Download Skype For Business Client Mac
Get Skype, free messaging and video chat app. Conference calls for up to 25 people. Download Skype for Windows, Mac or Linux today. Skype for Business on Windows or Mac provides a great online meeting experience with the latest in audio and video features, desktop sharing, and ease of use. Important: To use Skype for Business, you need a Skype for Business or Lync account—typically the same user name and password you use when signing in at work or school. 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. Oct 27, 2016 Good news, the Skype for Business Mac client is now generally available! It’s been a long time waiting, but Microsoft has hit their October 2016 deadline. Version: 16.0.0.3638 File Name: SkypeForBusinessInstaller-16.0.0.3638.pkg Date Published: File Size: 35.9 MB Skype for Business.
-->Summary: IT Professionals should review the support requirements for the Skype for Business Web App and Skype Meetings App while planning for Skype for Business Server. This article is not intended for the users of these apps.
Once you've implemented Skype for Business Server, your organization's users will presumably have the Skype for Business client installed as part of the deployment process.
Later on, those users may create meetings and invite users from outside the organization, and those meeting invitees may not have any version of the Skype for Business client. When those users click the URL for the meeting invite, the lack of a client will be detected and the invitee without a Skype for Business client will be asked to download and install a lightweight, meetings-only client so they can join the meeting.
Note
The Skype for Business Web App and Skype Meetings App are only available when trying to log in to a meeting without having Skype for Business. User help for these apps is at https://aka.ms/smahelp.
Note
You can't pre-install either the Skype for Business Web App or Skype Meetings App, but smart phone and tablet users may be able to install inexpensive mobile clients they can use to attend meetings.
By default, the server hosting the meeting will direct the user to download and install Skype for Business Web App to join the meeting. The Skype for Business Web App is stored on the Front End Server and gets sent to the meeting attendee.
For Skype for Business Server, Skype Meetings App (on Windows) and Skype for Business for Mac (on Mac) are available as replacements for Skype for Business Web App beginning with CU5, but providing the replacement apps requires the additional configuration described in Enable Skype Meetings App to replace Skype for Business Web App (Optional). If Skype Meetings App and Skype for Business for Mac are enabled, users will download the latest version of the apps from the Microsoft 365 or Office 365 Content Delivery Network (CDN) rather than from your Skype for Business server. For Skype for Business Server 2019, using Skype Meetings App and Skype for Business for Mac is the only option.
Skype Meetings App offers a simplified browser experience for downloading and installing the app and joining meetings, including one-click join for users of Internet Explorer. Skype Meetings App also has many improvements over the Skype for Business Web App for reliability and the meeting experience.
Note
As of Skype for Business Server 2015 CU5 or later, meetings held using Skype for Business Online will no longer send a clientless user the Skype for Business Web App, they will instead be sent Skype Meetings App (on Windows) or Skype for Business for Mac (on Mac). As of Skype for Business Server 2015 CU5 or later, if you Enable Skype Meetings App to replace Skype for Business Web App (Optional), clientless users will be sent Skype Meetings App or Skype for Business for Mac instead of Skype for Business Web App.
Software requirements
To use the Skype for Business Web App, a user must have one of the following supported operating system and browser combinations.
Operating System and minimum browser support for Skype for Business Web App
| Operating system | Edge | 32- and 64-bit Internet Explorer 11 or later | 32- and 64-bit Internet Explorer 10 or later | 32- and 64-bit Internet Explorer 9 or later | 32- and 64-bit Version of Safari 6.2.8 - 11.X | 32- and 64-bit Version of Chrome 18.X or later |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| Windows 8.1 ❶ | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| Windows 8 (Intel based) ❶ | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| Windows 7 with SP1 ❷ | N/A | Yes | No | No | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 ❷ | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes ❸ |
| macOS 10.8 and later (Intel-based) ❷ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
❶ The Skype for Business Web App browser plug-in requires a specific sharing plugin to use computer-based voice, video, sharing, and viewing of ongoing screen sharing and other features. A meeting attendee is given the option to install the sharing plug-in either when they join the meeting or when they initiate one of these features. On Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, the sharing plug-in can be installed only if you're running Internet Explorer 10 or Internet Explorer 11 for the desktop. These features are not available with non-desktop versions of Internet Explorer 10 and 11. Note that Firefox and Safari version 12.0 and later is no longer supported.
