How to Install Skype 8.13 on Debian, Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Skype is a most popular software application developed by Microsoft that is largely used for Instant Messaging and for Audio and Video calls and Video conferencing call. Among these features, Skype can also be used for screen sharing, file sharing and text and voice messaging.

In this article we will cover the process of installing the most recent version of Skype (8.13) in Debian, Ubuntu and Linux Mint distributions.

Read Also: How to Install Skype 8.13 on CentOS, RHEL and Fedora

Update: The official Skype is now available to install from snap store on Ubuntu and other Linux distributions, including Linux Mint, which is maintained and updated by Skype themselves.

$ sudo apt install snapd
$ sudo snap install skype --classic

You can also install Skype using .deb package in your Linux distribution, first visit Skype official download page and download the most recent (latest) available version of the Skype for Linux in your system by following the download link from browser or use open a Terminal window and download the package using following wget command line utility.

# wget https://go.skype.com/skypeforlinux-64.deb

After the download finishes, proceed with Skype installation process, by opening a terminal and run the following command with root privileges in your machine.

$ sudo dpkg -i skypeforlinux-64.deb

After the installation process finishes, start Skype application by navigating to Application Menu -> Internet -> Skype in Linux Mint distribution.

Start Skype in Linux Mint
Start Skype in Linux Mint

On Ubuntu distribution, launch Dash and search for Skype.

Start Skype in Ubuntu
Start Skype in Ubuntu

To start Skype from the Linux command line, open a terminal and type skypeforlinux in console.

$ skypeforlinux
Skype in Ubuntu
Skype in Ubuntu

Sign In to Skype with the Microsoft account or press on Create Account button and follow the instructions in order to create a new Skype account and freely communicate with your friends, family or co-workers.

Skype on Ubuntu
Skype on Ubuntu

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Ravi Saive
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62 Comments

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  1. I’m sorry, but when a site that purports to be “the fastest growing and most trusted community site for any kind of Linux Articles, Guides and Books on the web”, and then starts an article on Skype off with “Skype is a most popular software application developed by Microsoft”, I just have to laugh. Thank you for the giggle.

    Reply
  2. Trying to install on an old IBM ThinkPad T60 and get this error message:

    error: snap “skype” is not available on stable for this architecture (i386) but exists on other architectures (amd64).

    Reply
  3. Cinnamon Mint 18.1 – Have followed your instructions – downloaded the skypeforlinux-64.deb, it showed up in Internet directory, but clicking on it produced nothing.
    Tried to start it from the command – skypeforlinux – again nothing.

    Reply
    • @Alfie,

      As I said, the official way to install Skype on Linux is using snap, please remove the .deb package and install from snap using following commands.

      $ sudo apt install snapd
      $ sudo snap install skype --classic
      
      Reply
  4. I have Linux Mint 17.1 – 32 bit. My computer is also ok for 64 bit. Can I download and work with Skype 8 – 64 bit

    Reply
  5. Errors were encountered while processing:
    skype:i386
    rigel@rigel-Inspiron-3542:/tmp$
    i am soo tired on instaling this i have the 12.10 ubuntu version

    Reply
  6. hi, i install skype 4.1 version using the installer(offline). my problem is the camera is not working, even the person i have conversation with i cannot see. the voice is very good. please help. thanks

    Reply
  7. dpkg: error processing package skype (–install):
    dependency problems – leaving unconfigured
    Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.10.1-0ubuntu2) …
    Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.22-1ubuntu1) …
    Processing triggers for mime-support (3.54ubuntu1) …
    Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.13-1) …
    Errors were encountered while processing:
    skype

    Reply
  8. thaaaaaaaaaaaaanks!!! skype finally worked…just remove the package downloaded from the official site, and added yours and voila !! thank you very much

    Reply
  9. This is all nice and dandy, but “If you receive any dependency error or issues while installing Skype 4.1, first remove the older version of Skype, if you may have installed.” – means that we’re doing the same thing again and it won’t be auto-updated with this method. Not much point installing it in this way, imo.. Skype needs to have a stable repo (ppa) for *all* current versions of Ubuntu, Mint and Debian. After all, it’s the 21th century today and not the 1990s (ffs. :))

    Reply
  10. Is it possible to put my video chat and my chat box together when having a video chat? When I start having a video chat, I have a 2 windows. 1 video window and 1 for chat box. Now is it possible to make into all in one?

