Users can now use Skype for Business on Mac to join meetings even if they don’t have a Skype for Business account. Use Skype for Business with Microsoft Teams Users who have upgraded to Teams will now see an option to sign in to Skype for Business to join a Skype for Business. If Skype Meetings App and Skype for Business for Mac are enabled, users will download the latest version of the apps from the Microsoft 365 or Office 365 Content Delivery Network (CDN) rather than from your Skype for Business server. For Skype for Business Server 2019, using Skype Meetings App and Skype for Business for Mac is the only option. In our environment we are using Skype for Business 2016 (16.10.97) and facing below two issues. Skype is frequently disconnecting getting this notification (The connection to server was lost.
- Skype For Business Mac Os
- Skype For Business Mac Download
- Skype For Business Download For Windows 10
- Skype For Business App Mac
- Skype For Business Mac Updates
- Mac Skype For Business
- Skype For Business Mac 10.10
Summary: Skype for Business Server 2015 or Skype for Business Online administrators can use these tables to understand what features are supported on which clients.
Before you deploy or upgrade to Skype for Business, check which clients are already in use in your organization. Use the tables below to understand the feature support impact on those clients. This can help you communicate changes to users, pace the roll-out process, and fully understand the benefits of upgrading to the latest client.
Some features available with Skype for Business Server 2015 are not available in Skype for Business Online, see Online or Hybrid user account limitations for specifics. Skype for Business Online Admins may want to refer to Skype for Business Online Service Description for information on the different plans available to them.
See Desktop client feature comparison for Skype for Business 2019 for client support on Skype for Business Server 2019.
The following tables show the features that are available with each client that works with Skype for Business Server 2015 or Skype for Business Online. You may also want to refer to Mobile client feature comparison for Skype for Business for smart phone and tablet client feature comparisons. The Client Access License or User Subscription License your organization purchases will also have an impact on which features are available to your users. Whether you deploy the Full or Basic client to users depends on the license or plan your organization chooses to buy. See the Licensing Guide for more details.
Important
Skype for Business Server 2015 and Skype for Business Online support the following previously released clients: Lync 2013, Lync 2010, Lync 2010 Mobile, Lync Phone Edition, and Lync 2010 Attendant. For information about these clients when used with other servers, see the Client comparison tables for Lync Server 2013 and Client comparison tables for Lync Server 2010.
Note
The Lync 2010 Attendant client is not supported in Skype for Business Online.
Note
The Skype for Business Web App browser client and Skype Meetings App Windows 10 app only provide Meetings support. Refer to Plan for Meetings clients (Web App and Meetings App) for more about these clients.
Enhanced Presence support
This table covers the Enhanced Presence features that extend beyond a simple indication of whether a user is online, offline, busy, etc.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015 or 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publish status | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ |
| View status | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| View status notes and Out of Office messages | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add a custom location | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Add a custom note | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Use a photo from any public site for My Picture (not available in Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ Does not support publishing status based on calendar free/busy information.
Contacts and Contact Groups support
This table covers the features relating to managing IM and Presence contacts.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015 or 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-populated Contacts list | ✔ | ||||||||
| View and Modify Contacts list | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tag contacts for status change alerts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Control privacy relationships | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Search the corporate address book | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Search Microsoft Outlook contacts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Manage contact groups | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Expand distribution groups and Microsoft 365 Groups | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Search for Response Groups (not available in Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Display recent contacts group | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Display current conversations group | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Display alternate contact views (for example, tile) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Sort contacts by Group, Relationship, or New (people who've added you to their Contacts list) | ✔ | ✔ | Sort by group | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Sort contacts by Status (availability) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Search and add Exchange contacts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
IM support
This table covers features related to IM support.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015 or 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiate IM with or email to a contact | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Navigate among multiple IM conversations/Track multiple conversations in a single tabbed window | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Log IM conversations in Outlook | ✔ | ✔If server side conversation history is turned on | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Saved in Communicator for Mac | Saved in Lync for Mac | |
| Use prepared conversation templates | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Check spelling | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Skill search (with SharePoint Server integration) (On-premises Skype for Business Server and on-premises SharePoint 2013 are required for skill search.) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Persistent Chat (Group Chat) integration (not available for Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Escalate a Persistent Chat room to a Skype for Business Meeting with one click (not available for Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Inline pictures of sender and receiver in IM window | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Send ink messages | ✔ | ||||||||
| Receive ink messages | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Set IM messages as high importance | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Transfer files in peer-to-peer IM conversations | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Meetings support
This table covers features related to Meetings support.
