23 Tips for Making Zoom, Skype, and Other Video Conference Calls Suck Less

We ’re all using video recording - conferencing apps way more than we ever carry to these days , to keep in touch with supporter and sept as well as employment fellow worker . Believe it or not , there are actually ways to be better at TV chats . Here are hint and tricks to be the least annoying soul on your next radical Zoom , Skype , Google Duo , or FaceTime call .

1. Check your video feed in advance

Checking your video feed in progression stand for you may verify you look presentable and ward off a scramble to get in the right position and at the correct angle when a call actually starts . Most video apps will let you do this quite easily , but you could also apply QuickTime Player on a Mac or the Camera app on Windows to see what your webcam is seeing .

2. Make sure your mic is working

You do n’t require to emaciate the first five minutes of your video call ask if everyone can get a line you OK . Fortunately , your video - calling software system of choice should allow you to do this if you check the selection . There are also testing tool built into macOS ( Sound then Input in System Preferences ) and Windows ( organisation then Sound in configurations ) .

3. Think about lighting

You do n’t need to have your house business office fall like a movie exercise set , but you should think about light source . A sunny windowpane or bright bulb behind you is going to put you in shadow , so place a loose germ in front of you so citizenry can see your face . A lamp might be enough , rather than the common overhead elbow room weak — modern - solar day webcams are often better at shooting sour scenes than you might have realise .

4. Pick the right angle

If you ’re on a laptop , then you might have a webcam betoken up your nose . This is bad , so try and put the camera at eye degree for the rice beer of everyone who has to look at you . Keep backdrop jumble and distractions to a minimum , too — the video prevue advice we ’ve already blab about should be able-bodied to help you .

5. Use headphones and the mute button

headphone are good for TV conference calls , particularly when you ’re in a group with a spate of the great unwashed , otherwise the audio recording from other feeds tends to loop back through your own gimmick ’s microphone . Make certain you eff where the mute button is , too , and use it when needed , otherwise your sighing , coughing and fidgeting could be very perturb .

6. Update your software

This is something wetalk about a lot , but check that you ’re launch the previous variant of your telecasting calling app at all time . This is something you should check in advance , rather than during a call . It means you wo n’t induce any compatibility issues or break any feature article while you ’re chew the fat to friends or colleagues because you ’re using an out - of - appointment app .

7. Shut down other apps

Even if you ’ve sire a relatively rapid internet connection , it ’s a beneficial idea to specify the other demand on your web link while you ’re making a video call — possibly do n’t have YouTube streaming in the background , imperativeness suspension on major app update , and ( if you ’re at dwelling ) admonish your family members from get going an on-line gaming session at the same time .

8) Set up virtual backgrounds in Zoom

If Zoom is the video chat app you ’re using , you could have a lot of merriment with virtual backdrop . Head to Video configurations on the desktop ( snap the arrow next to the video icon ) or the More fare on mobile ( tap the three dots ) . If you ’ve got some originative ideas for backgrounds , Canva just establish aZoom virtual background manufacturing business .

9. Make sure you’re looking your best in Zoom

Zoom can also verify you ’re looking your beneficial with a few discrete enhancements on top of your video feed ( like smoothing your seam ) . In the desktop app , you ’ll encounter the Touch up my appearance option in the Video options jury ( click the low arrow by the video icon on the toolbar ) . It ’s in the general options screen on mobile .

10. Set up some breakout rooms in Zoom

Breakout suite are a great agency of encourage discussion and cutting through the noise on Zoom , particularly if there are dozens and rafts of people on the same video call . If you ’re a host , you may create them by penetrate Breakout room on the toolbar , and even preassign people into suite before a call in your main Zoom dashboard .

silver screen share-out is a really useful feature article in Zoom . Hosts and participant can both do it ( unless the host has turn off the feature film ) , and other users can get involved by adding annotation ( again if reserve by the master of ceremonies ) . To share a screen or a blank whiteboard , pick Share Screen on the toolbar on the screen background , or Share Mobile if you ’re on a peregrine twist .

