Skype URI API reference
Learn how to use Skype URIs to add Skype functionality to your client applications.
Applies to: Skype
This API reference details the functionality, options, and syntax of each supported Skype URI. Use this reference if you're interested in creating applications for Windows, Android, and iOS platforms and mobile devices, or creating Skype URI-enabled emails or signature blocks.
If you're interested in creating Skype URI-enabled webpages, see the Skype.ui JavaScript function.
Supported Skype URI APIs
Currently supported Skype URIs include:
- Switching focus to the Skype client.
- Initiating audio calls to other Skype users, phones, or mobile devices—both one-to-one dialogs and multiparty conferences.
- Initiating video calls to another Skype user.
- Sending instant messages to an individual or establishing a group multi chat.
Start/switch focus to the Skype client
Effect
- If the Skype client is not running—starts the Skype client, and switches focus to the Skype main window.
- If the Skype client is already running—switches focus to the Skype client.
- If the Skype client is already running and has the current focus—no effect; the Skype client retains focus.
- If the Skype URI starts the Skype client, focus is set to the Skype client's main window (auto-login is enabled), or to its sign-in dialog box (auto-login is not enabled). If the Skype client is already running, the focus is set to the main Skype window, even if a Skype client dialog box, such as the Tools−>Options dialog box, is open.
Syntax
skype:
Example
skype:
Caveats
On iOS, this Skype URI not only switches focus to the Skype client, but also attempts to initiate a call.
Audio calls
Call-related Skype URIs support one-to-one dialogs, conference calls, and video calls.
By default, initiating a call results in the local Skype client displaying a confirmation dialog before proceeding with the call. In that dialog, the user can choose to not display the confirmation in future.
If your call specifies multiple participants, the individual identities—Skype Names or phone numbers—must be separated with semicolons; for example:
participant1;participant2;participant3
Audio call—implicit
Effect
Calls other people on Skype, phones, or mobile devices This is an implicit version of the skype:participantList?call Skype URI. Unlike the explicit version, you cannot supply additional arguments—like video or conference topic —with the command. So, the implied value of the video argument is false (audio call), and the implied value of the topic argument is null/none specified.
Syntax
skype:participant1[;participant2;...participant9]
Example: One-to-one dialog
skype:skype.test.user.1
Example: Conference
skype:skype.test.user.1;skype.test.user.2;skype.test.user.3
Caveats
Mobile Skype clients (iOS and Android) do not support initiating/hosting conference calls.
Audio call—explicit
Effect
Calls other people on Skype, phones, or mobile devices This explicit version of the command enables you to supply additional arguments—like conference topic—with the command.
The conference topic argument (topic) enables you to specify a string for call participants to display as the conversation topic in place of the Skype Names or phone numbers of the call originator/conference participants.
You must escape certain special characters, such as whitespace. For example, specify:
My Conference Topic
as:
My%20Conference%20Topic
Otherwise, the Skype client will interpret the topic argument value as My, and the following words might cause any subsequent arguments to be ignored or otherwise misinterpreted.
While your Skype URI can specify video=false to specifically indicate an audio call, common practice is to simply omit the argument. See Audio call—implicit and Video call.
Syntax
skype:participant1[;participant2;...participant9]?call[&topic=topicString]
Example: One-to-one dialog
skype:skype.test.user.1?call
Example: Conference, no topic
skype:skype.test.user.1;skype.test.user.2;skype.test.user.3?call
Example: Conference, setting the topic
skype:skype.test.user.1;skype.test.user.2;+16505550123?call&topic=Geek%20Conspiracy
Caveats
- The optional topic argument applies to conference calls only.
- Special characters in the optional topic argument value—specifically whitespace—must be escaped.
- Mobile Skype clients (iOS and Android) do not support initiating/hosting conference calls.
Video call
Effect
Calls other people on Skype, and automatically turns on the call originator's video feed (if a local webcam is available).
Syntax
skype:participant1[;participant2;...participant9]?call&video=true
Example: One-to-one dialog
skype:skype.test.user.1?call&video=true
Example: Conference
skype:skype.test.user.1;skype.test.user.2;skype.test.user.3?call&video=true
Caveats
Specifying multiple participants results in a group video call.
- The number of participants is limited to ten, with a recommended maximum of five for the best call quality.
- Mobile Skype clients (iOS and Android) do not support initiating/hosting group video calls.
Currently, participants on mobile devices can join group video calls via voice only.
Chats
Chat-related Skype URIs support both one-to-one dialogs and group chats.
If your chat specifies multiple participants, the individual identities—Skype Names only—must be separated with semicolons; for example:
participant1;participant2;participant3
If a conversation with the same participant or participants already exists, the Skype client or clients open the existing conversation. If the topic of an existing conversation differs from the one specified by the Skype URI, the Skype client changes the conversation topic to the new value.
Open/create chat
Effect
Opens the conversation that matches the specified list of participants, or creates a new chat with those participants if no matching conversation exists. For existing conversations, the specified optional topic argument value replaces the existing conversation name or names and title string.
Syntax
skype:participant1[;participant2;...participant9]?chat[&topic=topicString]
Example: dialog
skype:skype.test.user.1?chat
Example: multichat; setting the topic
skype:skype.test.user.1;skype.test.user.2?chat&topic=Quantum%20Mechanics%20101
Caveats
- The optional topic argument applies to multi chats only.
- Special characters in the topic argument value—specifically whitespace—must be escaped.
- Mac OS X ignores any topic argument.
- iOS is not supported.
- Android recognizes the initial participant only; multi chats are not supported.