How to make Skype active. How to install and configure Skype on your computer

Today's article is devoted to one of the most popular programs for communication on the Internet - this is Skype. I will show you how to install and configure it, but, most importantly, you will learn how to use Skype and its most useful functions, which not everyone knows about (send a message, call, find contacts, enable screen sharing, make a group call, etc.).

Skype gained its popularity thanks to the development of fast Internet and the ability to transmit free of charge via the Internet, first audio, and, subsequently, a video picture. Users around the world began to communicate for free - it is convenient and pleasant.

Let's start studying.

How to install skype on a computer

To install Skype, download the installation file from the official website - Download Skype.

You will be offered a choice to install the program on various devices, we will consider Skype for PC. Currently, versions are available for both desktop computers and smartphones with tablets and even for game consoles. Press the button "Download Skype for Windows".

Next, run the downloaded file. Installing the program takes just a couple of minutes, all you have to do is agree to the terms of use. We choose a language and agree. We are waiting for some time while the installation is in progress.

Voila, Skype is installed on your computer and a welcome window asks you to enter your username for authorization.

How to create a Skype account

The program works individually for each user. If you have an account, then indicate, if you are using the program for the first time - proceed to registration. Currently, you can log in through the social network Facebook, use a Microsoft or Skype account.

Click "create account" to create a Microsoft account.

We fill in all the fields, including the captcha and click "create an account".

An email was sent to you for confirmation, it contains a security code that must be entered in the appropriate field. After the introduction, click "next".

This completes the registration. Finally, you will be asked to test the microphone and camera, as well as install an avatar (use the camera or upload a photo from a computer). All this can be done later in the settings, for now just click “Continue”.

Skype interface

This is how the Skype window looks like:

At the top is a control panel with drop-down menus. On the left side is your avatar with the name and status, below it is the search bar, below are the buttons of the main page - dialing panels, creating a new conversation and adding bots. Below the buttons is a list of contacts. On the right is a large dialog box.

Skype statuses

Next to the avatar you can see your status in my example, green with a checkmark (it means that I am networked), there are five of them in Skype:

• online - green - shows that the user is logged in to the program and his computer is working (not sleeping);
• away - yellow - the program is on, but the user has left the workplace or the computer is in standby mode;
• do not disturb - red - turns off all sounds and pop-up windows of the program so as not to distract;
• offline - white with a green border - the computer or program is turned off, perhaps the user is simply not logged in;
• invisibility - white with a green border - allows you to actually be online, but other users will not know about it if you do not write to them.

Some statuses change automatically, but any can be set manually - click on the status icon next to the avatar.

The difference between “offline” and “invisible” during manual switching is that the invisible person sees everyone else, and “offline” completely disables the program, as if there is no Internet connection.

How to set up Skype

Let's consider the basic Skype settings that you should pay attention to before using the program. To open them in the main menu, click "tools", then "settings".

The window shown in the screenshot below will open.

Auto-start and auto-authorization and auto- "out of place"

In general settings, you can uncheck or check the auto-launch and auto-authorization boxes. If you want your status to automatically change to “offline” after a certain period of inactivity, tick the appropriate box and specify the time.

Checking Sound Settings

To do this, select the item "Sound settings". Choose the device you need and test the microphone and headphones - the green bar should jump when talking into the microphone and when the speakers sound. Use the sliders to change the microphone and speaker volume levels.

Blocking messages from strangers

The section “Security Settings” will help you to block unnecessary messages from spammers. You are asked to check one of two options: accept messages and calls from all users or only from people from your contact list. Accepting messages only from your contact list can save you unnecessary spam.

Calls, video calls and chats are considered separately in "Open additional", here you can customize everything to suit your needs.

We do a similar setting for calls in the “Calls” tab:

How to find and add contacts in Skype

You can find a contact in the following way. In the Skype menu bar you need a drop-down menu "Contacts", in it "add a contact" and "Search in the Skype directory".

You will be directed to the search bar in the main window of the program (or you can immediately access the search without the top menu), where you can type your name, Skype login or email. Then click the "search in Skype" button and select the desired contact from the list.

After selecting the right person, you will see a message stating that he is not included in your contact list. Click the "Add to contact list" button, leave a comment about who you are or what you are adding for, so that the person does not decide that you are another spammer. Submit your request.

You will not be able to see the user's personal data until he approves the application, but they will not be able to see your data without being added to the list of contacts, therefore, a comment is needed on the application.

As soon as you started Skype after registration, there are already two contacts in your contact list - these are bots. The Echo / Sound Test Service bot is needed for communication testing. For him, only the call function is available: call, listen to the answering machine, speak after the signal, listen to yourself and assess whether you are satisfied with the quality of your connection.

Skype bot is a bot informant. You can neither call nor write to him. This bot will periodically send you tips or hints for using Skype.

How to send a message on Skype

You can write or call any user, except for those who have a ban on receiving messages and calls from users not from the contact list.

To open a dialog box, simply select the required contact in the list and left-click on it. You can insert a smiley into a message, attach a picture or a document, send contacts of a user on your list. All of these features are represented by blue icons.