Note
Skype for Business meeting features aren't available in Skype for Business Online Standalone Plan 1. Plan 1 is being retired.
In Skype-to-Skype sessions, a Skype for Business Online Plan 1 user can participate in desktop sharing and application sharing if they're invited by a user who has access to sharing features.For details, see the Skype for Business Online Service Description.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Skype for Business Web App | Skype for Business 2015 client | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add computer audio | ✔ | ✔ | ✔(requires plug-in) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add video | ✔ | ✔ | ✔(requires plug-in) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| View multiparty video (gallery view) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Video-based screen sharing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔View-only | ||||||||
| Use in-meeting presenter controls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Access detailed meeting roster | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Participate in multiparty IM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Share the desktop (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ ❶ (requires plug-in) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ ❶ | |||
| Share a program (if enabled) | ✔ | View only | ✔(requires plug-in) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | View only | ||||
| Add anonymous participants (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Use dial-in audio meetings | ✔ ❷ | ✔ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Initiate a Meet Now meeting | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Add and present Microsoft PowerPoint files | ✔ | ❸ Annotations not available | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Present only | ✔ | ❸ View only, annotations not available | |||
| Navigate Microsoft PowerPoint files | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Add and edit OneNote meeting notes | ✔ | Edit only (not add) | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Use a whiteboard | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Conduct polls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Upload files to share with others | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Schedule a meeting or conference | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Outlook or Lync Web Scheduler | Outlook or Lync Web Scheduler | Outlook | Outlook | |||
| Q&A Manager | ✔ | ||||||||||
| Disable attendee video | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||
| Disable meeting IM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Mute Audience | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Make everyone an attendee | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Produce Skype Meeting Broadcast | ✔ | ||||||||||
| Delegate can schedule a meeting on behalf of delegator | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| Synchronize delegates between Skype for Business and Outlook | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||
| Set Video Spotlight (lock video) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Give/Take control of screen sharing | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ Participants can't control desktops that are shared by Skype for Business on Mac, Lync for Mac 2011, or Communicator for Mac 2011 users. Skype for Business on Mac, Lync for Mac 2011 and Communicator for Mac 2011 users can't control desktops shared by Windows users. This also won't work for Skype for Business Web App on Max OSX.
❷ For Skype for Business Online, this feature requires Microsoft PSTN Conferencing, Exchange Unified Messaging, or a 3rd party audio conferencing provider.
❸ The Lync for Mac 2011 client cannot view Microsoft Office 2013 PowerPoint presentations when they have been shared in a conference by the Skype for Business Web App.
Voice (Telephony) support
This table covers features related to voice services support.
Note
Skype for Business Voice (Telephony) features are limited to certain Skype for Business Online subscription plans. For details, see the Skype for Business Online Service Description.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015 or 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiate a call | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Click to call a contact | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Transfer a call | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Manage call forwarding | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Manage team call settings | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Manage delegates | ✔ | ✔Requires Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 or later | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Initiate a call to a Response Group | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Support emergency services (E-911) | ✔ | ✔Requires Skype for Business Server 2015 CU6 or later | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| IM notification to SIP URI(s) for E-911 call | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| IM notification to distribution list for E-911 call | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Connect to voice mail, set up or change greeting | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Missed call notification | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Make calls on behalf of another contact (manager/delegate scenario) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | |||||
| Handle another's calls if configured as a delegate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Manage a high volumes of calls | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Call park | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | |||||||
| Group call pickup | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ||||||
| Location-based routing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Manage Response Group/Team call group | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Answer Auto attendant call | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ This feature isn't available in Skype for Business Online.
