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This topic answers frequently asked questions about updating from Lync for Mac to Skype for Business on Mac.
Note: Some features described here might not be available in your organization. Check with your Skype for Business administrator (usually the person who provided your user ID and password) if you’re not sure.
What features have changed in Skype for Business on Mac?
Read about the features that are available in Skype for Business is now on Mac.
Does Skype for Business on Mac run on my version of Mac OS?
Skype for Business on Mac runs on OS X El Capitan or later versions. To find out which OS version you have, from the Apple menu, click About This Mac. Need to upgrade your operating system?
See other system requirements.
How do I join a Skype for Business meeting on a Mac?
You can join a meeting right from the Skype for Business on Mac main window, without having to go to Outlook. See Join a Skype for Business meeting.
How do I share my desktop to others in a meeting?
It's easy to share your desktop with other people in a meeting by clicking the button. You need to be a presenter in a meeting to share your screen. If the option appears dimmed, ask one of the presenters to give you presenter access.
Why don't I see a Join button next to a meeting?
Make sure the meeting is set up as an online meeting. If it is, in the Skype for Business main window, click on the meeting you want to attend to make the Join button appear.
I have recurring meetings that were scheduled in Lync for Mac. Do I need to cancel and reschedule them or run an update to change them to Skype for Business on Mac meetings?
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No, you do not need to cancel and reschedule your meetings that were scheduled in Lync for Mac. Your meeting invitations will still work.
Are the phone numbers the same for dial-in conferencing on Skype for Business on Mac as they were on Lync for Mac?
Yes. The phone numbers will remain the same for Skype for Business on Mac.
I am on Skype for Business on Mac, but will invite users that still have the Lync for Mac. Will they be able to join the meeting?
Yes. When users join the meeting, they will join on whichever client (Lync or Skype for Business) is installed on their system. If a user does not have either product, they will be prompted to install the Skype for Business Web App.
Can I use the Meet Now feature with Skype for Business on Mac?
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Yes. On the menu bar, click Conversations > Meet Now.
Where can I find help topics about Skype for Business on Mac?
On the menu bar, click Help > Skype for Business Help.
Can I add and remove contacts?
Add and remove contacts feature is supported for users on Office 365 and Skype for Business Server 2015. It is not supported for Lync Server 2013.
Is there a feature list that compares Skype for Business on Mac to Lync on Mac and other Skype for Business clients?
If you have Skype for Business Server 2015 and Office 365, see the Skype for Business on Mac column in Client comparison tables for Skype for Business Server 2015.
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If you have Lync Server 2013, see the Skype for Business on Mac column in Client comparison tables for Lync Server 2013.
Admin: How do you increase the auto-accept period on Mac client?
If server-side conversation history is turned off in your organization, by default, the Skype for Business on Mac client will auto-accept incoming messages if the message arrives within 5 minutes of the Mac client being active. This helps ensure the sender does not get the following error: “We couldn't send this message.” After 5 minutes of any activity, the Mac client does not auto-accept the messages to ensure mobile endpoints are able to accept incoming messages as necessary. To increase/decrease the time to auto-accept on the Mac client from the default 5 minutes, follow either of these steps:
Create a configuration profile with the appropriate key and value and install it on a managed Mac. Creating and installing configuration profiles is out of the scope of these steps; see Configuration Profile Reference .
The payload type is com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness.
Key: autoAcceptTimeout | Type: Number | Value: The timeout value in seconds.
Change value using defaults terminal application:
Open terminal.
Change the key using defaults: 'defaults write com.microsoft.SkypeForBusiness autoAcceptTimeout 360'.
Admin: Is Single Window mode supported?
Skype for Business on Mac Single Window mode (or tabbed conversations view) is supported for Office 365 and Skype for Business Server 2015 when server-side conversation history is turned on.
Admin: Is the new notification style changes supported?
The notification style change from Alerts to Banners applies to new installed applications. Therefore, a user that only updated to a new version should manually change the setting from notification preferences (Skype for Business > Preferences > Notifications. From Apple developer release notes for Notification Center: “The user has ultimate control over what notifications are displayed, and the style (banner, alert, etc.). There is no mechanism to override the user preferences.” For more information see Foundation Release Notes for OS X v10.8 and Earlier.
See Also
Skype for Business instant messaging (IM) is an efficient way to connect with your contacts in real time and on a moment’s notice. Less formal than email, faster than a phone call—IM is tough to beat for speed and ease of use.
Start an IM conversation with one person
Locate the person you want to send an instant message to by finding them in search or in your Contacts list. You can also find them in your conversation history.
For more information about searching the directory for contacts, see Search for people in Skype for Business.
Find the search box on your Skype for Business contacts page, just below the Contacts tab.
Click in the search box and type the group name you want to search.
Hover over their picture in the Contacts list and click the button on the quick launch bar.
Type your message at bottom of the conversation window.
Press Enter on your keyboard to send the message. You'll see next to each instant message a picture of the person who sent it. This works for both one-to-one conversations and conferences.
(Optional) Add others to the conversation by dragging their contact listing from your Contacts list into the conversation window.
Note: If you have a long message, Skype for Business breaks it into sections and gives you recipients the option to read more or less of the text. This is called a story. You can even give it a title if you want. For more information, go to Use stories in Skype for Business.
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Send an instant message to several people at once
To start an IM conversation with multiple contacts, do the following:
If the people you want to send the instant message to appear as adjacent contacts in your Contacts list, press and hold the Shift key while you click each person. Then, click the button next to the last contact you select, type your message at the bottom of the conversation window, and press Enter.
If the people you want to send the instant message to appear in the list as contacts who aren’t adjacent, press and hold the Ctrl key while you click each contact. Then, click the button next to the last contact you select, type your message at the bottom of the conversation window, and press Enter.
Send an instant message to a group
There are several ways to send an IM to a group. You can search the company directory for distribution lists or Office 365 Groups and send the IM to everyone in those groups. You can also send an IM to a group of contacts in your contacts list.
For more information about Office 365 Groups see Learn about Office 365 Groups.
Search for a group and send the IM
Find the search box on your Skype for Business contacts page, just below the Contacts tab.
Click in the search box and type the group name you want to search.
Hover over the group picture in the Contacts list and click the button on the quick launch bar.
Type your message at bottom of the conversation window.
Press Enter on your keyboard to send the message.
Send an IM to one of your contact list groups
Right-click the group name in your Contacts list
Click Send an IM.
Type your message at the bottom of the conversation window.
Press Enter on your keyboard to send the message.
Respond to an incoming message alert
When someone starts a new IM conversation with you, an alert pops up on your screen. Do one of the following:
To see the message, click anywhere on the photo area. To write back, type in the text input area, and then press Enter on your keyboard.
To reject the message, click Ignore. If you use Outlook, the message goes to your Outlook inbox.
Start an IM conversation
Send an instant message from anywhere in where you see a contact.
From the Chats list, click on the person you want to start a conversation with.
Or, from the Contacts list, click on the person you want to start a conversation with, and then click the IM button .
Type your message at bottom of the conversation window.
Press Enter on your keyboard (or press ) to send the message.