Skype introduces PDF previews, allowing users to get a thumbnail of their PDF documents inside chats

It’s the end of January, and Skype Insider just got the first build of 2024: Build 8.112, which brings a ton of exciting new features to the platform, including the much-needed PDF preview feature.

This useful feature will allow Skype users to preview a PDF file directly in the chat, without having to open it. They won’t have to do anything, because Skype will automatically show a thumbnail preview of the PDF file to those engaged in the chat.

Back in December, Microsoft debuted some interesting features for Skype mobile, but other features, such as this one, were lacking, and many users were asking for them.

However, with the new build, Skype takes a step closer when it comes to competing with the other platforms. In fact, this new feature can be accessed from every platform, including mobile users.

Skype’s latest update enriches your chat with the introduction of PDF thumbnail previews on all platforms. Now, you can get a glimpse of your document before you dive in!

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Skype PDF preview: Why does it matter?

The feature is quite important, as it can be used to outline the points of discussions in Skype chats. Many organizations use Skype as the de facto communication platform, instead of Slack or Teams, so now users will be able to have a starting point in a document-based conversation without having to spend time reading the documents as a whole.

Skype also says the feature is flexible, and the platform will automatically preview a thumbnail of the document on all platforms, so those using Skype on Android devices, for instance, won’t have to worry about running into issues.

Here are the reasons behind releasing this feature:

• 👀 Quick Preview: No need to open to know. Get a sneak peek at the first page of PDFs directly in your chat stream, especially when you have auto-download enabled.
• 📚 Efficient Workflow: Identify and differentiate your documents at a glance, streamlining your conversation and collaboration.
• 🔍 Clarity in Context: PDF previews provide a visual reference point within your chat, keeping you in sync with the discussion.
• 🔄 Seamless Sharing: Sharing PDFs is as easy as ever, but now with the added context of a thumbnail, your chats are more informative and engaging.
• 🛠️ A Heads-Up: Spotting a quirky preview? A fix is already in the works and will be polished to perfection in our next update!

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Remember, this feature is currently available in the Skype Insider Program, but it will be rolled out to the general public in the following days.