How do I call, video call and instant message my Outlook.com contacts?

Skype and Outlook.com, the new webmail service from Microsoft, are coming together so you can make free Skype voice and video calls with your Outlook.com contacts and instant message them.

To enjoy the Skype calls and Skype video calls with your contacts in Outlook.com, you only need to install the Skype web plugin*.

To enjoy other Skype features such as group calls, group video calling and screen sharing, you’ll need to install the latest version of Skype.

Learn more about Skype features.

The following questions and answers will guide you on how to instant message, call or video call your contacts and how to change your status in Outlook.com: 

• How do I instant message my Outlook.com contacts?
• How do I call or video call my Outlook.com contacts?
• How do I change my online status in Outlook.com?

How do I instant message my Outlook.com contacts?

It’s easy to send and receive instant messages in Outlook.com:

1. Sign in to your Outlook.com account.
2. Select the messaging icon and click inside the Start new conversation box to view your online contacts.

    

3. Choose the contact you wish to IM, type your message, add an emoticon if you want, and press Enter.



You can send and receive instant messages from your Skype contacts in Outlook.com even if you don’t have installed the Skype web plugin. The only thing you need to do to instant message your Skype contacts in Outlook.com is to merge your Skype and Microsoft accounts.

To merge your accounts, simply click Skype contacts* and follow the instructions:

Outlook allows you to choose whether you want to chat with your friends on Skype, Facebook or Messenger:

1. Click Start new conversation to see which of your contacts are online. Select the person you’d like to chat with. This opens the Instant Messaging panel.
   
   If you can’t see the contact you’d like to talk to, just enter their name and select it.
    
2. Click the ellipsis ( … ) in the Instant Messaging panel.
3. Click Chatting on. You’ll see your contact’s status displayed for all the messaging services they have.
4. Select whether you want to chat with your friends on Skype, Messenger or Facebook.

To go back to your inbox, click Hide pane.

To open the IM you received, click the blue notification bar that pops up. To reply, just type your message and press Enter on your keyboard.

How do I call or video call my Outlook.com contacts?

To start a Skype voice or video call with your Outlook.com contact:

1. Sign in to your Outlook.com account.
2. Select the messaging icon and click inside the Start new conversation box to see your online contacts.
   
   


3. Enter the name of the person you’d like to call, select them, then select the voice or video call button.
   
   
   
   Remember, to make a voice or video call in Outlook.com, you and your contact need to complete the quick Skype web plugin installation.

Useful things you can do on a call

During the call, you can:

A. Turn your camera on or off.
B. Turn your microphone on or off.
C. Instant message your contacts.
D. End the call.
E. Minimize the window.
F. Switch to full screen.

How do I change my status in Outlook.com?

In Outlook.com you can set your status to Available or Invisible by clicking your name and selecting the status from the options displayed.

*The Skype-Outlook.com integration (including the Skype web plugin) is currently available in selected markets, only. We’re working hard to make it fully available as soon as possible.