Related Articles
Feb 1, 2016 - Adding a profile picture. Displaying your availability: Presence. Closing the Skype for Business window does not close the. In the Skype for Business Options window, select My Picture from the left-hand panel.
- 1 Why Is Facebook Video Unavailable?
- 2 My Skype Camera Is Not Working on a Mac
- 3 Skype And Streaming
- 4 Optimize Skype
Communication in business is crucial, so you don't need technological snafus getting in your way. But it happens. On Skype, for example, there are multiple reasons why you may experience technological mishaps, such as the inability to see the person you're trying to talk to via video. However, the fix could be quite simple.
The Connection
Make sure that you both are using Skype, as some may be under the impression that they can use any program or any phone or computer with a camera. Also, if the video feed of the person you're speaking to is slow to appear or is sporadic, it may be a matter of a slow or choppy Internet connection on one end or the other. Additionally, downloading large files without sufficient bandwidth to support them can interfere with video quality, even to the point of preventing the other person from appearing altogether. In general, a direct connection to an Internet modem or router will give you better video quality than a wireless connection.
The Hardware
If your connection is up to speed, then the problem may lie with the hardware. The person you're trying to speak with may be using a poor-quality webcam, or a webcam that's not compatible with his computer. Or the webcam may be disconnected. Moreover, if either of you don't have the minimum hardware requirements to run Skype, this may interfere with your video. At minimum, Skype requires a computer with a 1 GHz processor and 256MB of RAM. Click the 'call quality' button (it looks like a set of signal bars on a cell phone screen) to see a rundown of how Skype is performing on your computer.
The Software
Check to make sure that the other person is not 'hidden.' Have the person right-click on her Skype screen and ensure that the 'Hide Myself' or 'Stop My Video' option is not selected. Also, if neither of you have the latest version of Windows 7, XP or Vista, or you don't have the latest version of Skype, this may prevent Skype from showing video. Ensure that no other software is attempting to use the webcam. Such software could include video editing software, instant messengers, browsers, virus scanners, firewalls, Windows Explorer or even some websites. Additionally, if the other person doesn't have the latest version of DirectX technology, this could disable video on Skype.
The Drivers
Each webcam requires drivers that must be installed on a computer in order for the camera to function. If you don't have the most recent drivers for your webcam, Skype may not be able to run your camera.
If All Else Fails
Try restarting both computers. Often a restart can resolve problems with Skype transmissions.
References (4)
About the Author
Aaron Charles began writing about 'pragmatic art' in 2006 for an online arts journal based in Minneapolis, Minn. After working for telecom giant Comcast and traveling to Oregon, he's written business and technology articles for both online and print publications, including Salon.com and 'The Portland Upside.'
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
Choose Citation Style
Charles, Aaron. 'Skype is Not Showing the Other Person.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/skype-not-showing-other-person-55178.html. Accessed 06 June 2019.
Charles, Aaron. (n.d.). Skype is Not Showing the Other Person. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/skype-not-showing-other-person-55178.html
Charles, Aaron. 'Skype is Not Showing the Other Person' accessed June 06, 2019. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/skype-not-showing-other-person-55178.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.