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The main Skype for Business window

When you open Skype for Business, the main Skype for Business window will appear:

Adding a profile picture

If you have uploaded a profile picture to Office 365 through the main portal, it will automatically carry through to Skype for Business. To upload or edit your picture from within Skype for Business:

  1. Click Options (cog icon) on the Skype for Business main window 
  2. Choose Tools > Options 
  3. In the Skype for Business Options window, select My Picture from the left-hand panel 
  4. Click the Edit or Remove Picture button to upload an image. Office 365 will open. 
  5. Browse to select your picture file, then click Save at the bottom right of the screen 
    • You will be returned to the Skype for Business Options window 
  6. Ensure that the Show my picture radio button is selected 
  7. Click OK

Displaying your availability: Presence

You can also manually change your availability by:

A user’s availability is indicated by the coloured icon beside their profile picture. This availability status is known as your presence and will indicate a status such as Available, Busy, Away, Do Not Disturb, etc. Your presence indicator will effect which communication options are available.

Presence is only indicated for those with the Skype for Business client running, otherwise it will show as Offline (uncoloured). Indicators are based on your Outlook calendar information, but update according to both your calendar and your activity.

For instance, if you are available at your desk but don’t use your mouse or keypad for a period of time (the default is 5 minutes, but this can be changed – Options> Tools> Options> Status), Skype for Business automatically changes your presence indicator from green to an inactive yellow icon. Using your keyboard or mouse returns your status to available.

Using the drop-down status menu in the Skype for Business window

Hovering over the large icon on the task bar

Right-clicking the small icon on taskbar

Manual statussettings override all automatic changes.

  • To return to automatic settings, select Reset Status from the Status drop-down menu.

Guide to status icons

If your Outlook calendar is set to Out-of-Office, but your Skype presence is set to Available (for instance, when you are working from home), there would be a purple dot displayed beside the status, as shown below.

As Skype for Business is integrated with Outlook, you will automatically see the availability of colleagues when you communicate with them by email. When you add a name to the address field in a new email you will also see their presence status displayed beside the name.


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