❷ On supported Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Macintosh operating systems, all features are available including computer-based voice, video, application viewing, application sharing, desktop viewing, and desktop sharing. To use these features, you must install a plug-in when prompted. Note that Mac OS X version 10.7 is no longer supported. Also note the web app will not install on OS X 10.15 or later. We recommend using the latest version of Skype for Business for Mac which supports anonymous join scenarios moving forward.
❸ Accessing the Web App from Chrome on Windows will launch a small program which loads the Web App in an embedded Internet Explorer frame. This program requires one of the supported versions of Internet Explorer be installed for the Web App to load properly.
Note
Microsoft 365 and Office 365 users can use Internet Explorer 10 or later with Skype for Business.
Skype Meetings App
Skype Meetings App runs as an app on computers using Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, with 32- and 64-bit Internet Explorer 11 or later installed.
For any other dependencies, refer to Supported platforms for Skype Meetings App
Skype for Business for Mac
Skype for Business for Mac runs on computers using macOS version 10.8 or later.
Hardware requirements
Computer hardware requirements are determined by the operating system and browser. Voice and telephony features require a microphone and speakers, headset with microphone, or equivalent device compatible with the computer. Video features require a video device compatible with the computer. For detailed information about video hardware support and expected video quality, see Skype for Business client video resolutions.
Network requirements
If a user of Skype for Business Web App or Skype Meetings App experiences meeting connection issues, chances are their organization's network infrastructure is not configured to support Office 365 as described in Office 365 URLs and IP address ranges. This is the case whether the meeting was created by a user of Skype for Business Online or Skype for Business Server.
If the user is on a network not configured as described, many app features may or may not work and they may not be able to connect to the meeting at all.
Supported Meetings features
This table compares the Meetings features available to users of the Skype for Business client, Skype for Business Web App, Skype Meetings App, and Lync Web App. Lync Web App is listed for feature comparison purposes: a user would only be downloading and using Lync Web App if the meeting was hosted on a Lync 2013 server.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2016 or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac client | Skype Meetings App | Skype for Business Web App | Lync Web App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add computer audio | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) |
| Add video | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) |
| Switch audio to a phone for authenticated participants | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Switch audio to a phone for guest participants | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| View multiparty video (gallery view) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Video-based screen sharing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔(View-only) | ||
| Use in-meeting presenter controls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access detailed meeting roster | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Participate in multiparty IM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Set IM messages as high importance | ✔ | ||||
| Share the desktop (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) | ✔ (requires plug-in) |
| Share a program (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔(On Windows only; requires plug-in) | ✔(On Windows only; requires plug-in) | ✔(On Windows only; requires plug-in) | |
| Take control of another user's shared desktop or program | ✔ | ✔ (❶ On Windows only; requires plug-in) | ✔ (❶ On Windows only; requires plug-in) | ✔ (❶ On Windows only; requires plug-in) | |
| Let another user take control of your shared desktop or program | ✔ | ||||
| Add anonymous participants (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Invite participants by name | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Invite participants by phone number | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Invite participants by email | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Use dial-in audio meetings | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ |
| Initiate a Meet Now meeting | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Record a meeting | ✔ | ||||
| Add and download attachments | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Add and present Microsoft PowerPoint files | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Navigate Microsoft PowerPoint files | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add and edit OneNote meeting notes | ✔ | Edit only (not add) | Edit only (not add) | Edit only (not add) | |
| Use a whiteboard | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Conduct polls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Upload files to share with others | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Schedule a meeting or conference | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Skype for Business Web Scheduler |
| Q&A Manager | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Disable attendee video | ✔ | ||||
| Disable meeting IM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Mute audience | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Make everyone an attendee | ✔ | ||||
| Produce Skype Meeting Broadcast | ✔ |
❶ Participants can't control desktops that are shared by Skype for Business for Mac, Lync for Mac 2011 or Communicator for Mac 2011 users. This also won't work for Skype for Business Web App on Max OSX.
