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Make a video call

Note:  Video calls are available only if your organization has enabled computer audio (Voice-over-Internet-Protocol, or VoIP).

If your organization allows it and your hardware is set up for it, you can use Microsoft Lync Online communications software to communicate with your contacts using video. To make a video call, you need a webcam, and either speakers and a microphone, a headset, or a USB audio device. You do not need a webcam to receive a video call from someone else.

Lync Online automatically detects your audio and video devices, but you may want to check your video optionsto choose alternate devices, adjust volume levels, and/or make sure that everything is working correctly.

What do you want to do?

Start a video call

To start a new video call, open Lync, find the contact you want to have a video conversation with, and then, in your Contacts list or search results, do one of the following:

  • Right-click a contact, and then click Start a Video Call.

  • Point to the contact to open the contact card, and, in the contact card, and click Start a Video Call.

For information about finding contacts, see Manage your contacts and Contacts list.

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Add video to an existing conversation

During a conversation, you can add video so that conversation participants can see you.

  • In the conversation window, click the Videobutton.

After each other party accepts the video, the conversation window expands to display the video. Video controls such as Play and Pause appear.

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Accept a video call

When you receive a video call from another contact, an alert appears in the lower-right corner of your computer screen.

  1. Click the incoming alert. The conversation window opens and shows the caller’s video stream

  2. For the other party to see you, click Start My Video.

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Decline a video call

Do the following if you don’t want to accept a new video call:

  • Click Decline in the alert.

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