12. Add filters and effects in Google Duo

perhaps Google Duo is your video calling app of choice , and despite its aboveboard port , couple has plenty of under - the - radar feature to pop the question . One of those is filters , though they ’re a bit more suitable to calls with friends and family rather than sour colleague . In a picture call , if you tap the Filters or Effects clit on the right wing , you’re able to see what ’s available .

13. Send a recorded message in Google Duo

Maybe you do n’t require to fall in a last - minute bouncy video call with your protagonist or colleagues , or maybe you ’re struggling to find a time to meet due to living in dissimilar time zones . Whatever the reason , you’re able to enter a video message for a mathematical group of the great unwashed rather than going live in Google Duo . Choose Create group from the contacts screen , give the group a name , then tap the Message button .

14. Switch the camera view in Google Duo

If you ’re using Google Duo for a TV call on a speech sound or tablet , you’re able to switch between the front - facing and rear - facing tv camera on your gimmick for your live video feed . For instance , you might demand to show your fellow callers what you ’re reckon at . During a call , you ’ll see a substitution camera button on screen ( it ’s the one that ’s a circle with arrows around it ) .

15. Use (or don’t use) Knock Knock on Google Duo

One of the more alone features in Google Duo is Knock Knock , which let you see a video preview of who ’s calling before the connexion is actually made ( and frailty versa , if you ’re squall someone else ) . To enable or disable this , you require to head up to the app setting : Click the cog picture if you ’re on the web or the triple - dot More button in the mobile apps .

16. Keep FaceTime calls on top of other windows

If you ’re all in on Apple gadget and services and habituate FaceTime for your cry , you might use the app built into macOS rather than the one on your phone or tablet . To stop other programs from getting in the way and block your opinion of everyone else on your call , start the Video menu then ensure Always on Top is ticked while FaceTime is running .

17. Switch to Animoji or Memoji on FaceTime

Using an iPhone with Face ID gives you access to Animoji and Memoji , which you could habituate in place of your face on FaceTime if you ’re feel less than beautiful or a fiddling diffident . The sass and head bowel movement should still synchronise up with the audio . bug your provender , then Effects ( the little star ) , then the Animoji icon ( the cartoon monkey head ) to get started .

18. Add text labels in FaceTime

Another useful FaceTime characteristic on the iPhone is the power to add text edition recording label on top of your video feed , to explain who you are , or where you are , or what your current status is . During a call , tap your thumbnail , then the Aa clitoris to add schoolbook . It ’s a reasonably canonical feature , but you may drag the text around to reposition and resize it on the blind .

19. Focus on one person in FaceTime

When you ’re on a chemical group video call in FaceTime , the app will by nonpayment increase the sizing of the thumbnail of the individual who ’s talking . If there ’s anyone else you need to get a nigh look at , just tap the relevant thumbnail ; tap it again to lock that person in place . you’re able to make your own thumbnail bigger by tapping on it as well .

20. Turn on subtitles in Skype

One of the best feature film that Microsoft ’s Skype app has to bid is live subtitling for your video call . If you go into Calling then Call caption from the app preferences , you’re able to switch them on for all calls , and even have them interpret into a different language . To enable them during a Skype video call , tap the Plus clit then choose Turn subtitles on .

21. Record video calls in Skype

Recording television claim means you could conquer special moments , or log what ’s happened in a meeting , or help someone who overlook a call to enchant up — and everyone gets alert when the transcription pop out , so you wo n’t bewitch anyone out . To begin a transcription ( which can be spare to your current equipment ) , tapdance the Plus ikon on the video blind then Start recording .

Sharing file while you ’re on a television call in Skype is easy . On Mobile River during a TV call , beg the Chat icon ( top remaining ) , then the Plus icon ( bottom leftover ) , then File ; if you ’re in the desktop app , get across the Chat icon ( bottom right ) , then the File button ( bottom right again ) . There ’s a 300 MB size demarcation on file you charge to other people .

23. Blur your background in Skype

Skype may not have the practical backgrounds that Zoom can offer , but it will glaze over out the background of the scene you ’re in , which can make a call less distracting and busy for people search at your video . It only crop in the background apps for the time being , though . Hover your computer mouse over the red Video clit , then choose Blur my background .

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