How to Video Conference: Step-by-Step Guide

This updated guide explains how to Video Conference through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Method 1 of 4:

Using Skype (Mobile)

Open Skype. This app is blue and white with a blue "S" on it.
- You may need to enter your Skype email address (or your phone number) and password in order to continue.
Tap the Contacts tab. It's the square icon with a person's silhouette on it that's at either the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or the top of the screen (Android).
Tap a contact's name. This will open a chat with them.
- You can also tap the clock-shaped Recent tab and then tap + in the top-right (iPhone) or bottom-right (Android) corner of the screen to start a new chat.
Tap your contact's name (iPhone) or ? (Android). You'll find these options at the top of the screen or in the top-right corner of the screen, respectively. Each will invoke a drop-down menu.
Tap Add participants. This option is near the top of the drop-down menu.
Tap the names of contacts to add. On Android, you may first need to type the first few letters of a contact's name for them to appear below the text field at the top of the screen. Each contact's name that you tap will be added to the conference call.
- You can have up to 25 people in a conference call.^{[1]XResearch source}
Tap the checkmark icon. It's in the top-right corner of the screen. Doing so will create your call list.
Tap the video call button. This is the video camera-shaped button in the top-right side of the screen. Doing this will initiate your video conference call with all selected contacts.

Method 2 of 4:

Using Skype (Mac and Windows)

Open Skype. It's a blue app with a with a "S" on it.
- If prompted, enter your Skype email address (or username/phone number) and password to continue.
Click the Contacts menu item (Mac) or tab (PC). You'll find this option either in the top-left menu bar or in the top-left side of the Skype window, respectively.
Click Create New Group. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
Click contacts' names. You'll do so in the pop-out window on the right side of the Skype window. Each contact whose name you click will be added to your conference call list.
- You may add up to 25 people to a Skype call.
Click Add. This blue button is at the bottom of the window from which you add contacts. Clicking it will create your conference call list.
Click the "Video Call" button. It's the video camera-shaped button at the top of the Skype window. This will prompt Skype to call everyone in the call list; once your contacts are connected, you'll be able to proceed with your video conference.

Method 3 of 4:

Using Google Hangouts (Mobile)

Open Google Hangouts. This app is white and green with a white quotation mark on it.
Tap the "Hangouts" tab. It's the speech bubble-shaped icon at the bottom of the screen, just left of the phone icon.
- On Android, instead tap + in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- If this is your first time opening Hangouts, you'll first tap GET STARTED and select each Google account you wish to use with Hangouts.
- If prompted, enter the email address and password for the Google account you wish to use before continuing.
Tap +. You'll see this option in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- On Android, instead tap New video call near the white + button.
Tap New group. This option is near the top of the screen.
- Skip this step on Android.
Tap contacts' names. Doing so will add them to the conference call group.
- If someone isn't in your contacts, you can still invite them to the video conference by typing their email address into the search field and tapping their name or email address when it appears below the search bar.
Tap the checkmark icon. It's in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Skip this step on Android.
Tap the video call icon. You'll see this video camera-shaped icon near the top-right corner of the screen. Tapping it will initiate a video call to all contacts in the group.

Method 4 of 4:

Using Google Hangouts (Mac and Windows)

Go to the Google Hangouts website. It's located at https://hangouts. google. com/. If you're already logged into a Google account, doing so will open that account's Hangouts page.
- If you aren't logged into a Google account, you'll need to click Sign in in the top-right corner of the page and then enter your email address and password to continue.
Click the "Conversations" tab. This is the speech bubble-shaped icon in the top-left side of the page, just beneath the two-person silhouette icon here.
Click New conversation. It's at the top of the white column of options on the left side of the page.
Click New group. You'll find this option beneath the search bar that's at the top of the white column.
Click contacts' names. Each contact whose name you click will be added to your conference list.
- If someone isn't in your contacts, you can still invite them to the video conference by typing their email address into the search field and tapping their name or email address when it appears below the search bar.
Click the checkmark icon. It's in the top-right corner of the search bar. Clicking this icon will add your selected contacts to a new chat window, which will appear on the right side of the page.
Click the video camera icon. You'll see this button in the top-left corner of the new chat window that's on the right side of the page. Doing so will initiate your video call to all included participants.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Video Conference?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.