How To

Windows Live Messenger video calls are limited to two people and the program’s features are limited but Messenger is fairly easy to operate on a windows PC. This would be recommended for informal meetings or conversations that might require some file sharing.

What do you want to do?

Video Controls

  1. Click on the “Options” tab marked by a small downward facing triangle next to your (or your contact’s) at the top left corner of your video window.
  2. From here you may adjust the size of you or your contact’s video window by going to “size” in the options tab. You may also put your contact in full-screen mode either through the “size” by clicking on the icon near the mid-left of your contact’s video window.
  3. You may also select “pause webcam” in the “Options” tab to freeze the image in your video window and halt live feed.
  4. You may click on the little icon of a webcam beneath you or your contact’s “Options” tab to stop video feed altogether. This will end the video call and break the audio connection as well.

Volume Controls

  1. Adjust your outbound volume by adjusting the slider to the left of your video window. This will adjust your master volume levels.
  2. Adjust your inbound volume by adjusting the slider to the left of your contact’s video window. This will adjust your master volume levels.
  3. You may mute your outbound or inbound sound by clicking the icons beneath the respective sliders. This will not adjust your master volume levels.

File Sharing

  1. Click on the “Files” tab at the top of the chat window.
  2. Select the “Send a file or photo…” option in the “Files” tab.
  3. Navigate the file browser and select the file you wish to share.
  4. Click on “Open” in the bottom right of the file browser.
  5. Wait for your contact to accept and download the file.

Whiteboard

  1. Click on the “Activities” tab at the top of the chat window.
  2. Select the “Whiteboard” option.
  3. Wait for your contact to accept the Whiteboard invitation.

Application Sharing

  1. Click on the “Activities” tab at the top of the chat window.
  2. Select the “Application Sharing” option.
  3. Wait for your contact to accept the “Application Sharing”.
  4. Select the application you would like to share with your contact. This may be done for several programs.
  5. Click on the “Share” button.
  6. If you wish to allow your contact to access the application click the “Allow Control” button. Leave the button if you do not wish to allow your contact to access the application.
  7. Click “Close”.

If we were unable to help you, please visit Microsoft's help site.