Learn how to adjust the lobby, presenter and participant settings in Skype for Business online meetings and conference calls especially for larger crowds.

It was not that long ago that the idea of making video phone calls seemed like a futuristic dream reserved for Star Trek or the Jetsons. Yet in 2011, the Oxford English Dictionary recognized “Skype” as a verb meaning to have a conversation over the internet with someone, typically including viewing by webcam. It’s easy now to take this amazing technology for granted. However taking just a few minutes to update your privacy settings on Skype can help safeguard your information online.

Privacy Concerns with Skype

Microsoft recently updated its service agreement with language that has privacy experts concerned. The update which went into effect on May 1^st, applies to Skype as well as Xbox Live gamers. Microsoft inserted language that prohibits users from “publicly display[ing] or share[ing] inappropriate content or material.” Microsoft also added rules giving the company the right to review your content in the process of investigating any complaint.

For Skype users, this seems to clearly indicate that Microsoft stores your calls and can watch them later if they choose to investigate how you are using their service. This concerns many users who feel their calls are no longer private and are subject to review and scrutiny of calls they may prefer to keep to themselves.

While there are a few other options for making calls over the internet, those companies often present privacy concerns as well. You may also be concerned about the information you have on Skype being publicly available to others. A quick review of your Skype privacy settings can help ensure you only share the information you want to share.

Finding the Skype Privacy Settings

There are many different platforms Skype is available on. This can make it difficult to locate the settings you need on your exact device. Finding the privacy settings on Skype on your tablet or phone will be different from each other and different from where the settings are located on a desktop computer. These will also vary depending on whether you use Windows or Mac.

In general look in the menu bar for settings. From there you may see a menu option labeled “Privacy…”, or you may need to click on “Preferences” and select the “Privacy “tab from there. In some applications, the privacy settings are simply in your settings and are not under a privacy heading in any way. If you run into difficulties and simply cannot find the setting you are looking for, you can go to Skype Help for more information.

Changing your Skype Privacy Settings

Below you can find information about the privacy settings in Skype that you can alter. By walking through the different options you can choose where you would like to heighten your privacy.

Change Who Can Call You

Skype offers the option of either allowing calls from anyone, or only permitting calls from people already in your contact list. By default, this option is set to allow calls from anyone. By restricting who can call you, you can prevent unwanted or annoying callers from attempting to reach you through Skype. Simply click on the slider to turn the option off and secure your privacy.

Manage Instant Messaging

In the same way that Skype defaults to allowing anyone to call you through Skype, the app allows anyone to send you an instant message by default. Under “Notification Settings” you can turn off instant messages and SMS if you prefer not to receive these messages in Skype.

If you prefer to receive instant messages but would prefer to restrict that ability to just your contacts, you can also change that here. Check the box next to “Contacts Only” to prevent those you don’t know from sending you instant messages.

Restrict Your Public Listing

To connect with you on Skype, others can search for you in the search bar. They can do this either by your username, your email address, or your phone number. Skype allows you to restrict what information is publicly available to others who are searching for you in Skype.

To view and change your settings, click on “Manage how people find me on Skype.” From here you can toggle off the option to appear in any search results in suggestions. This is the most private setting.

If you prefer, you can add your email address or mobile number to allow people to search for you by whichever you are most comfortable with. Whichever you choose, the information will be publicly available to anyone doing a search on Skype.

Manage Your Contact Information

Skype offers the ability to automatically find friends that are already in your contact list. This way they can add their contact information to your Skype list. To do this, Skype scans your address book for phone numbers and email addresses of your friends. Skype then searches for those automatically and adds any it finds to your Skype list. If your contacts have restricted their public listing, they may not appear in your Skype list, even if they have a Skype account.

On the other hand, if you aren’t comfortable providing the contents of your address book to Skype, you can keep this option turned off. This will mean that to add your friends to your Skype list, you will have to search for them manually. This will obviously take up more time. However, many people prefer to go this route rather than give their address book to Skype.

Microsoft Targeted Ads

For the most part, Skype provides its service for free to users making calls and video calls in most countries. But we all know, nothing in life is truly free. To monetize Skype, Microsoft sells advertising to businesses. Since they have profiles on all of their users they can target adds with great precision. This profile can include such personal details as your age and gender.