❷ For Skype for Business Online, this feature requires Microsoft PSTN Conferencing, Exchange Unified Messaging, or a 3rd party audio conferencing provider.
❸ The Lync for Mac 2011 client cannot view Microsoft Office 2013 PowerPoint presentations when they have been shared in a conference by the Skype for Business Web App.
Known issues and troubleshooting
For End-users, the online help for these apps is readily available. IT Professionals should be aware of the following issues:
If the user is on a network not configured to meet the Network requirements, many app features may or may not work and they may not be able to connect to the meeting at all.
Some users may have corporate-administered computers with disabled permission to install apps. for those users, neither app is an option, but smart phone and tablet users may be able to install inexpensive mobile clients they can use to attend meetings.
Other installation issues are also covered in the help topics.
Users may see a firewall warning the first time they run the meetings app. They may be prompted to open ports to optimize the experience, and this may require Admin privileges on the machine they may not have. The app should still function and the user can safely decline to open the requested ports.
You must have ActiveX enabled without filtering in Internet Explorer, even if IE is not your default browser. In Skype for Business Web App, an ActiveX control—a small module that adds additional features to a web app or other program—is required for audio, video, and screen sharing.
For some features of Skype for Business Web App to work correctly, you must allow your browser to save cookies on your computer or device.
You may need to turn on JavaScript support in your browser for some Skype for Business Web App features to work as expected.
AES Support
As of Skype for Business Server 2015 CU5, AES is not supported for ASP.NET 4.6 and this may cause Skype Meetings App to fail to start. Cryptographic requirements due to ASP .NET 4.5 has more details.
See also
First tweet i read this morning from Randy Chapman was the news that i think all Mac users have been waiting a long time for. There is a Skype for Business Mac Client !!!! thanks Randy for the heads up as always. I had a mac for a years but i don’t use it alot to be honest im mainly a windows fan and use my mac once in a while.
Thought spent i little time collecting some information into a blog post on the mac client and sharing my install of the client and a quick look around.
Also Iain Smith (MVP) talks about the Mac client in the Skype show episode 10 here
Microsoft client Download link
Points to Note before you download the client.
System requirements for your MAC to use Skype for Business
- OSX 10.11 (El Capitan) or OSX 10.12 (Sierra)
- Outlook Mac build 15.27 (161010) required for Outlook integration
Office 365 and Lync / Skype for Business Server topology
Microsoft are recommending to get the latest and greatest to move to Skype for Business Online but that not an option for everyone. Cheeky Msft.
For on premise bad boys Looks like there will be new CUs for SfB Server and Lync Server to remove requirement for mobility to be deployed and also to support E911.
- Skype for Business Server 2015 or Lync Server 2013
- Skype for Business Server 2015 customers should at a minimum download and install the Skype for Business Server 2015 Cumulative Update version 9319.272 or higher (coming soon)
- Lync Server 2013 Cumulative Update version 8308.973 or higher (coming soon)
- Unfortunately Lync 2010 Server – Lync Server 2010 is not supported – There users will have continue to use the Lync for Mac 2011 client.
Mobility Requirement and Enablement
The Mac client works like a mobile client so you need mobility enabled but I also noticed the below so it looks like there will be a number CU released soon for SfB server and Lync Server which allows the Mac client to work without mobility being enabled. This is a major dependency.
- E-911 support requires Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (build 9319.272 or higher, coming soon) or Lync Server 2013 CU8 HF1 (build 8309.973 or higher, coming soon).
