Send and receive an instant message

From Lync on your iPad, you can send and receive instant messages (IMs) with other contacts. You can also add audio or video to an existing IM conversation. And you can start an IM conversation with any group that shows up in Lync, including distribution groups and groups of contacts you've created yourself.

Watch an introduction to using Lync on your iPad

Watch this short video to learn how to use Lync to IM, make a call, and join a meeting on your iPad.

• Use Lync on your iPad

Or read details about Lync IM, calls, joining a meeting and more

Send an IM to a single contact

Start an IM conversation with a group

Receive an IM

Switch between IM conversations

Add audio or video to an IM conversation

Find a recent or missed conversation

End a conversation

Send an IM to a single contact

To search for a contact and send an IM, do the following:

1. From the left, tap the second icon to get to the Contacts screen.

2. Then, from the Lync tab, start typing a person's name in the search box. The results are shown below the box.

3. When you find the contact you're looking for, tap their name, and on the Card screen, tap the IM icon, and start typing your message.

To select a contact from your Contacts list to send an IM to, do the following:

1. From the left, tap the second icon to get to the Contacts screen.

2. In the Contacts list, tap on the group that the person you're looking for is in to expand the group.

3. When you find the contact you're looking for, tap their name, and on the Card screen, tap the IM icon, and start typing your message.

Start an IM conversation with a group

To start a conversation with an entire distribution group at once:

1. From the left, tap the second icon to get to the Contacts screen.

2. Then, from the Lync tab, start typing the group name in the search box.

3. When you find the group you're looking for, tap their name, and on the Card screen, tap the IM icon, type your message, and tap Send. Your message will go to every member of the group who is online.

Receive an IM

When someone sends you an IM, an IM notification appears on your device.

If you're in Lync when you receive the IM, you'll see the notification at the top of the screen. Do one of the following:

• To accept the invitation, tap the notification.

• To ignore the invitation, tap the Close button.

If you receive an IM while your device is locked or Lync is running in the background, a native iPad notification appears indicating you have a new IM. Do one of the following:

• To accept the invitation, tap the notification.

• To ignore the invitation just wait for the notification to time out.

Switch between IM conversations

1. If you're still in a conversation, from the left, tap the third icon to get to the Chats screen.

2. From the Chats screen, tap the conversation you want to reply to.

Add audio or video to an IM conversation

To add audio or video to an IM conversation, do the following:

• From the IM conversation, from the Conversation screen, tap the Call icon and the number you want to call.

Find a recent or missed conversation

When you miss a conversation, the Chats tab will show the missed conversation.

1. To view a missed or recent conversation, from the left, tap the third icon to get to the Chats screen.

2. The Chats screen displays a list of recent and missed conversations.

3. Tap the conversation to reply. (To connect to the conversation, you must reply by either sending an IM or starting an audio or video call.)

Conversations that were accepted on other Lync clients, but missed on your mobile device, won't appear on the Chats tab.

End a conversation

When you're done with an IM conversation, do one of the following:

• From the Conversation screen, tap the Actions icon, and then tap End Conversation.

• From the left, tap the third icon to get to the Chats screen. From the Chats screen, tap Edit, and then tap the conversation you want to delete and tap Delete. Or, tap Select All, and then tap Delete.