By default, Skype checks the box allowing Microsoft to provide targeted ads to you. If you prefer not to receive targeted ads, uncheck the box next to “Allow Microsoft Targeted Ads.”

Update Your Profile

Skype offers you a profile page with blank spaces to include your personal information. The more you add to your profile, the more likely friends or family are to find you when looking to connect with you through Skype. However, you might prefere to stay more private online. You can take out most of the information requested to build your profile.

For example, you do not have to include your actual last name in your profile. City and state are also not a required field. You may choose to withhold your birthdate and gender as well. Skype does not require you to disclose your phone number in your profile information.

Again, you may be fine with including these in your profile and may find it useful at times. The choice to disclose that information is yours. However, you should only fill in as much information as you are comfortable with.

Start snooping around your privacy settings and you will find out just how much information companies have of you. That goes for WhatsApp, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Google, as well as Skype and all those other services and social media platforms. Luckily, you can optimize the settings in a way that you can stay relatively private online.

Users have reported the problem of Microphone or Headphones not working during Skype calls. You will find below the steps to fix the problem of Skype Audio Not Working in Windows 10.

Skype Audio Not Working in Windows 10

The most common Skype Audio problems as reported by users are low or lack of incoming sound during Skype calls, headphones not working, sound breaking and Audio functions not at all working during Skype calls.

The solutions as provided below should help in fixing most of these Skype Audio problems, including the problem of Skype Audio not working in Windows 10.

1. Check Audio Settings

The Skype App should automatically select the right Speaker and Microphone on your computer. However, sometimes this does not happen, resulting in Skype Audio not working on a Windows computer.

Open Skype on your computer, click on the 3-dots menu icon and then click on Settings in the drop-down menu.

On the Settings screen, make sure that the right Speaker and Microphone are selected.

After selecting Microphone and Speakers, you can click on the Test Audio link to test and make sure that right Speaker and Microphone have been selected.

2. Restart Windows Audio Service

Starting Windows Audio Service (if it has stopped) and Restarting it (if it appears to be working) can fix the problem of Skype Audio not working on your Windows computer.

Right click on the Windows 10 Start button and then click on the Run option in the menu that appears.

In the Run Command box, type services.msc and click on the OK button

On the Services screen, right-click on Windows Audio and click on StartFinal cut pro 10.2 download. (in case the service is not running). If the service is running, click on Restart or Resume option.

Once the Process is completed, restart your computer and see if Skype Audio is working on your computer.

3. Allow Applications to Control Sound

Allowing the Skype App to control Audio devices can help in fixing Sound problems while using Skype.

Click on the Speaker icon located at the right corner of your taskbar and click on Sounds in the menu that appears.

Next, click on the Recording tab (in case you are not there) and double-click on your Microphone.

On the Microphone properties screen, click on the Advanced tab and make sure that Allow Applications to take exclusive control of this device option is selected.

Click on Apply and OK to save this setting.

Restart your computer and see if the problem of Skype Audio not working on your computer is fixed.

4. Reinstall Audio Drivers

The problem of Skype Audio not working in Windows 10 might be related to the device driver for the sound controller getting outdated or corrupted.

Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.

On the Device Manager screen, right-click on the device listed under “Sound, Video and Game controllers” and click on Uninstall device option in the contextual menu.

Restart your computer and it will automatically install the right device driver.

5. Set Correct Default Audio Device

The problem of Skype Audio not working in Windows 10 might be related to incorrect Audio device settings.

Right-click on the Sound icon located in the bottom right corner of the Taskbar and click on Sounds in the menu that appears.

On the next screen, click on your Speaker from the list of devices and Set it as Default.

Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

After setting default Audio Device, check to see if the problem of Skype Audio not working is fixed on your computer.

6. Switch to Wired Connection

Whenever Skype detects an interference or problem with network connection, it automatically tries to change the quality of the sound, in order to keep the Skype Call going.

Hence, consider switching from WiFi to Wired connection, in order to improve the quality of sound during Skype Calls.

7. Close Open Tabs and Applications

Similarly, open tabs and applications can interfere with the functioning of Skype and lead to sound problems.

Closing open tabs and programs allows Skype to make use of the full bandwidth and prevents the possibility of any open tab or program conflicting or interfering with functioning of the Skype App.