The bandwidth required by Skype depends on the type of calls you want to make. Check the following information for the minimum and recommended speeds for best performance.
The following table provides the minimum download and upload speeds required, as well as the recommended speeds for best performance.
|
Call type |
Minimum download / upload speed |
Recommended download / upload speed |
|---|---|---|
|
Calling |
30kbps / 30kbps |
100kbps / 100kbps |
|
Video calling / Screen sharing |
128kbps / 128kbps |
300kbps / 300kbps |
|
Video calling (high-quality) |
400kbps / 400kbps |
500kbps / 500kbps |
|
Video calling (HD) |
1.2Mbps / 1.2Mbps |
1.5Mbps / 1.5Mbps |
|
Group video (3 people) |
512kbps / 128kbps |
2Mbps / 512kbps |
|
Group video (5 people) |
2Mbps / 128kbps |
4Mbps / 512kbps |
|
Group video (7+ people) |
4Mbps / 128kbps |
8Mbps / 512kbps |
If you are signed in to Skype but not making any calls, Skype will use on average 0-4kbps. When you make a call, Skype will use on average between 24-128kbps.
Audio calls should be possible with most internet connections. Video calls use a lot more bandwidth, so if you are having issues with the quality of your video calls, we recommend:
-
Closing other applications that use the internet, especially those playing music or video.
-
Cancelling any file transfers in progress.
If this does not resolve your problem, you may need to increase your bandwidth. Contact your Internet Service Provider if you need more information regarding your download and upload speeds.
