Make, receive, and manage a Lync video call

If your company has turned on video calls and conferencing, you can make face-to-face video calls with your contacts. All you need is a camera, and your computer’s speakers and microphone. You can also use a headset if your computer doesn’t have built-in audio devices.

Start a video call

Screenshot of a contact and camera icon to start a video call

  1. Open Lync and find a contact, or type a name in the search box to find the person you’re looking for.
  2. Pause on the contact’s picture and click the Video icon.

You can also add video to an existing IM conversation. Just click the camera icon in the window to start your video.

Screenshot of starting video from an IM

Use Video controls and views

Click Pick a Layout, and choose an option:

Right-click on someone’s video or picture:

Click Pop out the video gallery to see the videos or pictures in a separate window.

Pop out the video gallery

Answer a video call

When someone calls you, an alert pops up on your screen. Do one of the following:

Screenshot of video call alert

  1. To accept the call, click anywhere in the picture area.
  2. Click Ignore to reject the call and send to voice mail.
  3. Click Options to take other actions:
  4. Send the call to Voice Mail.
  5. Redirect to your Mobile or Home phone.
  6. Reply by IM instead of audio or video.
  7. If you want to answer the call, but not start video, click Answer With Audio Only.
  8. Set to Do Not Disturb to reject the call and avoid other calls.