[HOW TO] Install latest Skype in Xubuntu

Skype is a service and application that allows users to communicate with peers by voice, video, and instant messaging over the Internet. Skype also has features such as file transfer and videoconferencing.

Skype 4.0 running on Xubuntu 12.04
Skype 4.0 running on Xubuntu 12.04

Phone calls may be placed to recipients on the traditional telephone networks. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones are charged via a debit-based user account system.

Bellow are provided instructions for installing Skype on any Ubuntu based distribution, from version 12.10 all the way back to 9.10.

Install

Open a terminal window and run:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ $(lsb_release -sc) partner" && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install skype -y

Usage

Skype can be accessed via Applications Menu > Internet > Skype or typing the following command: skype.

Uninstall

If you wish to remove Skype, open a terminal window and run:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ $(lsb_release -sc) partner" -r && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get purge skype -y

References

Install latest Skype 4 in Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal/Ubuntu12.04 Precise/11.10 oneiric/11.04/10.10/10.04/9.10/Linux Mint Versions

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2013 at 12:09 AM

    Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 2, 2013 at 10:19 PM

    thanks, man

    ReplyDelete
  3. PhoenixMarch 16, 2013 at 2:32 PM

    Perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 12, 2013 at 6:07 AM

    Great Job.... keep the install tutorials coming!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 30, 2013 at 1:33 PM

    I do not know if this way of installing Skype addresses the well-known video problem, however, if it does not, then the following steps should be followed:

    1. Create a script in /usr/local/bin. to invoke the installed Skype binary
    (which is /usr/bin/skype ) in such a way as to enable video in Skype:

    sudo mousepad /usr/local/bin/skype

    Add these 2 lines in the opened file:

    #!/bin/bash
    LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype

    2. Save the script file and make it executable:

    sudo chmod a+x /usr/local/bin/skype

    From now on, as the executables in /usr/local/bin/ take precedence over the executables
    in /usr/bin/, whenever the user clicks on the menu entry "Internet -> Skype", the script
    will be launched, rather, than the binary itself (both have the same name, so the menu
    item which just launches "skype" without the path, would not know the difference.)

    Now one can have normal videocalls in Skype.
    The reason for this hack is that Skype video is not yet compatible with the Video2 spec
    used by Linux, so we have to instruct it ot use the Video1 spec instead.

    It's easy to verify that video now works in Skype. After launching Skype one can click
    Menu -> Options -> Video devices and verify the correct operation of video.
    I've used this technique to enable video in Skype ver. 4.1.0.20-1 (I installed it manually
    from the relevant .deb file) in Xubuntu 13.04.
    Probably future versions of Skype will take this incosistency into account and will not
    need this hack to enable video calls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wilson SantosApril 30, 2013 at 10:43 PM

      This kinda depends if the latest Skype version fixes the problem.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousMay 2, 2013 at 5:58 AM

    Right. It should also be added, that to improve the webcam performance, one could install the app "guvcview" (via the Ubuntu software Center of course.) This app provides some controls for that purpose, some some experimentation is worth the trouble, esp. as subsequent use of the webcam in Skype improves quite a lot. It also serves if one wishes to record a video via the webcam for any reason.

    BTW, I wish to thank you for taking the trouble to put this site up, so far I haven't found any other Xubuntu-specific site half as useful and complete as yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wilson SantosMay 2, 2013 at 10:41 AM

      You're welcome and thank you for helping by providing me with tips.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousJune 17, 2013 at 4:14 AM

    thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJune 27, 2013 at 9:27 PM

    Thanks man.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousAugust 4, 2013 at 5:51 PM

    hi ! perfect with xunbuntu 13.04 32bits on asus eeepc 1015BX C-50 Thanks !

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownJanuary 1, 2014 at 10:16 PM

    Not working. It say add-apt-repository is not a valid command!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wilson SantosJanuary 1, 2014 at 10:29 PM

      Please check that you have the package "software-properties-common" installed.

      Delete
  11. UnknownJanuary 12, 2014 at 9:57 PM

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownFebruary 8, 2014 at 11:01 AM

    I am happy to read your post.. Thanks for sharing the information..
    Skype Technical Help

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2014 at 11:05 PM

    thank you very much

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 23, 2014 at 2:47 PM

    Worked for me

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousMay 6, 2014 at 1:13 AM

    Many Thanks, works a treat, Regards Brian

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousMay 13, 2014 at 4:14 PM

    Thanks for posting this. Very helpful!

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousMay 16, 2014 at 8:56 PM

    Yeah thank you !!

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousJune 19, 2014 at 10:10 PM

    you are a star!

    ReplyDelete
  19. UnknownAugust 8, 2014 at 4:03 AM

    Thanks. Could you please also say how to cleanly uninstall skype on xubuntu?

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousDecember 30, 2014 at 12:51 AM

    Crashes on my 32 bit Athlon

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousJuly 7, 2016 at 9:37 AM

    Great Job! Salute!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. UnknownNovember 9, 2016 at 9:21 PM

    The problem which I have is if I try to open via Desktop - nothing, if I try to open via terminal it is same...

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownNovember 9, 2016 at 9:25 PM

    I installed. But when I try to open nothing. Could you help me with some tip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wilson SantosNovember 12, 2016 at 2:46 PM

      Without an error message is impossible to help.
      Which Xubuntu version are you using? Which Skype version are you installing?

      Delete

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