How to Make a Hotkey on Skype

You can add your own hotkeys for some Skype functions.

Though all of the functions of Skype --- the free Internet voice, text, and video chat program --- are available by clicking your mouse on an icon or menu item, it can sometimes be easier to press a key on your keyboard, especially if the function you need is buried in multiple levels of menus. Skype has a series of keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys that you can modify to make your own hotkey for specific tasks in the program.

Instructions

1. Open Skype and log into your account with your Skype name and password. Click "Sign In."

2. Click "Tools," then "Options." Click "Advanced."

3. Click "Hotkeys." Check "Enable Keyboard Shortcuts."

4. Click an Action to highlight it. Click "Change Selected Shortcut."

5. Enter the key combination you want to use for the hotkey. For example, highlight the "Mute Microphone" action, then click the "Ctrl" check box and type "M" in the text field and click "OK," then "Save." When you are on a call, press and hold the "Ctrl" key and press the "M" key to mute the microphone.

Tips & Warnings

• Your hotkeys should be easy to remember and not conflict with any other keyboard shortcuts from other programs.

References

• Harvard University; Skype For Windows; May 2008

Resources

• Skype