- Without Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (build 9319.272 or higher, coming soon) or Lync Server 2013 CU8 HF1 (build 8309.973 or higher, coming soon), Skype for Business on Mac requires Mobility enablement on the server side. After updating to builds 9317.272 or 8309.973, Mobility enablement will no longer be required.
Features and Functionality
The Mac client still doesn’t have the same level of features as the Windows based client unfortunately. This i can only see being worked on on future releases. I think Mac users will be very happy to have a new client but still feel they are a little behind with feature set.
This is what’s missing and not available currently
Presence features
- View status based on calendar free/busy information
- Add a custom location
- Use a photo from any public site for My Picture
- (not available in Skype for Business Online)
Contacts
Skype For Business App Mac
- Pre-populated Contacts list
- Modify Contacts list
- Tag contacts for status change alerts
- Control privacy relationships
- Manage contact groups
- Search for Response Groups
- Display recent contacts group
- Sort contacts by Group, Relationship, or New (people who’ve added you to their Contacts list)
- Sort contacts by Status (availability)
IM Support
- Log IM conversations in Outlook (If server side conversation history is turned on.) So it needs Exchange 2013, 2016 or online to use.
- Use prepared conversation templates
- Skill search (with SharePoint Server integration)
- (On-premises Skype for Business Server and on-premises SharePoint 2013 are required for skill search.)
- Persistent Chat (Group Chat) integration
- (not available for Skype for Business Online)
- Escalate a Persistent Chat room to a Skype for Business Meeting with one click
- (not available for Skype for Business Online)
- Inline pictures of sender and receiver in IM window
- Inline pictures of sender and receiver in IM window
- Send ink messages
- Receive ink messages
Meetings
- Peer-to-peer video-based screen sharing
- Share a program (if enabled) (View Only)
- Add and present Microsoft PowerPoint files
- Navigate Microsoft PowerPoint files
- Add and edit OneNote meeting notes
- Use a whiteboard
- Conduct polls
- Upload files to share with others
- Create public meetings with static meeting IDs from Outlook
- Q&A Manager
Voice / Telephony
- Manage team call settings
- Manage delegates
- Initiate a call to a Response Group
- Support emergency services (E9-1-1)
- Make calls on behalf of another contact (manager/delegate scenario)
- Handle another’s calls if configured as a delegate
- Manage a high volumes of calls
- Call park
- Group call pickup
Recording Support
- Client-side recording of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content
- Client-side recording of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations
- Select preferred recording resolution
- Client-side archiving of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content
- Client-side archiving of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations
- (unavailable in Skype for Business Online)
- Access sign-in logs from Skype for Business icon in the task bar
MAC Install instructions screenshots of client install below
- To install Skype for Business on Mac:
- Click the Download button.
- Click Save to copy the disc image file to your computer.
- Double click the PKG image file.
- Follow the on screen instructions.
Known Issues and theres a few of them
As the Skype for Business Mac client was built from the ground up there’s a number of known issues at the moment.
Big items include no E911 support and you have to have mobility deployed including reverse proxy to sign in as the Mac client works the same as a mobile client. So internal clients need to sign in via the reverse proxy so go out side the network and come back in. Not ideal but it does look like this is being worked on for the next CU or SfB and Lync Server 2013. You also need an edge server for media relay.
Modern Authentication
When i tired to sign in i had to disable two factor authentication on my office 365 for the client to sign in. I couldnt see this listed but may be one to watch out for.
