This wikiHow teaches you how to use Skype and Google Hangouts to set up and conduct a video conference.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use Skype (Cellular)
Step 1. Open Skype
This app is blue and white and has a blue "S".
You may need to enter the email address you use with Skype (or your phone number) and password to continue
Step 2. Click the Contacts tab
It's the square icon with a person's silhouette at the bottom (iPhone) or top (Android) of the screen.
Step 3. Tap a contact's name
This action will open a chat with that person.
- You can also press the clock-shaped tab Recent and then press +, which is in the upper right corner (iPhone) or in the lower right corner (Android) of the screen to start a new chat.
Step 4. Press the name of the contact (iPhone) or ⋮ (Android)
You'll find these options at the top or in the upper-right corner of the screen, respectively. Each will bring up a drop-down menu.
Step 5. Click Add Participants
This option is at the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 6. Tap the names of the contacts to add them
On Android, you may need to first type the first few letters of a contact's name for it to appear below the text field at the top of the screen. Each contact name you press will be added to the video conference.
There can be up to 25 people in a video conference
Step 7. Press the check mark icon
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. Doing so will create the call list.
Step 8. Press the video call button
This is the camcorder-shaped button at the top right of the screen. Doing so will start the video conference with all the contacts you chose.
Method 2 of 4: Use Skype (Mac and Windows)
Step 1. Open Skype
It's the blue app with an "S" on it.
If prompted, enter the email address you use with Skype (you can also use username or phone number) and password to continue
Step 2. Click the menu option (Mac) or the Contacts tab (PC)
You'll find this option in the menu bar at the top left or top left of the Skype window, respectively.
Step 3. Click Create New Group
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click on the names of the contacts
You can do this in the pop-up window on the right side of the Skype window. Each contact whose name you click will be added to the video conference list.
You can add up to 25 people to the Skype call
Step 5. Click Add
This blue button is at the bottom of the window from which you added contacts. Clicking here will create the video conference list.
Step 6. Click the "Video Call" button
It's the camcorder-shaped button at the top of the Skype window. This will make Skype call everyone on the list. Once your contacts are connected, you can proceed with the video conference.
Method 3 of 4: Use Google Hangouts (Cellular)
Step 1. Open Google Hangouts
This application is white and green and has a white quote.
Step 2. Click on the "Hangouts" tab
It's the speech bubble-shaped icon at the bottom of the screen, to the left of the phone icon.
- On Android, tap + in the lower right corner of the screen
- If this is the first time you open Hangouts, you will have to press first START and choose each Google account you want to use with the application.
- If prompted, enter the email address and password for the Google account you want to use before continuing.
Step 3. Press +
You will see this option in the lower right corner of the screen.
- On Android, tap New video call, next to the white button +.
Step 4. Press New Group
This option is at the top of the screen.
Skip this step on Android
Step 5. Tap the names of the contacts
Doing so will add them to the video conference group.
If someone is not in your contacts, you can still invite them to the video conference by typing their email address in the search field and tapping their name or email address when it appears below the search bar
Step 6. Press the check mark icon
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Skip this step on Android
Step 7. Press the video call icon
You'll see this camcorder-shaped icon in the upper-right corner of the screen. Pressing it will start the video call for all contacts in the group.
Method 4 of 4: Use Goofle Hangouts (Mac and Windows)
Step 1. Go to the Google Hangouts website
This is located at https://hangouts.google.com/. If you've already signed in to a Google account, doing so will open the Hangouts page for that account.
- If you are not logged into a Google account, you will need to click Log in in the upper right corner of the page and then enter your email address and password to continue.
Step 2. Click on the "Conversations" tab
It's the speech bubble-shaped icon at the top left of the page, below the two-person silhouette icon.
Step 3. Click New Conversation
It's at the top of the white options column on the left side of the page.
Step 4. Click New Group
You'll find this option under the search bar at the top of the white column.
Step 5. Click on the names of the contacts
Each contact whose name you click will be added to the video conference list.
If someone is not in your contacts, you can still invite them to the video conference by typing their email address in the search field and tapping their name or email address when it appears below the search bar
Step 6. Press the check mark icon
It's in the upper-right corner of the search bar. Clicking on this icon will add the chosen contacts to a new chat window, which will appear on the right side of the page.
Step 7. Click on the camcorder icon
You will see this button in the upper left corner of the new chat window on the right side of the page. Doing so will start the video call for all participants included.
Advice
- Participants can use the mute option in the video output tools to avoid background sounds, unless someone specifically asks you not to mute the audio.
- If you are a simple participant in a video conference, all you have to do is open the service where the video conference will take place and wait for the call.