External users support
This table covers features related to support for external users homed on the PSTN.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015 or 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiate IM with a public contact | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Initiate IM with a federated contact | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Conduct two-party or multiparty calls with external users (not available in Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Recording support
This table covers features related to support for recording meetings.
| Future/capability** | Skype for Business 2015 or 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Client-side recording of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content | ✔ ❶ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ||||||
| Client-side recording of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ | ||||||
| Select preferred recording resolution | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ Recording is unavailable in certain Skype for Business Online standalone plans. Recording requires full Skype for Business client rights.
❷ Recording of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations is unavailable in Skype for Business Online.
Modern Authentication
This table covers features requiring support for modern authentication.
Modern authentication also requires a topology described in Skype for Business topologies supported with Modern Authentication.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015 or 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Authentication | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Multi-factor Authentication | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Cert -Based Authentication | ✔(Domain-joined device only) | ✔ | ✔(Domain-joined device only) | ||||||
| Kerberos Authentication | ✔ | ✔ |
Archiving, compliance, and logging support
This table covers features related to support for archiving and logging functions.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015 or 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client | Lync Windows Store app | Lync 2010 | Lync 2010 Attendant | Lync Phone Edition | Communicator for Mac 2011 | Lync for Mac 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archiving of IM conversations in Outlook Conversation History | ✔ ❶ | ✔If server side conversation history is enabled | ✔ ❶ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ✔ | Saved in Communicator for Mac | Saved in Lync for Mac | |
| Client-side archiving of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content | ✔ ❶ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ | ||||||
| Client-side archiving of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations (unavailable in Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Access sign-in logs from Skype for Business icon in the task bar | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ For Skype for Business Online users, this feature requires Exchange Online and is controlled by the user's Exchange mailbox In-Place Hold attribute.
Skype For Business Mac Os
Client limitations
Basic client limitations
The features below are available using the Full client and are not available with the Basic client:
Skype For Business Mac Download
- Manage team call settings
- Manage delegates
- Handle another's calls if configured as a delegate
- Manage a high volume of calls
- Initiate a call to a Response Group
- Call park
- Change greeting
- Group call pickup
- Missed call notification emails are not generated when a user status is UM disabled and they are using a legacy Outlook Client (2013 or earlier)
Online or Hybrid user account limitations
User accounts can exist either Online or On-premises, and that will affect the features available to that user. Users with accounts on Skype for Business Online will not have access to the following features, even with the Full client:
- Enhanced Presence: Use a photo from any public site for My Picture
- Contacts: Search for Response Groups
- IM Support: Persistent Chat (Group Chat) integration
- IM Support: Escalate a Persistent Chat room to a Skype for Business Meeting with one click
- External Users: Conduct two-party or multiparty calls with external users
See also
-->Summary: IT Professionals should review the support requirements for the Skype for Business Web App and Skype Meetings App while planning for Skype for Business Server. This article is not intended for the users of these apps.
Once you've implemented Skype for Business Server, your organization's users will presumably have the Skype for Business client installed as part of the deployment process.
Later on, those users may create meetings and invite users from outside the organization, and those meeting invitees may not have any version of the Skype for Business client. When those users click the URL for the meeting invite, the lack of a client will be detected and the invitee without a Skype for Business client will be asked to download and install a lightweight, meetings-only client so they can join the meeting.
Note
The Skype for Business Web App and Skype Meetings App are only available when trying to log in to a meeting without having Skype for Business. User help for these apps is at https://aka.ms/smahelp.
Note
You can't pre-install either the Skype for Business Web App or Skype Meetings App, but smart phone and tablet users may be able to install inexpensive mobile clients they can use to attend meetings.
By default, the server hosting the meeting will direct the user to download and install Skype for Business Web App to join the meeting. The Skype for Business Web App is stored on the Front End Server and gets sent to the meeting attendee.
