How to use Skype to make voice and video calls, and chat on your new iPad

By Gary Mazo
last updated

The new iPad is really an amazing communication tool. In addition to all the regulars; email, iMessage and FaceTime, the iPad also works with Skype. In fact, most of the great features we love about Skype on our Windows or Mac PCs work great on the iPad.

How to download Skype to Your iPad

The first step to using Skype on your new iPad is to download the free Skype app from the App Store by going here (opens in new tab):

Log in to the Skype App

You need to have a Skype account created to use the iPad app, so use either your Mac or PC or use Safari on your iPad and go here (opens in new tab) to create your Skype account.

After you create your account, you’re ready to log in to Skype on your iPad. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. If you are not already in Skype, touch the Skype icon from your Home screen.
  2. Type your Skype Name and Password.
  3. Touch the Sign In button below the Password field.

You should not have to enter this log in information again; it is saved in Skype. The next time you touch Skype, it will automatically log you in.

Finding and Adding Skype Contacts

Once you have logged into the Skype app, you will want to start communicating with people. To do so, you will have to find them and add then to your Skype contacts list:

  1. If you are not already in Skype, Touch the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in, if asked.
  2. Touch the Lists key along the left hand margin.
  3. Touch one of the Contacts lists displayed, then touch the the “+” icon  at the top
  4. Next, touch the Search Skype Directory and type someone’s name, email address or Skype Name. Touch Search to locate that person.
  5. Once you see the person you want to add, touch his/her name.
  6. Check the picture to make sure you have the right individual
  7. Touch Add Contact at the top.
  8. Adjust the invitation message appropriately.
  9. Touch the Send button to send this person an invitation to become one of your Skype contacts.
  10. Repeat the procedure to add more contacts.
  11. When you are done, touch the Back key at the top or the Skype Directory key if you are not already in your Skype group.
  12. Touch the appropriate Contacts group from the Lists screen to see all the newly added contacts.
  13. Newly invited contacts will show up as Pending until they accept the invitation, then you will see them as a regular contact.

How to make Skype calls on your iPad

So far you have created your account and added your contacts. Now you are ready to finally make that first call with Skype on your iPad:

  1. If you are not already in Skype, Touch the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in, if asked.
  2. Touch the Lists button.
  3. Touch a Contact Group to see your contacts.
  4. Touch the contact name you wish to call
  5. Touch the Video Call or Voice Call button. Sometimes, you don’t want to “show yourself” so a voice only call can be helpful.
  6. You may see a Mobile or other phone button. Making any other kind of call requires that you pay for it with Skype Credits.

Switching Cameras with Skype

You can show the individual with whom you are talking on Skype your surroundings by “switching” to the back camera of the iPad.

Simply touch the Camera key along the bottom row of icons and choose whether you wish to display the Front Camera, Back Camera or No Camera on the screen.

If you choose No Camera, Skype will still work, but you will just have a voice call without any video image.

Using the My Info tab

Touch the small picture of yourself (your contact image) in the top left hand corner to access the My Info section of Skype.

From this section you can:

  1. Change your Status
  2. View your profile
  3. Set your Call Forwarding options.

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h2>How to use Skype call history on your iPad

Recent calls or chats are usually listed with the contacts icons along the left-hand margin of the Skype screen.

Below those icons is the History icon. Touch this to see your recent Skype history. Skype keeps a history of your Skype IM discussions and call logs which is very useful in order to retrieve potentially important information.

How to buy Skype credits or a monthly subscription

Skype-to-Skype calls are free. However, if you want to call people on their landlines or mobile phones from Skype, then you will need to purchase Skype Credits or purchase a monthly subscription plan. This can be done on the Skype web site from the Safari app or from your Mac or PC.

