Test your Skype for Business Online installation
Important
Skype for Business Online operated by 21Vianet in China will be retired on October 1, 2023. If you haven't upgraded your Skype for Business Online users yet, they will be automatically scheduled for an assisted upgrade. If you want to upgrade your organization to Teams yourself, we strongly recommend that you begin planning your upgrade path today. Remember that a successful upgrade aligns technical and user readiness, so be sure to leverage our upgrade guidance as you navigate your journey to Teams.
Skype for Business Online, excluding the service operated by 21Vianet in China, was retired on July 31, 2021.
Save time, reduce support calls, and increase user satisfaction by testing your Skype for Business Online installation before you set it up for everyone in your organization.
Here's what you need:
At least three Microsoft 365 or Office 365 accounts (yours and at least two others).
A computer for each test account. Set them up like a typical computer would be in your organization.
An account with an audio conferencing provider for Skype for Business Online.
What do you want to do?
Set up test accounts
Go to Admin > Microsoft 365 or Office 365 > Users and groups, and then select add
and enter the required information.When you come to Step 4 (Email), enter your own email address. You'll then have a record of the new user's name and password.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have the number of test accounts you want. You need at least two accounts (besides your own) to test the online meeting capabilities of Skype for Business Online.
Set up test computers
On each test computer:
Go to the Microsoft 365 or Office 365 home page and sign in with credentials from one of your test accounts.
Go to Settings
, and then click Install software and connect it to the cloud.
Set up Audio Conferencing
To provide telephone access to Skype for Business Online meetings, set up an account with an audio conferencing provider. Here's what you get:
Toll dial-in numbers, and toll-free numbers if available.
For each user in your organization who schedules or leads meetings, a conference code and personal identification number (PIN).
After setting up your users for audio conferencing, they receive an automated email message with the dial-in numbers and conference code. This information is also automatically added to new Skype for Business meeting requests.
To add audio conferencing information to the account of one of your test users
Click Audio Conferencing > Users.
Click the names of the users you want to set up for dial-in conferencing, and then click Edit
.Select your audio conferencing provider, type the requested information, and then click Save.
| Audio conferencing setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Provider |
Choose your audio conferencing provider from the list. |
| Toll number (required) |
The phone numbers you received from the audio conferencing provider. Format the numbers like you want them to appear in Skype for Business meeting invitations. |
| Toll-free number |
The phone numbers you received from the audio conferencing provider. Format the numbers like you want them to appear in Skype for Business meeting invitations. |
| Passcode |
The passcode, or conference code, for this user. |
Test Skype for Business Online features and devices
Verify that the major Skype for Business Online features are working as expected.
Sign in and sign out
| Task | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Sign in to and out of Lync Online |
The Skype for Business main window appears, with the presence state you specified when you signed in |
| Sign in to and out of Lync Online |
The Skype for Business sign-in screen is displayed |
| Sign in to and out of Lync Online |
The Skype for Business window closes, and the Skype for Business icon no longer appears in the Windows notification area. |
Can't sign in? See Troubleshooting Skype for Business sign-in for users.
Contacts, presence, and instant messaging
| Task | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Send an IM in Skype for Business |
The Skype for Business conversation window appears, you type something, and you receive a response from the person you contacted. |
| Send an IM in Skype for Business |
The Skype for Business conversation window appears, you type something, and everyone in the conversation responds. |
| Search for a contact by using their first or last name |
Your search results begin to appear as soon as you start typing. |
| FAQ about Lync for Microsoft 365 |
The contact you added appears in the Contacts group you chose. |
| Change your presence status in Lync |
Your new presence status is reflected in other people's Contacts list. |
| Use the contact card |
The person's contact card appears near their name. |
Person-to-person calls
| Task | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Make and receive a Lync audio call |
The conversation window appears and you hear the call ringing. The person you're calling receives a desktop alert and accepts the call, and the conversation window is updated when they're connected. |
| Add audio to a Lync instant message conversation |
The call is connected and you can IM and talk with the other person. |
| Share your desktop or a program in Lync |
The desktop or program you shared is visible to the other person. |
Conferencing
| Task | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Set up a Lync Meeting |
A meeting invitation is sent to the people you specified. |
| Change participant settings for Lync Meetings |
Varies depending on the option. TIP: Under Access and presenters, you can experiment with different settings of the Who will bypass the lobby option. |
| Joining a Lync Meeting |
The conversation window opens, and your name appears in the list of meeting participants once you're connected. |
| Mute or unmute your microphone in a Skype for Business meeting or call |
The Muted icon appears next to the name of everyone in the meeting participant list. Only you can be heard when you speak. |
| Present PowerPoint slides in a Lync Meeting |
Your PowerPoint presentation is displayed on everyone's computer in the Skype for Business meeting stage window. |
| Transfer a file in a Lync Meeting |
After upload, everyone else in the meeting can view and download the attachment. |