For Skype for Business Server, Skype Meetings App (on Windows) and Skype for Business for Mac (on Mac) are available as replacements for Skype for Business Web App beginning with CU5, but providing the replacement apps requires the additional configuration described in Enable Skype Meetings App to replace Skype for Business Web App (Optional). If Skype Meetings App and Skype for Business for Mac are enabled, users will download the latest version of the apps from the Microsoft 365 or Office 365 Content Delivery Network (CDN) rather than from your Skype for Business server. For Skype for Business Server 2019, using Skype Meetings App and Skype for Business for Mac is the only option.
Skype Meetings App offers a simplified browser experience for downloading and installing the app and joining meetings, including one-click join for users of Internet Explorer. Skype Meetings App also has many improvements over the Skype for Business Web App for reliability and the meeting experience.
Note
As of Skype for Business Server 2015 CU5 or later, meetings held using Skype for Business Online will no longer send a clientless user the Skype for Business Web App, they will instead be sent Skype Meetings App (on Windows) or Skype for Business for Mac (on Mac). As of Skype for Business Server 2015 CU5 or later, if you Enable Skype Meetings App to replace Skype for Business Web App (Optional), clientless users will be sent Skype Meetings App or Skype for Business for Mac instead of Skype for Business Web App.
Software requirements
To use the Skype for Business Web App, a user must have one of the following supported operating system and browser combinations.
Operating System and minimum browser support for Skype for Business Web App
| Operating system | Edge | 32- and 64-bit Internet Explorer 11 or later | 32- and 64-bit Internet Explorer 10 or later | 32- and 64-bit Internet Explorer 9 or later | 32- and 64-bit Version of Safari 6.2.8 - 11.X | 32- and 64-bit Version of Chrome 18.X or later |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| Windows 8.1 ❶ | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| Windows 8 (Intel based) ❶ | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| Windows 7 with SP1 ❷ | N/A | Yes | No | No | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 ❷ | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| macOS 10.8 and later (Intel-based) ❷ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
❶ The Skype for Business Web App browser plug-in requires a specific sharing plugin to use computer-based voice, video, sharing, and viewing of ongoing screen sharing and other features. A meeting attendee is given the option to install the sharing plug-in either when they join the meeting or when they initiate one of these features. On Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, the sharing plug-in can be installed only if you're running Internet Explorer 10 or Internet Explorer 11 for the desktop. These features are not available with non-desktop versions of Internet Explorer 10 and 11. Note that Firefox and Safari version 12.0 and later is no longer supported.
❷ On supported Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Macintosh operating systems, all features are available including computer-based voice, video, application viewing, application sharing, desktop viewing, and desktop sharing. To use these features, you must install a plug-in when prompted. Note that Mac OS X version 10.7 is no longer supported. Also note the web app will not install on OS X 10.15 or later. We recommend using the latest version of Skype for Business for Mac which supports anonymous join scenarios moving forward.
❸ Accessing the Web App from Chrome on Windows will launch a small program which loads the Web App in an embedded Internet Explorer frame. This program requires one of the supported versions of Internet Explorer be installed for the Web App to load properly.
Note
Microsoft 365 and Office 365 users can use Internet Explorer 10 or later with Skype for Business.
Skype Meetings App
Skype Meetings App runs as an app on computers using Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, with 32- and 64-bit Internet Explorer 11 or later installed.
For any other dependencies, refer to Supported platforms for Skype Meetings App
Skype For Business Download For Windows 10
Skype for Business for Mac
Skype for Business for Mac runs on computers using macOS version 10.8 or later.
Hardware requirements
Computer hardware requirements are determined by the operating system and browser. Voice and telephony features require a microphone and speakers, headset with microphone, or equivalent device compatible with the computer. Video features require a video device compatible with the computer. For detailed information about video hardware support and expected video quality, see Skype for Business client video resolutions.
Network requirements
If a user of Skype for Business Web App or Skype Meetings App experiences meeting connection issues, chances are their organization's network infrastructure is not configured to support Office 365 as described in Office 365 URLs and IP address ranges. This is the case whether the meeting was created by a user of Skype for Business Online or Skype for Business Server.
