Your status lets your contacts know if you’re available to have a conversation. A status icon is displayed next to your Skype Name:
Your status is set automatically, but you can change it manually any time. Just click the little arrow next to your status icon and choose one from the list.
Each of your contacts also has a status next to their name
in your contact list, so you know how best to contact them.
Anyone with one of these beside them 
is on Skype so it's free to call. If you see this symbol 
it
means it's a phone or mobile number and you will need a
little Skype Credit
or a subscription to call that
contact.
If you roll your mouse over a contact’s status icon, you can see extra information about their status – if they’re offline, it will tell you if they have call forwarding or voicemail set up – along with the date and time the contact was last online and when your last activity with them was:
The following table describes the different status icons that you can select for yourself, or that are displayed for your contacts.
| Status |
Description |
 |
Online
This is your usual setting when you first sign into Skype. Your contacts can see that you are online and can contact you. Instant messages will be delivered to you straight away. |
 |
Away
Your contacts can see that you are signed in to Skype but not necessarily at your computer. Instant messages will be delivered to you immediately and your contacts can still try to call you.
You can set how many minutes the computer must be inactive for before you are shown as Away. To do this:
- Click Tools > Options.
- Under General settings, tick Show me as Away when I've been inactive for [x] minutes, and enter the number of minutes in the field.
- Click Save.
If you have a value of 0, you will never appear as Away unless you manually set this status by clicking on your status icon and selecting it from the list.
|
 |
Do Not Disturb
Your contacts can see that you are online but do not wish to be disturbed. They can still send you instant messages and call you, but you won’t be alerted with sound. |
 |
Invisible
You will appear to be offline to all of your contacts, but you can still use Skype as usual. It’s a good way to continue using Skype but not be disturbed by instant messages or calls from your contacts. |
| |
Offline
Automatically displayed when you are not signed in to Skype. You can also set your status to offline by clicking on your status icon and selecting it from the list.
When offline, you cannot send or receive instant messages or make or receive calls.
|
 |
Calls forwarded
Appears next to a contact if they are not
available but have call forwarding or voicemail set
up. If you set up call forwarding on your own Skype
account, calls can be forwarded to your work, home
or mobile phone when you can’t take them online, so
you need never miss a Skype call.
|
| |
Phone or mobile number
Appears next to contacts who are not on Skype.
You will need a little Skype
Credit or a subscription
to call them.
|
 |
Contact request pending
Appears next to someone if you are waiting for them to accept your contact request. |
 |
Conversation
Appears next to a conference call group or a conversation with more than one participant. |
 |
Blocked
Appears next to a contact you have blocked. |
