Use offline messaging in Skype for Business

You can now send Skype for Business messages to your contacts even if they are not signed in.

This feature lets your contacts know that you have been trying to reach them. You don't have to wait until someone is online before sending them a message. And you'll no longer receive those "this message can't be delivered" notifications when you send a message to someone who is offline.

Send a message to an offline contact

When you start to send a Skype for Business message to someone who is offline, you will receive a message confirming that even though the person is offline, they will get the message.

Message that recipient is offline.

Note: Offline messaging can be used for person-to-person conversations only.

Retrieve a missed message

If you have received messages while you were offline, you will be notified in Skype for Business and also via Windows Alerts.

See your missed messages in Skype for Business

Access missed messages from your Skype for Business IM page

In Skype for Business:

Double-click to open a missed conversation.
Unread messages with the conversation will be indicated by an orange dot.
Missed conversation indicators will clear automatically after the conversations have been viewed or after they've been tabbed through.

Be notified if have missed messages via Windows Alerts

Windows Alerts will let you know if you have missed messages.

Be notified of missed messages via Windows Alerts

Don't see this feature yet?

If you find that offline messaging isn't available in your Skype for Business client, it might be because:

It's coming soon The feature will be rolling out to your organization in an upcoming Office update for Skype for Business 2016 Click-to-Run client.
It hasn't been enabled yet The offline messaging feature depends on the EnableIMAutoArchiving property to be set to True. If the setting is set to False, offline messaging will not be enabled. Contact your workplace technical support team for assistance, and send them a link to the admin help topic Turn on or off Offline Messages for admins.
Exchange Service is not available You need to have Exchange Online or Exchange Server 2013 to see online messaging in Skype for Business. Contact your workplace technical support team for assistance.