Help Does Skype video calls work with S4?

[beowulf7]

Has anyone been able to make a Skype video call with their SGS4? I have the VZW version running firmware MDK and I can't. My relative who has SGS4 for VZW but firmware ME7 can't either. We can both hear each other and see our own video in the little box, but not the other person's video. TIA.

 

[shmn]

Works fine for me. Just got off a video call with my sister. I use it quite a bit. On Sprint/MDL.

 

[lotus49]

Yes, works fine.

 

[beowulf7]

Thanks for the replies. I wonder why it's not working for me. Did you have to change any of the default settings, either on the phone or in Skype? In Skype settings I have Video quality set to "High". There are no other video settings, other than while I was on the call, to use the front or rear camera.

 

[shmn]

Did you try switching cameras to the main camera instead of the forward facing camera?

Did you try updating Skype?

Did you try clearing data/cache?

Did you try uninstalling and reinstalling?

Do you have any third party camera apps installed? Uninstall them and try again.

Just a list of some troubleshooting steps to try.

 

[SebaKL]

Is there any chance, that your telco provider is cock blocking video stream?

After being on this forum for a while, I read about some of the weirdest things done by providers, so I wouldn't be surprised.

Secondly, you could try moded version of Skype from XDA. I have been using that version since its release, on my S2, S3, Note and Note 2, now S4, without any problem. I get good video whether on Data or Wifi.
The moded version comes with extra "advanced" setting menu, among many, one which allow you to control the quality of video. From super low to full HD.
You could test it to find out, whether it's related to signal strength.

Do you guys use any similar apps that could effect skype performance?


http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1148708

 

[Airstream25]

Galaxy S4 version AME7, Verizon, Skype ver. 4.0.022082
Works OK for me.

 

[beowulf7]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't cleared the cache for Skype yet. I do have the latest available (4.0.0.22082), like Airstream25. I didn't install any other video call apps on my phone. At the time, I was using Wi-Fi, so that should be independent of VZW. I wasn't sure if there's a default setting within the phone to enable video calling. It seems like for older Galaxy phones, people had to enable that setting. But I didn't see an "enable video call" in Settings. I suppose I can try the version of Skype that SebaKL mentioned - can't hurt. Thanks again to all who replied.

 

[Don S]

... I wasn't sure if there's a default setting within the phone to enable video calling. It seems like for older Galaxy phones, people had to enable that setting. But I didn't see an "enable video call" in Settings. ...

There is a setting to Allow video calling in Skype. Same version - (4.0.0.22082)

 

[beowulf7]

There is a setting to Allow video calling in Skype. Same version - (4.0.0.22082)

Thanks for that helpful chart. For whatever reason, my version of Skype (which is the latest available on Google Play Store) doesn't have the Enable Video Calling box. I guess I can try another build of Skype, such as what SebaKL mentioned.

Here's what my Skype settings options looks like.

 

[Don S]

Thanks for that helpful chart. For whatever reason, my version of Skype (which is the latest available on Google Play Store) doesn't have the Enable Video Calling box. I guess I can try another build of Skype, such as what SebaKL mentioned.

Here's what my Skype settings options looks like.
..

I am sorry. I have the Droid DNA and the GS4 and that option is NOT present on my GS4. I do see what you see. Sorry about my earlier post, I had my DNA on me at the time and it has the same version Skype. Apparently different options exist on the same version of Skype for different phones ..

So is your issue fixed? My Skype video calling works fine ..

 

[beowulf7]

I am sorry. I have the Droid DNA and the GS4 and that option is NOT present on my GS4. I do see what you see. Sorry about my earlier post, I had my DNA on me at the time and it has the same version Skype. Apparently different options exist on the same version of Skype for different phones ..

So is your issue fixed? My Skype video calling works fine ..

That is very odd how the same version of Skype doesn't show enable video call based on the phone. Did you use a different version of Skype to get video call to work?

I uninstalled the Google Play Store version of Skype and installed the modded one that SebaKL linked to on XDA, now at v20. It installed fine. Its settings options also doesn't show "enable video call" (then again, it looks quite a bit different than the stock version). I haven't tested it out yet but plan to early this week with someone who uses Skype on a computer. I'll report back here.

 

[beowulf7]

Here's a recap of my latest Skype experience on my S4. If you recall, Google Play version of Skype didn't work for me. I uninstalled it and tried the hacked version that SebaKL linked to. I tried to Skype w/ a family member on a different network (I'm VZW, she's on Sprint) and it didn't work (as in just audio, but no video). It works for her on her HTC One when she Skypes w/ her phone to my PC.

Then I tried to Skype w/ another family member, who also has an S4 on VZW like me. I first asked him to use his PC, which I know works. It took a few call attempts, but it finally worked, we were both able to see each other. Then I asked him to use his Skype app (he also has the Google Play version). After a few more call attempts, that also worked! (FWIW, we both used our respective Wi-Fi networks, not VZW's 4G LTE.) The audio was a little buggy. On some calls, the speakerphone worked. On other calls, only the earpiece volume worked.

So, in a nutshell, we managed to get video calls on the Skype app to work, but it just requires some patience (i.e., some call attempts). I'll stay w/ the hacked version rather than go back to the Google Play version. Hopefully this will help out future S4 Skype app users.

 

[SebaKL]

So, in a nutshell, we managed to get video calls on the Skype app to work, but it just requires some patience (i.e., some call attempts). I'll stay w/ the hacked version rather than go back to the Google Play version. Hopefully this will help out future S4 Skype app users.

I'm glad you got it to work, to a degree. I imagine it must to be quite frustrating, trying to do something seemed so fundamentally basic for a phone, yet face so much challenge. I suspect, it's the telco or ISP issue. In here, we have decent 3G and not so decent LTE (yet), but it works like charm regardless what network you are on, and of course WIFI is never an issue.

I would suggest, visit the xda skype again, and lay out your problem in a comment. There is a chance you will find more info, given it's a Skype specific thread.

cheers

 

[beowulf7]

I'm glad you got it to work, to a degree. I imagine it must to be quite frustrating, trying to do something seemed so fundamentally basic for a phone, yet face so much challenge. I suspect, it's the telco or ISP issue. In here, we have decent 3G and not so decent LTE (yet), but it works like charm regardless what network you are on, and of course WIFI is never an issue.

I would suggest, visit the xda skype again, and lay out your problem in a comment. There is a chance you will find more info, given it's a Skype specific thread.

cheers

Thanks again for the XDA link for the hacked Skype. It could be a Verizon issue, but since I was using Wi-Fi, then it shouldn't matter on the provider, right? I'll use my phone's Skype a little more during the holiday weekend and try to make more precise notes about "oddities" I notice.