to View Outlook Contacts in your Skype View menu, To remove the check mark, choose View→View Outlook Contacts. |
My Skype Profile photo is not the right size. What size should it be? | Profile photos should be 96 by 96 pixels. |
I have a poor Skype connection. What can I do to make it clearer? | Hang up. Set your Skype status to Offline for 15 seconds and then call again. With luck, the connection is reset and the sound quality is higher. |
I have a long Contacts list and I’m afraid I will lose the information if my computer crashes. How do I back my list up? | If you use the latest version of Skype there is no need to backup contacts as they are stored centrally on the Skype servers and can be accessed from any Internet-connected computer, as long as you sign in with the same Skype Name and password. |
I’ve plugged in my USB headset, and now I can’t hear Skype ringing unless my headset is on. What can I do? | On the Skype menu, choose Skype Tools→Options→Audio Devices. The ringing option should be set to the speakers on your computer. Also, check the Ring PC Speaker check box. After setting these options, click Save. |
I want my Skype status icon to remain on Available. It keeps changing even though my Skype program is running. | On the Skype menu, choose Tools→Options→General and set the Show Me as Away When I Am Inactive option to zero. |
I forgot my Skype password. | If you entered an e-mail address when you registered for Skype, you can request a new password by filling out a form after which a new password will be e-mailed to you. Go to https://secure.skype.com/account/password-reset-request and fill in the form. |
Most of the time, Skype just works. But sometimes, you’ll run into a snag and find that Skype can’t connect or otherwise isn’t working right. These troubleshooting steps will solve most common Skype problems, whether your microphone isn’t working or the other person sounds like a robot.
If you still find that Skype is not working after following these steps, be sure to ask the person you’re contacting to try them too—the problem could be on their end.
1. Check Skype Heartbeat
Before you do any troubleshooting, you should check if Skype itself is having issues. If Skype won’t connect or you can’t use a specific Skype feature, check the Skype Heartbeat page. You can also access this by clicking the Help menu in Skype and selecting Heartbeat (Skype Status).
Download Skype For Mac
The heartbeat page informs you of Skype’s system status. If there are any problems with Skype’s infrastructure, you’ll see them here. The page also lists recent Skype issues 7 Skype Bugs That Microsoft Could Have AvoidedHave you been struggling with Skype? The latest update was full of bugs again. Microsoft released a fix. Still many issues remain. What's the beef you have with Skype? Read More at the bottom as a reference. You can’t do anything about these issues—wait for Microsoft to fix them and try connecting later.
2. Review Skype Audio Settings
If your Skype microphone is not working, you can test your microphone (and speakers) from the Audio Settings panel. Open the Options window in Skype by clicking Tools > Options.
To test your microphone, speak into it. You should see the green volume bar under Microphone move as you speak.
If you don’t see the volume bar move, click the dropdown box next to Microphone and select another device. Keep trying different devices until you see the volume slider move when you talk. In a pinch, try using your smartphone as a makeshift microphone How to Use Your Smartphone as a Windows MicrophoneWhat if your computer doesn't have a microphone and you need one right now? Simply hook up your smartphone as a mic! Read More .
Windows 10 users may have blocked apps from using their microphone altogether. To check this, head to Settings > Privacy and select the Microphone tab to the left. Enable the Allow apps to access your microphone slider, and make sure the Skype app has permission too.
No sound in Skype? Test your speakers in the same way by clicking the Play button to the right of the Speakers box. You should hear the Skype call sound. If you don’t, select a different device from the Speakers dropdown box and try again.
3. Troubleshoot Audio Hardware
If playing with the options on the Audio Settings panel doesn’t help, examine your hardware itself. Some microphones and headsets have volume sliders or mute switches on their cords. Thus, you could have accidentally moved the slider or flipped the switch.
Also, check to make sure that your microphone and speakers are plugged into the correct ports. You can plug USB microphones into any USB slot, while analog microphones must connect to the correct sound jack.
The microphone jack is usually the pink one, although different audio hardware may sometimes use different colors.
If you’re using a desktop computer and the microphone doesn’t work when it’s plugged into the sound jack at the front of the PC, try the sound jack at the back of the computer. You may need to troubleshoot your microphone How to Fix Your Microphone Problems in Windows 10Is your mic not working at all or cutting out constantly? Try these sound input troubleshooting tips for Windows. Read More if nothing works.
4. Edit Skype Video Settings
Assuming you have a webcam, you can configure it from the Video settings pane in Skype’s Options window.
![Anyone else had problems downloading skype for mac Anyone else had problems downloading skype for mac](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126446866/183891505.jpg)
If your webcam is connected and you don’t see it in this window, you may need to install drivers for it. You can usually grab drivers from your webcam or computer manufacturer’s website.
![Download skype for mac Download skype for mac](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126446866/545206920.png)
As mentioned in the microphone troubleshooting section, you should also check Windows 10’s privacy settings for camera access. Visit Settings > Privacy and open Camera on the left sidebar. Make sure you have Allow apps to access your camera enabled, as well as confirming Skype has permission.
Check out our guide to troubleshooting Skype webcam problems Skype Video Not Working? How to Test and Troubleshoot Your CameraIt is frustrating when Skype video is not working. Use this checklist to solve the common problems with Skype's video stream. Read More for more information.
5. Make a Skype Test Call
If everything above works properly, try a test call. One way you can perform this is by clicking the Make a free test call link at the bottom of the Audio settings window. You can also add the Skype user named echo123 (named Echo / Sound Test Service) to your contacts list and call it as a test.
The call testing service will ask you to speak into your microphone after a beep. It records what you say and, after a few seconds, plays your message back to you. This ensures that everything is working properly—your microphone, speakers, and the network connection. If the call worked properly, you should be good to go.
At this point, if you can’t hear another person on Skype, it’s probably a problem on their end.
6. Double-Check Bandwidth Usage
If you—or anyone else on your network—are overloading your network bandwidth with intensive tasks like downloading large files or streaming 4K video, you’ll experience poor call quality. One of the obvious signs of network congestion is robotic-sounding voices. Skype will usually display a red connection icon when this is happening.
Close any file-downloading programs (both on your computer and on other computers on the network) and try placing the Skype call again. If you’re on a Wi-Fi network, try moving closer to your router to improve your connection. You might also want to run through our network troubleshooting guide Network Problems? 7 Diagnostic Tricks and Simple FixesNetwork problems must be diagnosed before they can be resolved. This article covers seven simple tricks for fixing your network. Read More if you’re having further network problems.
Skype Problems Solved!
Using this quick checklist, you can eliminate common Skype problems and make your calls sound great. Most of the time, what seems like a huge problem is a pretty simple fix.
Remember that for Skype group calls, one user experiencing any of these problems could affect the quality for everyone. Also, you can always get more troubleshooting tips from the call quality guide integrated into Skype. Click the Help menu and select Call Quality Guide to open it.
You can become a better user with our top Skype efficiency tips 10 Tips to Make You a More Efficient Skype UserSkype can do more than you think. With this article, you'll learn all about its best hidden and advanced features. It's the Skype productivity manual. Read More . Or if you’ve decided that it isn’t worth it after all, perhaps because of Skype’s security issues, try one of the best free alternatives to Skype Sick of Skype? 7 Best Free Skype AlternativesSkype alternatives can free you from mediocrity and greatly improve the video chat experience. This article covers eight options. Read More .
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