How to Use Skype for iPad and iPhone

Make video calls on your iOS or iPadOS device

Learning how to set up and use Skype for iPad and iPhone to make free voice and video calls worldwide is quite simple. The steps below more or less work the same for the iPad and the iPhone as they both run the same operating system. But, there are some minor differences in the hardware.

Note: These instructions apply to all supported versions of Skype for iOS and iPadOS.

What You Need to Run Skype on Your iPad and iPhone

You can use the integrated microphone and speaker of your device or pair a Bluetooth headset to it. You’ll also want to ensure good internet connectivity through your iPad’s or iPhone’s Wi-Fi connection or 3G data plan.

Get a Skype Account

If you don’t already have a Skype account, register for one. Setting up an account is free, and if you have been using a Skype account on other machines and other platforms, it will work perfectly on your iPad and iPhone. A Skype account is independent of where you use it, which means if you already have a Skype account, you don’t need to create a second one specifically for your iOS device.

Visit SKYPE.COM

Download Skype on Apple’s App Store

Whether you’re using an iPhone or an iPad, you’ll want to download and install the app to get started using Skype on that device. It’s a simple process.

–> Open the App Store on your device.

–> On the home screen in the App Store, tap the Search icon.

–> Search for “Skype” on the screen that appears.

–> Skype should appear near the top of the list of apps that are returned. Tap Get and wait for the app to download and install.

Using Skype for the First Time

Regardless of which device you use, the first time you use Skype, you’ll need to enter your username and password. While you’re there, you can also check the box to Log-in Automatically so Skype will remember your credentials each time you log in to start a chat or a call.

Tip: If you haven’t already created a Skype account, you can do that the first time you log into Skype from your iOS device. Just select the Sign in or create button. Remember that Skype is tied to your Microsoft account log-in, so if you have a Microsoft account, you should already have a Skype username and password.

The first time you log into Skype from your iOS device, you may also need to walk through a tutorial about how to use the application and grant permissions to access Contacts and other functions of your device. It’s fast and easy (and safe!). Just read each section and then tap Continue or OK as required by each screen.

Making a Call With Skype

The Skype interface offers access to your contacts, calls and other features.

–> Tap the Calls tab to the bottom left of the screen.

–> Tap the phone icon for a contact from your People list on the left.

–> In the dialog box that appears, tap the phone number you would like to call. The country code is automatically captured, which you can change easily. If the person you are trying to call is a Skype user, you can call their Skype account for free, but if you’re calling a landline or mobile phone number, you’ll need Skype Credit to pay for the call.

You can tap the Get Credit button at the top of your contacts list to add credit you can use for calls.

–> One way to ensure you don’t have to pay for calls is to call other Skype users. If you want to communicate with someone that is not a current Skype user, you can tap the Invite to Skype button to send an invitation for them to join Skype and connect with you as a contact.

Adding New Contacts to Skype

When you have Skype contacts in your contact list, you can simply tap their names to call, video call or send messages to them. These contacts get automatically imported to your iPad or iPhone if you are using an existing Skype account on which they are found. You can always enter new contacts in your list, either by entering their names manually—just tap the people icon at the top right of the Contacts list—or you can search for contacts to add using the search bar in the Contacts tab.