How to install Skype for Business on Windows 10
There are two different versions of Skype that can be installed on Windows 10; Skype, and Skype for Business. Skype, the normal, non-business version is a stock app on Windows 10. Creating a Skype account for the non-business version is easy but settings up Skype for Business is rather complicated.
Install Skype for Business
Skype for Business is called as such at present but it still runs under the name of certain apps that Microsoft had before. In order to install Skype for Business you need to first understand which app you have to download.
1. Skype for Microsoft 365 users
If you’re a Microsoft 365 user, you will install Skype for Business via the Skype for Microsoft 365 installer. Unfortunately, getting your hands on it isn’t the simplest. You can download it if you have a Microsoft 365 Enterprise license.
- Visit the Office online portal.
- Sign in with your Microsoft 365 E3/E5 account.
- Select ‘Apps and devices’ from the column on the left.
- Under Skype for Business, select the language and version that matches your system.
- Leave the ‘Edition’ set to Skype for Business 2016.
- Click Install Skype.
- Allow the download to complete.
- Run the “setupskypeforbusinessentryretail.x64.en-us_” or similarly named executable file.
2. Skype for Office users
Older versions of Office still work i.e., those that were a one-time purchase. They too can use Skype for Business however, since they do not have access to the Microsoft 365 admin center or the Office portal, they have to use a different installer.
- Visit this link in your browser.
- Select the language you want to use Skype for business in.
- Click the Download button.
- Select the version you want to download i.e. 32-bit or 64-bit.
- Click ‘Next’.
- Once the download completes, run the executable.
Note: The executable is not named ‘Skype for business’ nor does its name contain ‘Skype’. It is named ‘Lync’, or similar after the Microsoft Lync chat client that Microsoft has rebranded.
Sign in Skype for Business
Signing into Skype for Business isn’t possible unless you have an enterprise license for Office or for Microsoft 365. The modern Skype for Business app is pointed to a user-specified domain that is essential in order to set up an account that can be used to sign into the service. You may be able to get your hands on the installer for Skype for Business but signing in isn’t going to be possible unless you have a domain account set up.
When you do sign in to Skype for Business, you may see a prompt telling you that your organization is using Microsoft Teams. Click the ‘Start Skype for Business’ button to go to Skype.
