How to Use Skype in Your Browser

Skype online is convenient and works about as well as the app

By
Nadeem Unuth
Nadeem Unuth
Freelance Contributor
  • University of Mauritius
Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP.
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Updated on July 12, 2022
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • Go to Skype website > sign in with Microsoft account. Plug-in required for outdated browsers and operating systems.
  • Features: Manage contacts, use instant messaging, create/manage group chats, share multimedia documents.
  • Additional features: Voice/video calling and conferencing, group text, paid calls to non-Skype numbers.

This article explains how to use Skype in a web browser, instead of using the Skype app.

The supported web browsers are Microsoft Edge or later for Windows, Safari 6 or later for Macs, and recent versions of Chrome and Firefox. To use Skype online with Windows, run Windows XP SP3 or higher, and on Macs, run OS X Mavericks 10.9 or higher.

Start Skype Online 

Using Skype in a web browser is straightforward. Visit the Skype website and sign in with your Microsoft account.

A person wearing headphones using Skype on a laptop
Lisa Fasol / Lifewire

Microsoft continually upgrades the Skype online experience to accommodate new technologies. Your experience with the Skype web experience may vary because of these ongoing refinements.

The Skype Web Plug-in or Plug-in-Free Experience

In 2016, Microsoft introduced a version of Skype online for supported browsers, which does not require the download of a plug-in for voice and video calls.

Chrome and Edge browsers can run Skype without a plug-in.

When Skype online first launched, you could use it for instant messaging and to share multimedia files, but not as a VoIP tool. To make voice and video calls in most supported browsers, you needed to install a plug-in. While the plug-in is available, it's unlikely you'll need it on modern web browsers. An exception is if you plan to use screen sharing or if you call landline phone numbers.

The Skype web plug-in installs as a standalone program, so you only need to install it once, and it works with all supported browsers. 

Skype Online Features 

Skype is known for its rich list of features, and Skype online supports many of these features. After logging in using a web browser, you can manage your contacts, use the instant messaging functions, and configure other settings.

Skype appearance settings screen

You can chat and create and manage group chats. You can also share resources such as photos and multimedia documents. Installing the plug-in (or using Skype with a compatible browser) gives you voice and video call capability. Voice and video conferencing can accommodate up to 50 participants. Group text chatting supports as many as 300 participants. As with the Skype app, these features are free.

You can also make paid calls to numbers outside the Skype numbers. Use the dial pad to dial the number and choose the destination country from a list. A link to replenish your credit redirects you to the Microsoft page for buying additional credits. 

The call quality with the web version is comparable—if not equal—to the quality of the standalone app. Many factors affect call quality, so differences in quality between the two versions may not be because one is browser-based. The call quality should theoretically be the same since the work is more on the server-side, and the codecs used on the servers are the same throughout the network.

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