Skype for Business - Quick Start Guide

This guide is based on using Skype for Business with a Windows 10 desktop. Screen shots may differ on your desktop.

Install Skype for Business

To install Skype for Business, follow the instructions that will emailed to you by IT Servicedesk before your department’s rollout.

Sign in (after Skype for Business is installed)

Once you have Skype for Business installed, open it from your desktop and:

  1. Enter your University username with @bradford.ac.uk appended, for
    Note: this is not the same as your email address.
  2. Enter your University password.
  3. Select theSave my passwordcheck box if you don’t want to have to enter it each time you sign in.
  4. SelectSign In.

Tip: Skype for Business is configured to open automatically each time you log in to your machine.

Set up your audio device

If you have a headset, connect it to your machine. Then:

  1. FromOptionsselect ToolsAudio Device Settings.
  1. In theAudio Device section, select the device and customize the settings:
  • Speaker- selectPlay, and drag the slider to adjust the volume.
  • Microphone- speak to test the volume, and drag the slider until the progress bar reaches the middle of the test area.
  • Ringer- selectPlay, and drag the slider to adjust the volume.

Set up your video device

You need a camera to share video of yourself, but you don’t need one to see someone else’s video. If you have a camera, connect it to your machine. Then:

  1. From Options select ToolsVideo Device Settings.
  1. In the Video device section, select the camera.
  2. Adjust the camera angle to centre your image in the preview pane.
  3. Select Camera Settings to adjust the video processor or camera controls.
  4. Select Crop and center my video in meetings to focus and zoom in on your face during video conferences.
  5. Select OK.

Find and add a contact

  1. On the Contacts tab in the main Skype for Business window, in the Find someone box, type a name or email address.
  2. In the search results, right-click the person you want to add, and select Add to Contacts List.
  3. Select the contact group you want to add the person to, if you have contact groups set up.

Create a contact group

Set up a group for each team you work with, so you quickly see who’s available, or communicate with the entire team at once.

  1. On the Contacts tab in the main Skype for Business window, click on the Add a Contact button near the top right.
  1. SelectCreate a New Group.
  2. Typing your new group’s name.

Make a call or video call

In your contacts list in the main Skype for Business window, point to a contact's picture and select either Call or Start a video call.

A message pops up on the other person’sscreen asking if they want to accept your call.

To invite more people to the call, select Invite More People in the upper-right corner.

Tip: If, before the move to Skype for Business, you had a desk phone and personal extension number, then you will also have a dial pad available at the top of the Skype for Business window. (When dialling an external number, you no longer need to press ‘9’ first).

Tip: To call multiple people at the same time (i.e. start a conference call), press Ctrl and select each contact required. Then right-click and select Start a Conference Call Skype Call.

To end a call, select Hang Up or press Ctrl + Enter.

Receive a call

A pop-up will appear on your desktop. This is called the ‘Toast’, because it ‘pops up’, like a toaster!

Select Answer to accept the call.

Select Reply by IM to dismiss the call and start an instant message session with the caller.

Select Decline to dismiss the call and send it to voice mail, if available.

Access your voice mail

If, before the move to Skype for Business, you had a desk phone and personal extension number, then you will also get voice mail with Skype for Business. The dial pad on the main window will show the number of new voice mails you have

Click on this button to see and play your voice mails.

Note: You’ll also receive an email from where you can play the voice mail.

Use call controls

During a call:

  • To mute your audio, click the Mic button in the conversation window.
  • To put the call on hold, click on the Call Controls button and then select the Hold button.
  • To transfer a call, click on the Call Controls button , then select the Transfer button, and then select or type the number you want.
    Note: if you want to speak to the person you are forwarding the call to first, before you make the transfer:
  • Tell the caller you are going to try to transfer them and they will first be put on hold.
  • Open the main Skype for Business window and initiate a new call to the person you want to transfer the call to.
  • Ask them if it’s alright to make the transfer, and then go back to the original call window and use the Transfer button as per the bullet point above. The call will go through and your call windows will close.
  • To hang up, click on the Hang Up button in the conversation window.

Forward your calls

Skype for Business offers a lot of control for how you want to forward your calls (for example, to a different number,tovoice mail or to your mobile phone):

  1. In the lower-left of the main Skype for Business window, click the Call Forwarding button.
  1. SelectForward Calls To.
  2. SelectNew Number or Contact. Choose a contact, or type a number in the Forward Calls field.

Note: To stop forwarding, selectTurn Off.

Note: To forward calls to a delegate (for example, if you want your PA to receive your calls), follow the instructions at:

Share your desktop or a program

In the conversation window, the call window or the messaging window, select Share Content and select an option:

  • Share your Desktop to show the entire contents of your desktop.
  • Share a Window and double-click the program or window you want to display.

The Currently sharing tab and yellow border around the shared content will appear.

Select Stop Sharing when you’re finished.

Start an Instant Message (IM)

  1. On the Contacts tab, point to a contact’s picture and then select Send an IM.
  1. To add others, select Invite More People in the upper-right corner.
    Tip: To IM with multiple people you can also press Ctrl and select each contact. Then right-click and select Send an IM.
  2. Type your message.
  3. Select Send or press Enter.
  4. To end an instant message, close the conversation window.
  5. To add voice or video to an existing Instant Message conversation, select Call or Video Call in the conversation window.

Switch between conversations

If you have several conversations going on at the same timeyou can toggle between them by clickingthe tabs on the top left of the IM screen.

Find a previous conversation

Skype for Business automatically saves your IM conversation history. To view or continue a previous conversation or see an IM request you missed:

  1. Click on the Conversations tab in the main Skype for Business window.
  1. Click the All or Missed tab. If you don’t see the conversation you’re looking for, click View More in Outlook at the bottom of the list.
  2. Double-click the conversation that you want to open.

Send a file in an IM

Drag the file from your File Explorer to the IM conversation window or copy the file and paste it into the IM conversation window.

Everyone in the conversation receives a notification, which they can accept or decline.

Send a file when you’re not in a conversation

  1. Select the relevant contact from your contacts list.
  1. Drag the file you want to send onto the contact.

The person will receive a notification, which they can accept or decline.

Change your presence status

Your presence status is automatically set based on your Outlook calendar.

To manually change it, select the status arrow below your name.

Join a Skype for Business meeting

There are multiple ways to join a Skype for Business meeting:

  • Select the Meetingsbutton in the Skype for Business window, and then double-click the meeting to join.
  • Select Join Online in an Outlook meeting reminder.
  • Select Join Skype Meeting in an Outlook meeting request.

Schedule a Skype for Business meeting(dial-in conferencing)

In Outlook:

  1. Open your calendar.
  1. Select HomeNew Skype Meeting.
  2. Complete the meeting request like you normally would.

Tip: Before you send the request, use the Meeting Options menu to enable and disable entry and exit announcements, manage who can get into the meeting directly, who must wait in the virtual lobby etc.

Add a phone user to your conference

  1. From within the conference / meeting, select Invite More People.
  2. Enter the person’s full phone number (including the country codeand the + symbol (for example,+1 425 555-1234) and select OK.
  3. The meeting will then call out the person and add them to the meeting.

Dial into a Skype for Business meeting by phone

  1. From your mobile, dial the phone number in the invitation.
  1. When prompted, enter the Conference ID from the invitation email.

Manage meeting participants

If you’re the presenter of a meeting, you are in control. In the meeting window:

  1. Click on the Participants button at the top left of the meeting window to see a list of everyone in the meeting.
  1. Click on the Participant Actions button .
  2. Click one or multiple buttons to apply these settings to all attendees.

More guides

Further, more in-depth guides can be found at: