I'm starting to work from home now and my company uses Skype for meetings. I'm not sure whether it's better to use the desktop or web version, and if there are any settings I should adjust to improve audio and video quality.
The desktop version is better than the web when you want more stability and quality. The desktop app uses less internet resources and keeps the connection more stable, while the browser can freeze up if you have too many tabs open. If your company offers it, just download the app from the official Skype website - it's easy to install.
To get decent audio and video, a few tweaks make a difference. Go to Settings > Audio and Video and test your microphone and camera before the actual meeting - Skype lets you do that right there. If your camera is bad, point it toward natural light or a lamp, because cameras hate low light. If your audio is choppy, check if other apps are using the microphone at the same time (sometimes antivirus or Chrome hog resources) and close them before you join the call.
Another thing nobody really talks about is testing your internet a few minutes before. If you're using Wi-Fi, stay close to the router or connect with a cable if you can - that's the safest way to not get disconnected in the middle of the meeting. And turn off notifications from your phone or other apps during the call so you don't have weird noise in the background. Do a test meeting with a trusted coworker to see how you come across before you get on with everyone - it makes you less nervous.
Do you usually end up with too many tabs open in your browser? That's the main reason I prefer the desktop version! I use both the web version and the app, and in practice the desktop app is way more stable when you've got other stuff running - it doesn't freeze, it's not competing with Chrome for RAM. But the real secret to improving audio and video is simple: test your camera and mic before each important meeting in the settings, move to a well-lit spot (away from windows or backlighting that washes you out), and if your connection gets bad, just disable the video or lower the quality - sound matters way more than picture when you're talking!
When I started working from home, I found out firsthand that using the desktop really makes a difference - I had meetings freezing up when I was just on the web, and once I installed the desktop app I didn't have any more issues. For audio and video, what worked for me was disabling the camera of other participants who aren't speaking (it saves bandwidth), testing the microphone in the settings before each important meeting, and making sure no heavy applications are running in the background. Another practical thing: if your internet connection is weak, lower the video resolution in Skype's preferences - the audio quality stays good and it's more stable.
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