Skype Insiders just got a big feature for the Surface Duo
Skype Insiders have some new features to play with, including using animated videos as backgrounds during calls.
What you need to know
- Skype Insider Preview was just updated to support split windows on Android.
- The update also adds support for animated backgrounds on calls.
- Skype on iOS also gained support for sharing files from chats in its latest preview build.
Microsoft just rolled out an update for Skype Insiders that brings several new features. It adds support for split windows on Android and lets iOS users share files from chats. The update brings Skype Insider Preview to build 8.74.76.129. Split window support should enhance the experience on devices like the Surface Duo.
Skype Insiders can also use animated videos as backgrounds now. The feature supports GIFs, allowing people to add more personal flair to video calls.
Here's the full changelog from Microsoft:
- Animated background for video calls! Just select GIF from local files and enjoy your new background.
- Customized Call Reactions – choose your personal set of reactions.
- Split Window on Android – because we want to improve your user experience for desktop-like environments. Supporting Surface Duo, Samsung DeX and most of the Chromebooks.
- Files sharing from chat in Skype for iOS.
An experienced powered by Microsoft Teams may be the new default chat app for Windows 11, but Skype is still used by millions of people. The features currently in testing among Insiders should help deliver a better experience across devices.
Skype Insider builds roll out gradually, so you might not see this update for a few days. You can sign up to be a Skype Insider for Windows, iOS, Android, Mac, Linux, and the web.
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Sean Endicott is a News Writer at Windows Central, where he covers Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, apps, and the broader PC ecosystem. Since joining the site in 2017, he has written well over a thousand articles across the Microsoft landscape, covering breaking news, analysis, and feature reporting.
He writes Windows Wrap, a weekly column covering the biggest stories in Windows and the PC industry, and what they mean for the platform going forward.
Before joining Windows Central full-time, Sean worked in journalism and media production after earning a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University. Outside of tech, he is an award-winning American football coach based in Nottingham, England, and was named BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year in 2024.
