- Skype For Business Mac Client
- Skype For Business On Mac Crashing
- Skype For Business On Mac Desktop App
- Skype For Business Download For Mac
- Skype For Business On Mac Keeps Crashing
- Configure Skype For Business On Mac
It’s finally here! Microsoft has at last released the new Mac client for Skype for Business.
(Okay, it was released on October 26. But I was on vacation.)
(Okay, it was released on October 26. But I was on vacation.)
Jan 19, 2017 Using Skype for Business on a Mac, I have the latest version of all MSFT apps. Skype always shows my status as 'away' no matter if I change it by hand or not. Frequently disconnects me from chat without any indication. Colleagues think I'm not online, which really really sucks. Lync used to work fine, shocked to say I never had a problem.
As soon as I saw the announcement, I grabbed a copy and one of our test Macs. The same Mac on which I’d tested the Skype Preview earlier in the year (and had several issues). Fortunately, the new Mac client installed & ran smoothly.
Get the Mac Client
Download Skype for Business on Mac here: Skype for Business on Mac – Microsoft Download Center
(Curious note: Microsoft has a page up for Skype for Business apps: Download Skype for Business across all your devices. The Mac client version available here? It’s still Lync for Mac 2011. Somebody didn’t do their update…)
So what do we have for our Mac friends? The new client is, I’d say, a fair and equitable companion to the Windows Skype for Business client. There are some differences, and (as of now) a few limitations. But overall, I think our Mac customers will enjoy this client very much.
What the Mac Client Has
Skype for Business on Mac is the all new client that provides great communication experiences for Apple users. Features like one-click join, edge-to-edge video, and full screen sharing give you a superior Skype Meetings experience. Skype for Business (Windows Mac) - Change your presence status in Skype for Business. Your presence information is a quick way for other people to see your availability status. Presence is automatically set based on your Outlook calendar, but you can change it manually if you want to. Skype for Business (Windows Mac) - Change your presence status in Skype for Business Your presence information is a quick way for other people to see your availability status. Presence is automatically set based on your Outlook calendar, but you can change it manually if you want to. Skype Support is here to help you with all of your Skype for Mac questions. Breaking news from around the world Get the Bing + MSN extension. No thanks Add it now. This site uses cookies for analytics, personalized content and ads. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to this use.
You wouldn’t expect any Skype for Business client not to have all the basics. The Mac client is no different. Presence status, IM, making/receiving phone calls, Meetings (Meet Now and Scheduled Skype Meetings), video calling, screen sharing…all are included. It even has a couple new features: One-click Meeting Join. Full-screen sharing.
All within a nice clean typical-Mac-UI interface.
Being a Windows guy, I thought for a moment that they’d stripped out many of the options. Until I realized that those options were available in the Skype for Business navigation menus instead.
Which actually led me to finding some notable differences between client versions.
Differences from Windows Client
Skype For Business Mac Client
In keeping with the Mac’s “streamlined UI” motif, several items you’d find right away in the Windows client aren’t showing in the Mac client. At least, not at a glance.
For instance, Call Forwarding. You can set Call Forwarding options in 2 places on Windows – in Skype for Business’ Options, and in the Call Forwarding dropdown along the bottom of the Windows client.
The latter option is not available in Skype4B on Mac. You can only set Call Forwarding in the Preferences window, under Calls.
(As you see here, setting your Voicemail Greeting is also under Calls.)
Also, Device selection. Through which device will you make & receive calls? On Windows, Skype for Business lets you choose this in the same 2 places as Call Forwarding. On Mac, Skype for Business only lets you do this in Preferences, under Audio/Video.
By default, Instant Messaging windows open in the main Skype for Business window, under “Chats.” Chats also serves as Conversation History in the Mac client.
(If you want separate windows for Instant Messaging conversations, check the “Show conversations in separate windows” box in the Preferences/General window.)
Limitations & Known Issues
This is a V1 client. I’m sure Microsoft could have held it back longer for more feature additions, but they opted not to. Kind of glad they did; Mac users have dealt with Lync for Mac for too long.
That said, the new Mac client does have limitations. A few features Windows users enjoy are not available…at least not at this stage.
- No Application Sharing (yet).
- Persistent Chat is NOT integrated.
- No Delegate management.
- No initiating calls to Response Groups.
- Call Park is not available.
In terms of known issues, Microsoft has already published a list: Known Issues – Skype for Business on Mac
One to note here: you can’t have both Lync for Mac and Skype for Business on Mac clients installed side-by-side. If you use Lync for Mac, uninstall it before installing Skype for Business.
I came across one of the issues almost immediately. If you’re logged into Skype for Business with one account, but logged into Outlook with another, Skype Meeting functionality doesn’t come up in Outlook.
Even when you’re logged in with the same account, you may need to use the “Online Meeting” button to add Skype Meeting URLs/dial-in numbers to a Meeting invite. When I first opened a new Meeting, I had a blank invite. I clicked the Online Meeting button, and you see the result below. Instant Skype Meeting.
It’s Finally Here! Go Install Skype for Business on your Mac
Final impressions: I’m glad Microsoft did the Preview. This client was all-new, and it definitely had bugs. Leveraging the Skype4B community is a good way to hunt them down quickly.
The new Mac client is stable; I’ve had it running for over 36 hours now with no errors or crashes. It has a good feature set. It’s ready for day-to-day use. And we’re all happy for that!
Skype For Business On Mac Crashing
For a full feature list, check the now-updated client comparison table: Client Comparison Tables for Skype for Business Server 2015
(Just remember to uninstall Lync for Mac first. And the Skype Preview client, if you tried that out!)
What do you think of Skype for Business on Mac? Please comment below or email in your thoughts.
-->This article describes the client preferences and defaults available for the Skype for Business on Mac client, and how to edit them from outside the App.
Skype for Business on Mac client preference settings
Certain features and behaviors that are available to Skype for Business on Mac clients are determined by preference settings on the client. The Skype for Business on Mac preferences are found in a file located on Macs that have installed the Skype for Business client located at the following path:
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness/Data/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness.plist
To set these preferences, get to a terminal prompt on the client's Mac and as needed enter defaults write com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness key commands using the preference keys described in the following table.
Client preference keys
Key | Type | Value | Description |
---|---|---|---|
autoDetectAutoDicoveryURLs | Bool | 0 = manual server configuration 1 = automatic server detection (default) | Specify how Skype for Business identifies the transport and server to use during sign-in. If you enable this policy setting, you must specify internalAutoDiscoveryURL and externalAutoDiscoveryURL. |
internalAutoDiscoveryURL | String | Full autodiscover URL | Internal autodiscover URL |
externalAutoDiscoveryURL | String | Full autodiscover URL | External autodiscover URL |
httpProxyDomain | String | HTTP Proxy Domain | |
httpProxyUserName | String | HTTP Proxy Username | |
httpProxyPassword | String | HTTP Proxy Password | |
trustedDomainList | Array | List of trusted domains for HTTP redirects. | |
autoAcceptTimeout | Number | 300 (default) | Auto-Accept timeout for users without Server-side Conversation History. |
warnWhenUnknownLocationForE911 | Bool | 0 = Disabled 1 = Enabled | Warns the user when dialing an emergency number from an unknown location. |
sipAddress | String | The SIP address (Email) used to sign-in to Skype for Business. | |
userName | String | The UPN (UserName) used to sign-in to Skype for Business. | |
userNameInAdvancedOnly | Bool | 0 = display the User Name field on the main sign-in screen and in the Advanced Properties dialog box 1 = display the User Name field only in the Advanced Properties dialog box (default) | Specify where the User Name field is displayed during sign-in. |
Usage examples
Skype For Business On Mac Desktop App
To add a single domain (Contoso.com) to the trusted domain list you would use the trustedDomainList key as shown:
Skype For Business Download For Mac
defaults write com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness trustedDomainList -array-add 'Contoso.com'
To add several domains to the trusted domain list you would use the trustedDomainList key as shown:
defaults write com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness trustedDomainList -array-add 'sfb.com' 'abc.com' 'test.org'
Skype For Business On Mac Keeps Crashing
Sample unedited settings
Configure Skype For Business On Mac
For reference, here is a sample settings file using default settings only: