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
137 months ago
Yes but does it fix the problem of not ringing on incoming calls and msgs?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LiE_ Avatar
137 months ago
Still waiting for Skype for Business on Mac. Lync 2011 is so very very painful in 2015.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
baryon Avatar
137 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)
137 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)
137 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)

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Mock Quick

iOS 27 Will Reportedly Be Like Mac OS X Snow Leopard

Sunday March 15, 2026 9:42 am PDT by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that iOS 27 will be similar to 2009's Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that one of Apple's biggest priorities is bug fixes for improved performance and stability. During WWDC 2008's State of the Union, Apple showed a slide that said Mac OS X Snow Leopard had "0 new features," as it opted to focus on performance and...
AirPods Max 2 Feature

Apple Announces AirPods Max 2 With H2 Chip and More

Monday March 16, 2026 6:12 am PDT by
Apple today unveiled AirPods Max 2, with key upgrades including the H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. The new AirPods Max have the same overall design as the previous generation, with most of the new features coming from the upgrade to the H2 chip:- Adaptive ...
Apple Logo Sketch Feature

Apple Unveiled a Surprise New Product Today

Monday March 16, 2026 10:50 am PDT by
Surprise! Apple today unveiled the AirPods Max 2, despite no rumors suggesting that a new version of Apple's over-ear headphones were imminent. Key upgrades compared to the previous AirPods Max include Apple's H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. AirPods Max ...