How to start a Skype chat – not a call – with a link

You can put skype:username into the href attribute of a link and it works, but it begins a call, but I want to create a link to begin a chat (a text conversation). I know that skype: is a type of protocol, but don’t know how to create this link.

Have you tried <a href="skype:-skype-name-?chat">Start chat</a> ?

Allowed query parameters:

• chat - start a chat
• call - start a call
• add - add person to the contacts
• userinfo - view user's profile
• voicemail - leave a voice message
• sendfile - send a file

I have been fighting with the following link all day.

<a href="skype:-skype-name-?chat">Start chat</a>

The problem that I had was with the -skype-name- part

Finally, I just solved it.

My name on Skype web page was name but the real name was name lastname. The link in my web page did make Skype to load in my Android phone but, Skype failed to find the account to wich I wanted to call (name lastname).

I tryed, and failed:

<a href="skype:name lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:name+lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:name%20lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:name-lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:name_lastname?call">...
<a href="skype:phonenumber?call">...

Then, the solution:

<a href="skype:live:emailnamewithoutdomain?call">...

I just hope u find it usefull.

And, do not forget that u have a plenty of commands to add after the ? in the url (add,call,chat,and so on).

Skype official website has it nicely documented.

Basically in the ends it gives you a nice code for a button.

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.dev.skype.com/uri/skype-uri.js"></script>
<div id="SkypeButton_Chat_xxxx">
  <script type="text/javascript">
    Skype.ui({
      "name": "chat",
      "element": "SkypeButton_Chat_xxxx",
      "participants": ["xxxx"],
      "imageSize": 24
    });
  </script>
</div>

The solution: You just use this format,hope its working fine

 <a href="sip:-skype-name-">Chat</a>

<a href="tel:****Skype number***">Call</a>

Use the below code. It's simple and working in all major browsers.

<a href="im:<sip:[email protected]>"><button>Skype</button></a>

Its very simple. Use the below format.

<a href="im:<sip:[email protected]>" >Click to chat</a>