Skype Updates for iOS and Mac Bring Multitasking and Shortcut Features - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Skype Updates for iOS and Mac Bring Multitasking and Shortcut Features

by

Over the last few days Skype has been updating its app for the Mac and iOS platforms, bringing about full support for new system updates like El Capitan and iOS 9 along with new multitasking and shortcut features.

The first update by the company came on Wednesday with Skype 7.13 for Mac, which brought about full support for OS X 10.11 El Capitan. The new Mac update allows users to place Skype into a Split View window so they can multitask with another app while the voice and text chatting service runs on the side. The company additionally streamlined a few ways to add friends on the service, letting users easily connect with their Mac address book to discover people who also use Skype.

ipad skype
Beginning yesterday, Skype also brought in full iOS 9 support to iPad and iPhone devices, with the introduction of Slide Over and Split View for the iPad. Just like the Mac version, Split View allows iPad users to multitask Skype alongside an alternative app like Safari or Messages, and Slide Over provides a brief glimpse into the Skype experience with an overlay placed on top of the current app. Both multitasking experiences only function with IM and voice calls on the service.

Millions of people use Skype every day to share URLs and photos. iOS9’s new Split View and Slide Over capabilities let you use Skype while using another app alongside it, making sharing your content even better. Imagine you’re planning a night out in London with a group of friends using IM or a group voice call. Now you can share links to bars and restaurants and decide on the best place to meet without having to leave the app, just click on the shared content and bring it alongside your Skype conversation. It’s a great way to get things done together.

Available for both the iPad and iPhone, the new Skype update introduced the ability for users to respond to messages within banners and from the lock screen, as well. The update is also streamlining the way to begin conversations, with an improved ability to search for a specific Skype contact from the Spotlight search within iOS and then jump straight into chat with them.

Mac and iOS users can upgrade to the newest versions of Skype for Mac, Skype for iPhone [Direct Link] and Skype for iPad [Direct Link] right now.

Tag: Skype

Top Rated Comments

JosephAW Avatar
138 months ago
Yes but does it fix the problem of not ringing on incoming calls and msgs?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
138 months ago
I dont have that problem, recheck your settings that you havent put them off like I did before, or just reinstall because it works perfectly fine with me :)
Reinstalling does nothing. Skype's notifications have always been flaky for me.

Are they still keeping a constant connection to their servers open whenever you are logged in, rather than using push notifications? Skype's relentless battery burning is what made me stop using it on my phone years ago.
It's fine now.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
138 months ago
Yes but does it fix the problem of not ringing on incoming calls and msgs?
I dont have that problem, recheck your settings that you havent put them off like I did before, or just reinstall because it works perfectly fine with me :)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
baryon Avatar
138 months ago
Does it fix the issue that Skype is such a piece of junk and sucks in general and somehow never works when you need it to? Would be great if they fixed that.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LiE_ Avatar
138 months ago
Still waiting for Skype for Business on Mac. Lync 2011 is so very very painful in 2015.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in September With These 10 New Features

Monday April 20, 2026 7:13 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple CEO Tim Cook Stepping Down, John Ternus Taking Over

Monday April 20, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple's chief executive officer, and hardware engineering chief John Ternus is set to take over, Apple announced today. Cook will continue on as Apple CEO through the summer, with Ternus set to join Apple's Board of Directors and take over as CEO on September 1, 2026. Cook is going to transition to executive chairman, and he will "assist with certain...
iphone 17 ceramic shield

Leaker: Apple Downgrading iPhone 18 to Cut Costs

Monday April 20, 2026 9:12 am PDT by
Apple is downgrading the planned specifications of the standard iPhone 18 to cut costs, a leaker claims. In a new post on Weibo, the user known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said that the iPhone 18 features "certain manufacturing downgrades" that bring it more into line with the low-cost iPhone 18e model. The decision is said to be "a cost-cutting measure." Apple has apparently chosen to...