I joined a Skype meeting but I'm stuck in the lobby.

Owned by Sean Stockburger (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jun 18, 2018
2 min read

Problem

You are trying to join a Skype for Business meeting online or by dialing in, but you are stuck in the lobby.

Solution

Skype meeting organizers can control who is admitted to a meeting, or they can choose to allow anyone to join the meeting directly. If you are in the lobby, another meeting attendee will probably admit you shortly. 

If you are joining the meeting from a Skype for Business client on your computer or mobile device, and you are a member of the WWU community, you will usually not need to be admitted from the lobby. By default the lobby is for people joining from the dial-in number, people joining from the Web app as a guest, and people from other organizations who are joining with the Skype for Business client.  

As the meeting organizer, you may choose to allow anyone to join the meeting without waiting in the lobby. You can only change this behavior using the Outlook client for Windows and macOS. You cannot modify these settings using the Web browser or mobile apps.

  1. Find your Skype for Business meeting on your calendar and double-click to open it. 
  2. Click the Meeting Options button on the ribbon
  3. The Permissions tab should be selected. Choose the option for "A new meeting space (I control permissions)."
  4. Under, "These people don't have to wait in the lobby:" select Anyone from the drop-down menu.
  5. Click the OK button. You can also click the Remember Settings button if you would like this to be the new default for meetings you organize.

Now your guests will be admitted directly into the meeting regardless of how they join the meeting. The only caveat is that you must be in the meeting as well as the organizer. If a guest joins before you do, they will get the message that they will be in the lobby until the leader joins the meeting. Once you join the meeting, the guests will be automatically admitted from the lobby into the meeting.

Are you away from your computer as the organizer? You can join by telephone using your PIN, or you can install the Skype for Business mobile app for Android or iOS and join the meeting from your smartphone.