Group video calling is more of import than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with years of experience nether its belt, Skype is the go-to for many to connect with friends, family and colleagues while socially distancing. Skype is a dandy choice not only because it offers the power to video chat with upwards to 50 people at in one case, but also because it's bachelor on only about every platform - the aforementioned can't be said for the likes of FaceTime and Google Duo.

For those new to the earth of Skype, nosotros break down how to create group video chats on desktop and mobile.

Group video conversation on PC, Mac, Linux and web

Whether yous're using Skype on PC, Mac, Linux or web, the process of setting up a group video chat is identical. To become chatting with friends or colleagues on a desktop:

  1. Open Skype and log in with your credentials.
  2. Click the New Conversation push button (the + icon) and click New Group Chat.
  3. Enter a name for your group - unlike other messaging platforms, this isn't optional. You can also add a group photo by clicking the Camera icon, but unlike the group name, this isn't required.
  4. Click the correct arrow to create your group.
  5. Select the contacts you want to video conversation with. You tin can do this by selecting contacts from your suggested list, or you tin can utilise the search role to find a specific person. You can add together up to fifty people to a unmarried video chat via Skype, so don't be shy!
  6. Click Washed to save your changes, and click the Phone call Grouping button to get started.
  7. Once connected to the group call, simply click the video photographic camera icon to plough on your webcam and video chat.

Grouping video chat on iOS and Android

While the procedure is a little long-winded if you're using Skype on desktop, the group video conversation experience on iOS and Android is way more streamlined, and doesn't require you to create a group beforehand. If you lot want to conversation with friends using Skype on iOS or Android:

  1. Download Skype from the relevant app storefront and log in with your credentials if you oasis't already.
  2. In the Conversation tab, tap the new conversation icon in the superlative-correct - it looks similar a pen and paper.
  3. Select the New Phone call icon and select the people you lot'd like to video conversation with. Equally with Skype on desktop, y'all can invite upwardly to 50 people to a single grouping video chat on Skype on iOS and Android.
  4. When yous're gear up, tap Call to initiate the chat.
  5. Once continued, tap the camera icon to turn your selfie camera on and begin video chatting.

If you want to chat with an existing group:

  1. tap on the chat and tap the video icon in the top-right.
  2. Tap 'Ring the Grouping' to notify others in the chat that you'd similar to video group chat.
  3. Wait for your friends to join, and enjoy!

If you'd rather use another video platform, we've got tutorials on how to grouping video chat on Google Duo, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger and more.