A new version of Skype for Windows 10 is now available

Jun 24, 2020 18:09 GMT  ·  By

Skype has long been a super-popular Microsoft service, and this is the reason the company bought it in the first place, but it’s not a secret that it in the latest few years, it kind of lost ground, especially as the adoption of mobile competitors like WhatsApp and FaceTime skyrocketed.

Microsoft has previously tried to make Skype available pretty much everywhere, and the company has even released major updates to refresh the app and reposition it as a better rival for the apps mentioned above.

So Skype for Android and iPhone has already received a makeover that makes it a better messaging platform for mobile devices, but on the other hand, the company still struggles to find a way to overhaul the app on Windows 10 too.

Many believe Skype itself no longer makes sense, especially as the Redmond-based software giant is pushing so hard for Microsoft Teams. And the latest few months are the living proof that Teams is the service that deserves most of the love, especially because the number of subscribers improved substantially.

Microsoft, on the other hand, doesn’t want to give up on Skype by any means, so one of the improvements it’s working on is interoperability with Microsoft Teams.

Meanwhile, the company has also been hard at work on refreshing Skype for Windows 10, and this month, the company merged the dedicated modern app with the desktop client.

“Starting in June 2020, Skype for Windows 10 and Skype for Desktop are becoming one so we can provide a consistent experience. This lets us give the newest updates and improvements regardless of where you get Skype, from the Microsoft Store or from skype.com,” Microsoft explains.

So now that a new version is available, let’s see what’s inside.

First and foremost, the new Skype allows users to share files directly from File Explorer – this remains the default file management app on Windows 10, so now it’s easier to share files with your contacts. Then, the tray icon has been updated to display more information about new messages and you current status.

Microsoft has also worked on updating the close options, making it easier to quite Skype or stop it from starting automatically. In the Windows 10 version, you could just stop Skype from starting at boot by heading over to the Settings screen – by default, however, Skype was configured to run at boot, something that many users found rather annoying.

Skype for Windows 10 previously did not include a close option
Skype for Windows 10 previously did not include a close option

The new Skype also allows a maximum of 9 videos in a video call, while also providing options for custom backgrounds – this is a feature that’s becoming more common in video calling apps, so Skype getting it is quite an important update.

And last but not least, Skype gets moderated chats, Meet Now improvements, and refined call controls.

On the other hand, Microsoft says it has also removed two features because they didn’t make any sense on Windows 10. One of them is the integration with Share charm. This is a feature that was originally implemented on Windows 8 where users where provided with charms for quick actions. The share charm, for instance, allowed users to quickly share info on Skype with a contact.

And then, synchronization with Outlook contacts is no longer available in the new Skype client.

Microsoft will continue to further improve Skype in the coming updates, and now it’s pretty clear the company has no intention to give up on the app. Expect additional refinements to go live by the end of the year, especially as the company can now focus all of its efforts on just one client.

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Skype getting more improvements on Windows 10
Skype for Windows 10 previously did not include a close option
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