If the user is on a network not configured as described, many app features may or may not work and they may not be able to connect to the meeting at all.
Supported Meetings features
This table compares the Meetings features available to users of the Skype for Business client, Skype for Business Web App, Skype Meetings App, and Lync Web App. Lync Web App is listed for feature comparison purposes: a user would only be downloading and using Lync Web App if the meeting was hosted on a Lync 2013 server.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2016 or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac client | Skype Meetings App | Skype for Business Web App | Lync Web App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add computer audio | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) |
| Add video | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) |
| Switch audio to a phone for authenticated participants | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Switch audio to a phone for guest participants | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| View multiparty video (gallery view) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Video-based screen sharing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔(View-only) | ||
| Use in-meeting presenter controls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access detailed meeting roster | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Participate in multiparty IM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Set IM messages as high importance | ✔ | ||||
| Share the desktop (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) |
| Share a program (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔(On Windows only; requires plug-in) | ✔(On Windows only; requires plug-in) | ✔(On Windows only; requires plug-in) | |
| Take control of another user's shared desktop or program | ✔ | ✔ (❶ On Windows only; requires plug-in) | ✔ (❶ On Windows only; requires plug-in) | ✔ (❶ On Windows only; requires plug-in) | |
| Let another user take control of your shared desktop or program | ✔ | ||||
| Add anonymous participants (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Invite participants by name | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Invite participants by phone number | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Invite participants by email | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Use dial-in audio meetings | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ |
| Initiate a Meet Now meeting | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Record a meeting | ✔ | ||||
| Add and download attachments | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Add and present Microsoft PowerPoint files | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Navigate Microsoft PowerPoint files | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add and edit OneNote meeting notes | ✔ | Edit only (not add) | Edit only (not add) | Edit only (not add) | |
| Use a whiteboard | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Conduct polls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Upload files to share with others | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Schedule a meeting or conference | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Skype for Business Web Scheduler |
| Q&A Manager | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Disable attendee video | ✔ | ||||
| Disable meeting IM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Mute audience | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Make everyone an attendee | ✔ | ||||
| Produce Skype Meeting Broadcast | ✔ |
❶ Participants can't control desktops that are shared by Skype for Business for Mac, Lync for Mac 2011 or Communicator for Mac 2011 users. This also won't work for Skype for Business Web App on Max OSX.
❷ For Skype for Business Online, this feature requires Microsoft PSTN Conferencing, Exchange Unified Messaging, or a 3rd party audio conferencing provider.
❸ The Lync for Mac 2011 client cannot view Microsoft Office 2013 PowerPoint presentations when they have been shared in a conference by the Skype for Business Web App.
Skype For Business App Mac
Known issues and troubleshooting
Skype For Business Mac Updates
For End-users, the online help for these apps is readily available. IT Professionals should be aware of the following issues:
Mac Skype For Business
If the user is on a network not configured to meet the Network requirements, many app features may or may not work and they may not be able to connect to the meeting at all.
Some users may have corporate-administered computers with disabled permission to install apps. for those users, neither app is an option, but smart phone and tablet users may be able to install inexpensive mobile clients they can use to attend meetings.
Other installation issues are also covered in the help topics.
Users may see a firewall warning the first time they run the meetings app. They may be prompted to open ports to optimize the experience, and this may require Admin privileges on the machine they may not have. The app should still function and the user can safely decline to open the requested ports.
You must have ActiveX enabled without filtering in Internet Explorer, even if IE is not your default browser. In Skype for Business Web App, an ActiveX control—a small module that adds additional features to a web app or other program—is required for audio, video, and screen sharing.
For some features of Skype for Business Web App to work correctly, you must allow your browser to save cookies on your computer or device.
You may need to turn on JavaScript support in your browser for some Skype for Business Web App features to work as expected.
AES Support
As of Skype for Business Server 2015 CU5, AES is not supported for ASP.NET 4.6 and this may cause Skype Meetings App to fail to start. Cryptographic requirements due to ASP .NET 4.5 has more details.
Skype For Business Mac 10.10
See also