Skype is a video, audio and chat platform available on desktop mobile and tablets.

We'll use the desktop version for this tutorial.

First, go to Skype com and download the program or application onto your computer on 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 dot 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 user name.

Your profile Name is your display Name your Skype user name is your unique name.

You'll share with others so they can find you underneath your user name.

You can change your status from active.

We'll set ours to away so our contacts.

No, not to call us underneath.

You'll see your status where you can share with others.

What Europe Thio.

Let's let them know we're in a meeting.

Under your profile, you'll find the tabs chat.

Cool contacts on notifications.

Click here to launch each section under the chapter tab.

You'll see all your chat activity and conversations under the call tab.

You'll see your cool history.

Click on the context 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.

A swell 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 they're typing here to video or audio.

Call the contact your 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 context.

You want to join you?

Can audio and video call another Skype user for free to call someone, pick on the calls, Tad, and then select new cool Ah, pop up window will appear, showing all your Skype contacts.

Search for the contact you want, using their name or user name, and you'll see them appear.

If they're not already in your context, they'll appear under more people.

Click the check mark next to their name and then select cool.

If you have their contact 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 course starts ringing.

Two mutant R mute 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 on 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 toe, 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 by 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 you 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 toe.

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 a mute 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 our own 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 toe end or leave the conference click on the hang up button toe.

Add a Skype contact, click on the context tab and then select new contact.

A pop up window will appear.

You can search for contacts by their user name, display name or mobile number.

Select the contact you want from the list below and click Add.

They receive a notification asking them if they want to accept the connection request.