Most of the time, Skype just works. But sometimes, you'll meet a snag and find that Skype can't connect or otherwise isn't working properly. These troubleshooting steps will solve nigh common Skype problems, whether your microphone isn't working or the other person sounds similar a robot.

If you still find that Skype is not working after following these steps, ask the person you're contacting to run through this list too---the problem could be on their end.

1. Check Skype Heartbeat

Skype Heartbeat Report

Before you do any troubleshooting of your ain, y'all should check if the overall Skype service is having issues. If Skype won't connect or you lot tin't apply a specific Skype feature, check the Skype Heartbeat page.

You lot can too access this from the Skype app by clicking the three-dot Card button at the meridian-left and opening the Settings menu. Select Help & Feedback from the listing on the left, so click Skype Status to open the page in your browser.

The heartbeat folio informs you of Skype's system status. If at that place are whatsoever issues with Skype'southward infrastructure, you'll see them here. The folio also lists contempo Skype bug at the bottom as a reference. Yous can't do anything about these issues---wait for Microsoft to gear up them and attempt connecting later on.

2. Review Skype Audio Settings

If your Skype microphone is not working, you can exam your microphone (and speakers) in the app. Click the three-dot Menu button and choose Settings, and then choice the Sound & Video tab from the list.

To test your microphone, speak into it. You should run across the blue dots under Microphone move as y'all speak.

Skype Test Microphone Settings

If you lot don't run across the volume bar move, click the name of your mic side by side to Microphone and select another device. Keep trying different devices until you come across the volume slider motility when you lot talk. In a pinch, y'all tin can try using your smartphone as a makeshift microphone.

There's also a chance that you've blocked apps from using the microphone birthday in Windows 10'due south Settings panel. To cheque this, open the Settings app and visit the Privacy section. Under App permissions on the left sidebar, choose the Microphone tab.

Here, enable the Let apps to access your microphone slider, and make certain the Skype app has permission too. If you're using the classic version of Skype, scroll down to Allow desktop apps to access your microphone and make sure yous accept the primary and Skype sliders enabled there, too.

Windows 10 Change Mic Settings

No sound in Skype? On the same Sound & Video settings page in the app, make sure you have the correct speakers chosen from the dropdown menu. Confirm that yous have the volume at an audible level, too.

Click the Test audio button underneath the Speakers section and yous should hear the Skype phone call sound. If yous don't, select a different device from the Speakers dropdown box and try over again.

three. Troubleshoot Audio Hardware

If playing with the options on the Audio & Video console didn't help, you should examine your hardware. Some microphones and headsets accept volume sliders or mute switches on their cords. Thus, you lot could have accidentally moved the slider or flipped the switch.

Also, cheque to make sure that your microphone and speakers are plugged into the correct ports. Y'all can plug USB microphones into whatsoever USB slot, while analog microphones must connect to the correct audio jack.

In nigh cases, the microphone port (input) is pink and the headphone jack (output) is green. Still, different sound hardware may sometimes utilize different colors.

PC Audio Ports

If you're using a desktop computer and the microphone doesn't work when information technology'south plugged into the sound jack at the forepart of the PC, effort the sound port at the back of the computer. You may need to further troubleshoot your microphone or fix general Windows 10 audio bug if goose egg here works.

4. Edit Skype Video Settings

Bold yous take a webcam, you can check it from the aforementioned Audio & Video pane in Skype'due south Settings window. Here, you lot should run across a preview feed from your webcam. Similar the sound options, click the name of your device at the height-right to switch to some other if y'all have multiple webcams installed.

Skype Webcam Settings

If your webcam is continued and you don't see it in this window, you lot may need to install or update Windows drivers for it. Y'all can usually grab drivers from your webcam or reckoner manufacturer's website.

Like with the microphone troubleshooting, you lot should also check Windows ten'south privacy settings for camera access. Visit Settings > Privacy and spring to Photographic camera on the left sidebar, underneath App permissions.

Make sure yous have Allow apps to access your camera enabled, as well every bit confirming Skype has permission. Desktop users of Skype should confirm the same settings under Allow desktop apps to access your photographic camera.

Windows 10 Desktop Apps Camera

Check out our total guide to troubleshooting Skype webcam bug for more than data.

5. Make a Skype Test Telephone call

If everything above works properly, try a test phone call. To do this, go to Settings > Audio & Video in Skype and click the Make a costless test call link at the bottom of the page. Alternatively, y'all tin can add the Skype user echo123 (named Repeat / Sound Test Service) to your contacts list and call it as a exam.

Skype Test Call

The call testing service volition ask you to speak into your microphone after a beep. It records what yous say and, after a few seconds, plays your message back to you. This ensures that everything is working properly---your microphone, speakers, and the network connection.

If the call worked properly, you should be adept to become. And if you still tin't hear another person on Skype, it's probably a problem on their finish.

6. Review Bandwidth Usage

If you lot---or anyone else on your network---are overloading your network bandwidth with intensive tasks similar downloading large files or streaming 4K video, you'll experience poor call quality.

One of the obvious signs of network congestion is robotic-sounding voices. Skype will usually display a cerise connectedness icon when this happens.

Close any programs downloading files (both on your figurer and on other devices in your abode) and try placing the Skype phone call again. If you're on a Wi-Fi network, try moving closer to your router to improve your connectedness. You might also want to run through our network troubleshooting guide if you lot're having further network issues.

vii. If Skype Is Not Loading at All

If you tin't log into Skype, y'all may have an issue with your Microsoft account. Visit Microsoft'southward account recovery page to recover your password, so try signing in over again.

In example your issues still persist, or you lot have other specific issues similar Skype search non working, it'southward a good idea to uninstall and reinstall Skype to articulate upwards any underlying problems. Y'all can also endeavour using the Skype spider web app instead of the desktop version.

Skype Troubleshooting Fabricated Easy

Using this quick checklist, yous can eliminate common Skype issues and make your calls sound great. Most of the time, what seems like a huge problem when Skype is not working is a pretty uncomplicated set.

Recollect that for Skype group calls, one user experiencing any of these problems could bear upon the quality for anybody. If you've decided that it isn't worth using the service anymore, try one of the best complimentary alternatives to Skype.

Image Credits: Grublee, Tomas Jasinskis, RossHelen/Shutterstock

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