How to IM with Skype chat

In addition to making phone calls, you can also chat via text with other Skype users from your iPad. Starting a chat is very similar to starting a call; follow these steps to do so:

  1. If you are not already in Skype, touch the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in if asked.
  2. Touch the Lists icon along the left-hand margin.
  3. Touch All Contacts, iPad Contacts, Online Contacts, Skype Contacts or any other list to see your grouped contacts.
  4. Touch the name of the contact with whom you want to IM.
  5. Touch the IM button.
  6. Type your chat text and press the Send button. Your IM will appear at the top of the screen.

Skype for iPad supports:

  • Instant messaging
  • Skype-to-Skype calling
  • Calling phones and mobiles
  • Receiving Skype calls and calls to Online Numbers
  • Sharing screens
  • Participating in conference calls
  • Skype SMS
  • Call forwarding
  • Contact list filtering via groups
  • Voicemail
  • Bluetooth devices

Group video chat and sending files are not supported on Skype for iPad.

Are you using Skype of your iPad? How is it working for you? Let us know in this forum thread.

Gary Mazo
Gary Mazo
24 Comments
  • I can see at least one person in these images who should have selected the "no camera" option on this occasion. :-)
  • thanks for the instruction. Why does Rene always look so disheveled? Almost like a creepy basement tech guy. LOL just having fun :)
  • Please tell me how to select witch phone number to call when a contact on my ipad has more then one phone number ... Skype seems to select the top number for each of my contacts in address book and does not let me chose an other .......
  • dont know. try to find yourself
  • You guys are such jerks. I'd been awake for 36 hours doing iPad 3 coverage and Gary called me without warning. Like any blogger or Battlestar crewman, I did my frakken job and helped him get his video.
    Also, yes, that's what I look like without makeup. :p
  • Rene help me out whee did you get that split keyboard..... new to iOS cause my job got me a new iPad so im still trying to get use to it..... THANKS
  • how cool
  • hello
    guys
    you. are. all jerks
  • That picture of Rene is iconic of why we don't Skype or Facetime each other all the time, and why we usually (at least I do) SMS first and give a heads up about the call.
  • Do you need wi-fi for Skype?
  • Rene, I Down loaded Skype onto my iPad using wifi connection yeah, I tried calling my sisters laptop it wouldn't go through? Is it because I need to purchase Skype credits?
    Kind regards,
    Janet
  • Janet,
    I do not believe you would need to purchase credits to use Skype-to-Skype, that's a free service. The only time Skype needs credits is for Skype-to-phone service.
    Perhaps your sister didn't have Skype running on her laptop at the time you had rang her Skype. Both Skype accounts need to be running to establish a call. Either that, or there is a settings issue involved.
    Hope that helped.
  • Thank you for another great article. Where else could anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect approach of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am at the look for such information.
  • Can you use headphones with ipad 3?
  • Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in truth was a entertainment account it. Look advanced to more delivered agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
  • It's the second time when i've seen your site. I can see a lot of hard work has gone in to it. It's really good.
  • I am receiving unwanted contacts on Skype by, supposedly, numerous USA top brass in the armed forces--Generals & Admirals. I assume they are false ID's sent by some jerk who wants me to respond. How can I block such contacts, as I receive 3-4 per day.
  • say. i dont now
  • You actually make it appear really easy with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really something which I feel I would by no means understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely wide for me. I'm having a look ahead for your next put up, I'll attempt to get the dangle of it!
  • mike millar. is. my brother
  • I try to use my front camera for Skype video, it comes up for just a second then disappears, I can't even see my other party although we are having a video call
  • I can't make video calls with my ipad mini. Whenever I try I can just hear the voice but can't view the person bt I can see myself on the screen. Pls help out. Thanks.
  • skype really helps me a lot, now it makes me easier to for my speak chinese in skype using my ipad. I also did some lessons with a native speaker from http://preply.com/en/chinese-by-skype and i want to try it using ipad now.
  • Really helpful information for any new comers to Skype, It does take a bit of getting used to but once you get the hang of it it's really easy, my grandparents started using Skype for the Video call function and they used; http://signinpages.com/skype-video-chat/