    Reply
  11. Skype needs i386 libs. I had use sudo apt-get install -f and the installation works now. For x64 don’t exist a amd64 version, only for i386.

    Here’s a list from a fresh installed Ubuntu 12.04 LTS with KDE (skype:i386):

    libasound2 (>= 1.0.23).
    libc6 (>= 2.3.6-6~).
    libc6 (>= 2.7).
    libgcc1 (>= 1:4.1.1).
    libqt4-dbus (>= 4:4.5.3).
    libqt4-network (>= 4:4.8.0).
    libqt4-xml (>= 4:4.5.3).
    libqtcore4 (>= 4:4.7.0~beta1).
    libqtgui4 (>= 4:4.8.0).
    libqtwebkit4 (>= 2.2~2011week36).
    libstdc++6 (>= 4.6).
    libx11-6.
    libxext6.
    libxss1.
    libxv1.
    libssl1.0.0.

    Reply
  12. hello
    there is no skype 64 for linux
    so you have to do multi arch
    read my replay that i did in January 18, 2013 at 11:38 pm
    follow those steps, and hopfully that wil do it
    it work for me and my friends

    Reply
  13. I have the exact same problem as Tom – very annoying! Is this just because Skype haven’t released an official version yet?

    Thanks for your help so far, everyone! :)

    Reply
  14. dpkg: error processing skype (–install):
    dependency problems – leaving unconfigured
    Processing triggers for bamfdaemon …
    Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index…
    Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils …
    Errors were encountered while processing:
    skype

    Reply
  15. I have the same problem as the others. Maybe adjust your tutorial or warn that it likely doesn’t work for the majority of users.

    Son, i am disappoint.

    Reply
  16. Does anyone actually test the supposed amd64 version before posting this? None of the steps above install the 64-bit version of Skype for Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit.

    Reply
  17. I have a proplem instaling packge 64bits in the ubuntu 12.10 64bits,

    anderson@ubuntu:/tmp$ sudo dpkg -i skype-ubuntu*.deb
    dpkg: erro ao processar skype-ubuntu-precise_4.1.0.20-1_amd64.deb (–install):
    arquitetura do pacote (i386) não combina com a do sistema (amd64)
    Erros foram encontrados durante o processamento de:
    skype-ubuntu-precise_4.1.0.20-1_amd64.deb

    Reply
  18. I’ve followed your tutorial and get the following error:

    dpkg: error processing skype-ubuntu-precise_4.1.0.20-1_amd64.deb (–install):
    package architecture (i386) does not match system (amd64)
    Errors were encountered while processing:
    skype-ubuntu-precise_4.1.0.20-1_amd64.deb

    Any ideas?

    Reply
    • it is telling me : bash: wget http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-ubuntu-64/skype-ubuntu-precise_4.1.0.20-1_amd64.deb: No such file or directory

      Reply
        • Hi Ravi,

          I have re installed Ubuntu and it worked but when I entered the last line sudo dpkg -i skype-ubuntu*.deb

          it gave me this:
          dpkg: error processing skype (–install):
          dependency problems – leaving unconfigured
          Processing triggers for bamfdaemon …
          Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index…
          Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils …
          Processing triggers for gnome-menus …
          Errors were encountered while processing:
          skype

          Please help I want to get out of Windows

          Thanks a lot in advance

          Anastasios

          Reply
        • Dear Ravi,

          Finally I installed the 32-bit version of skype (I do not know how!!!). I installed chrome also and it gave me the message that it is a bad quality softwate, I think this latest version of ubuntu has problems. Thanks a lot for listening

          AP

          Reply
        • Silly me. I copied the link without thinking and it read “.det” not “.deb” because of the window edge. A simple fix and then I followed your other advice on libcurl3. Then as the system suggested apt-get update with massive changes and no apparent errors. What a robust system. Thanks for your help.

          Reply

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