Issue | Comment |
Outlook integration | Requirements for Skype for Business and Outlook integration on Mac: · Mac Outlook version 15.28 or later is required. · Skype for Business must be running. · Same user account needs to be signed into Outlook and Skype for Business. Troubleshooting Outlook integration in case Contacts don’t show presence, online meetings fail to schedule, or there is no dial-in information in meeting invitation: 1. Ensure the user account is the same in Outlook and Skype for Business. 2. Restart Outlook. 3. Reinstall Skype for Business on Mac. 4. Perform clean uninstall of Lync 2010. See How to Perform a Clean Uninstall of Lync for Mac 2011 for more information. 5. Ensure Skype for Business is running and signed in. |
Side-by-side installation | Side-by-side installation of Skype for Business and Lync is not supported on Mac. We recommend that you perform a clean uninstall of Lync for Mac 2011 prior to installing Skype for Business. |
Install microsoft word free mac. Cannot sign in to Skype for Business | Some Lync profiles might be different from Skype for Business on Mac profiles and can cause a discrepancy. See How to Perform a Clean Uninstall of Lync for Mac 2011 for more information. |
Multiple prompts to leave meeting when pressing the hang-up button on a UC USB device | This is a known issue due to signaling with some USB devices and will be addressed in future updates. |
E-911 support | Requirement: The minimum server version is Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (coming soon) or Lync Server 2013 CU8 HF1 (coming soon). Issue: Skype for Business on Mac currently does not support showing a location in the UI, entering a manual location, or multiple emergency numbers. See Plan for emergency services in Skype for Business Server 2015 for more detail. |
Mobility Policy required | With the release of Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (coming soon) and Lync Server 2013 CU8 HF1 (coming soon), we will support Skype for Business on Mac as a desktop application. This means that having a mobility policy assigned to Mac users will not be required. Until these server updates, Mobility enablement on the server side is required. |
Accepting incoming call | The call button to accept incoming calls is working for the following devices using Lync for Mac while it doesn’t work on Skype for Skype for Business on Mac. · Polycom CX300 Desk phone · Jabra Bis 2400 II CC, headphone · Jabra Speaker 510 USB speaker · Jabra Evolve 65 (Bluetooth dongle) · Jabra Evolve 65 (USB cable) |
Hold or resume the current call | The hardware hold button works for the following devices for Lync for Mac while it doesn’t work on Skype for Business on Mac. · Polycom CX300 Desk phone · Jabra Bis 2400 II CC, headphone · Jabra Evolve 65 (Bluetooth dongle) · Jabra Evolve 65 (USB cable) |
Can’t see users’ Skype for Business Presence in Outlook 2016 for Mac | If you have Lync for Mac 2011 installed on the same Mac device, Lync for Mac might have changed the configuration. Recommend that you reinstall Skype for Business on Mac. |
Received “We couldn’t send this message” error even when the messages are received by others | If you are using Skype for Business Server 2015 or Lync Server 2013, check if the following configurations are enabled: · For Skype for Business Server 2015, enable Server Side Conversation History. Set the value for EnableIMAutoArchiving to True or False on Client Policy. · For Lync Server 2013, set the value for EnableIMAutoArchiving to False on Client Policy. Our teams are working to address these issues in the next cumulative update of Skype for Business on Mac. |
When opening the calendar tab in Skype for Business, an Exchange credential dialog box appeared | You might see this error if your UPN and SIP addresses do not match, and if AllowSaveCredentials is set to False on Mobility Policy. Workaround: Set AllowSaveCredentials to True on Mobility Policy. |
Features not available in this release | See the Skype for Business on Mac column in Client comparison tables for Skype for Business Server 2015. |
Release Notes
Install Screenshots and walkthrough
Download client from link at top of page, click download.
client added to downloads on Mac
Open .pkg file and follow install
After install the office updater launches and you can set update options and it will check for updates.
After updates complete you can open SfB client on Mac
You can add advanced options if required.
On first sign in i couldn’t sign in and i wondered if the SfB mac client doesn’t support 2 factor authentication / modern authentication. I went to Office 365 tenant and disabled two factor on my user account.
After disabling i was able to sign in ok.
So i don’t think the SfB mac client supports modern authentication yet. One to watch out for.
Client Look around
- Chats tab
- Click on chat to get more information on right panel
- Meetings
Calls Tab
Conversation Window
Business Client Definition
Tabs in top right corner
Skype For Business Mac Troubleshooting
Preferences
Contact compact list like windows client
Nice to be able to pause itunes
Meet now
In top bar.
From share you can also share desktop
Change Presence
Download Skype For Mac