You can edit or delete the sent message, for this you just need to right-click on it and select the appropriate function from the drop-down menu.

How to make Skype calls

Call and video call buttons are located in the dialog box at the top, opposite the name of the interlocutor. For the first operation, a microphone is enough, video conversation will be available only with a video camera.

During a call, you can enable or disable the video and microphone by pressing the buttons with the corresponding images. The plus button allows you to add additional users to the conversation.

Also, for demonstration, you can right-click on the desired contact in the list, select "screen sharing" from the drop-down menu. If you haven't called the contact yet, a window with a call request will pop up.

Screen sharing allows you to show your interlocutors in real time what is happening on your monitor. You can show the entire screen or a specific window.

After selecting the area for broadcasting, click the "start" button. The display area will be highlighted with a red border. You can interrupt the demonstration at any time, for this you need to click the "stop show" button or end the call.

Skype group call and group chat

The ability to assemble a conference call (group call) is a big plus of Skype. You can create a group call in the way that was described above, when we analyzed how to call (plus sign in the panel when calling), or before the call, for this you need to click on the button with a little man next to the video call and call buttons.

In the list that opens, you select the desired contacts and add them to the dialogue. All participants can add people to the conference, but only the creator can remove them. A group chat will be created from the selected contacts, in which everyone can write messages and everyone can simultaneously see the general conversation.

When a group call is active, users added to it can join or disconnect from the conversation at any time. However, if the person who raised the conference (called everyone, this is not necessarily the creator of the group) hangs up the call, then everyone will drop the call.

Group chat works constantly, even if there was no call or it was interrupted. Correspondence is saved for all users.

This lesson is over and you can use Skype to its fullest.

Sometimes there is a need to embed a link to your Skype-login into your website (blog, post on a social network, etc.). Agree, it's convenient: a visitor just clicks or taps on your name to launch the program and immediately write or call you. Let's figure it out how to link to Skype active in HTML code.

Official way

Microsoft is known for its penchant for creating custom tools for the simplest things. They can be annoying for specialists, but for ordinary users who want to get results faster, they are ideal.

There is such a tool for creating links to a Skype account. It can be found at https://www.skype.com/ru/developer/create-share-buttons/.

Now visitors to your page will be able to call or text you, and your Skype will not reject calls or messages from strangers.

More freedom

With the code from the previous paragraph handy, you can paste it as is. But modern HTML allows you to write code by hand. The link should look like this:

(text or image)

Of course, parentheses are included here for convenience and meaning; they won't be needed in a real link. In the field "your login", in fact, enter your login. In the "action" field, you can substitute one of the following actions:

• userinfo - viewing a profile.
• add - adding to the contact list.
• call - immediate call.
• chat - sending a message to the chat.
• voicemail - sending a voice message.

For action call instead of a Skype username, you can enter a phone number. Then the visitor, when pressed, will immediately call a regular phone via

Hello. Today I would like to tell you about how to add a Skype button to the site so that your customers can contact you in Skype directly through the landing page.

Recently I was asked for help with a landing page (I needed to), and on the site I noticed a similar interactive button that glowed when the owner was online. I really liked this idea. And I decided to write an article on this topic so that you also know how to make a Skype button on your site.

How to add an interactive Skype button to your site

The first place to start is to enable the function of displaying the status on the Internet. That is, in the Skype settings, the function of displaying your online status is disabled by default. In order to fix this, you need to go to the program in the program:

Tools\u003e Preferences\u003e Security

And check the box next to "Show my online status on the Internet." Don't forget to save.

Now directly connect.

I found several services that allow you to generate this button, moreover, you can set parameters not only for a call, chat, and even for file transfer. Let's get started ...

One of these services is im.servisator. Let's see the settings:

"Skype name" - here you need to register your Skype username.

"Image type" - in this field you need to choose how the picture will be displayed - with or without javascript. Choose at your discretion.

Initially, I thought that if you select "no javascript", then statuses will not be displayed, but only "online / ofline". But I was not too lazy and checked. It turned out that there is full functionality when using both types of connection.

"Text type" - this tab allows you to display the login in front of the icon, which can be replaced with any one. For example: "Contact me on Skype"

"Link type" - here you set the action that will occur when you click the Skype icon on your site: call, chat or file transfer, etc.

After that, a new page will open in front of you, in which there will be a field with a code that must be copied to your site in the place where you would like to see the Skype icon:

This concludes my review of this service and now I will tell you how to add a Skype button to the site without the help of third-party services. Of course, the status will not be shown, but you can connect any picture, and not only the one that similar sites offer us.

So, in order to independently set the icon and implement the call function, you just need to make a link of the form:

The "call" parameter is responsible for the fact that a call will be made when clicked. There are other options for actions when you click on the button:

• - send voicemail
• - send file
• - show user information
• - start chat
• - add to contacts

You probably already guessed that in order to add your own icon, you just need to add a picture in a standard way. You might not know only about the link parameters. That is, like this: