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You can put skype:username into the href attribute of a link and it works, but it begins a call, but I want to create a link to begin a chat (a text conversation). I know that skype: is a type of protocol, but don’t know how to create this link.

Lucas
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elon
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6 Answers6

150

Have you tried <a href="skype:-skype-name-?chat">Start chat</a> ?

Allowed query parameters:

  • chat - start a chat
  • call - start a call
  • add - add person to the contacts
  • userinfo - view user's profile
  • voicemail - leave a voice message
  • sendfile - send a file
David Ferenczy Rogožan
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Anton
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    Is there a list of available queries i.e. `chat`, `call`, etc? – HellaMad Dec 21 '12 at 21:44
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    I am not sure if anyone of you still need it but here is my list: ?call - Make a call ?add - Add person to Skype ?chat - Start chat ?userinfo - View user profile ?voicemail - Leave a voice message ?sendfile - Send a file through Skype – libjup Dec 26 '12 at 10:23
  • Salvador Dali’s [answer](http://stackoverflow.com/a/18061987/501765) includes a link to official documentation. – törzsmókus Aug 30 '16 at 14:09
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    the [MSDN documentation](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/dn745882.aspx) only mentioins `call` (also with `video` option) and `chat` – törzsmókus Aug 30 '16 at 14:16
  • Is `-skype-name-` mandatory? Is there a way to share a link/text without specifying in href the skype name? – Howie Oct 03 '17 at 10:23
12

I have been fighting with the following link all day.

<a href="skype:-skype-name-?chat">Start chat</a>

The problem that I had was with the -skype-name- part

Finally, I just solved it.

My name on Skype web page was name but the real name was name lastname. The link in my web page did make Skype to load in my Android phone but, Skype failed to find the account to wich I wanted to call (name lastname).

I tryed, and failed:

<a href="skype:name lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:name+lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:name%20lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:name-lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:name_lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:phonenumber?call">...

Then, the solution:

<a href="skype:live:emailnamewithoutdomain?call">...

I just hope u find it usefull.

And, do not forget that u have a plenty of commands to add after the ? in the url (add,call,chat,and so on).

OfficeYA
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7

Skype official website has it nicely documented.

Basically in the ends it gives you a nice code for a button.

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.dev.skype.com/uri/skype-uri.js"></script>
<div id="SkypeButton_Chat_xxxx">
  <script type="text/javascript">
    Skype.ui({
      "name": "chat",
      "element": "SkypeButton_Chat_xxxx",
      "participants": ["xxxx"],
      "imageSize": 24
    });
  </script>
</div>
Salvador Dali
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  • Does this still work? All their developer docs have disappeared since Microsoft took over. – codecowboy Feb 20 '15 at 14:37
  • @codecowboy yes, it works, the docs are available, they just moved to another domain (yeah, they should have done a redirect). – Salvador Dali Apr 05 '15 at 20:09
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    Latest docs available in https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/dn745883.aspx – Sriram May 10 '16 at 06:41
  • Thanks for answer. But the question was about solution with a link. Meaning I don't want to use original Skype button. – elon Mar 04 '17 at 17:57
6

The solution: You just use this format,hope its working fine

 <a href="sip:-skype-name-">Chat</a>

<a href="tel:****Skype number***">Call</a>
Ramalingam
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    The part with "sip:" worked for me, but it only works properly on Windows clients, I'm still having trouble on MacOS on different versions. On MacOS it doesn't open the chat but just Skype itself. I tried all the other mentioned options but none works. PS: The button doesn't recognize SKype being installed on both OSes. We're using Skype for business. – ArgisIsland Mar 09 '17 at 13:26
  • since the SIP protocol is a more generic one in may conflict with another SIP app already installed on any OS including windows. It's best to use Skype's own schema `skype:` – medic17 Sep 24 '20 at 14:37
4

Use the below code. It's simple and working in all major browsers.

<a href="im:<sip:youremail@domail.com>"><button>Skype</button></a>
VenkatPro
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3

Its very simple. Use the below format.

<a href="im:<sip:youremail@domail.com>" >Click to chat</a>
Harsha Vardhini
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