How to install skype in Ubuntu from skype repository
Skype is proprietary software that allows you to make calls over the Internet using your computer. Skype uses decentralized peer-to-peer technologies, so your calls do not go through a central server, but through distributed servers and other users. It uses its own proprietary communication protocol to achieve this. In addition, all communications are encrypted from end to end so that others cannot listen in. The Skype software is free to use, but it is not free software; the source code is proprietary and not available for modification.
Install skype in Ubuntu
First you need to edit /etc/apt/sources.list file from your terminal
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Add the following line
deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free
Save and exit the file
Now you need to install GPG key
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys 0xd66b746e
Update source list
sudo aptitude update
Install skype using the following command
sudo aptitude install skype
Using this repository, you will automatically receive future updates to the software
To start Skype, choose Applications->Internet->Skype.
Is there a mirror for this repository? Skype is blocked by the ministry in Kuwait(where i’m from)! PC swill not be able to reach it!
I know i can use a proxy server or VPN for the whole system so that it’ll fetch the packages through the connection and by passing the problem, but im just asking!
Hum, doesn’t work for 64 bits :\
The above does not work for amd64. Skype is still 32bit app. 🙁
Wish they’d fix the audio in 2.1.0.81. I’m just getting distorted audio.
Instead of adding an entry in /etc/apt/sources.list I would create an new list file (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype.list). Just a hint… 😉
I can confirm that this won’t work for amd64 Ubuntu versions. 🙁 Any alternative?
Same result as Fish. I run 10.04 64-bit, and when I go install it, I get:
No candidate version found for skype
re 64 bit –
I’ve read else where that you should be able to force install using the following syntax:
sudo dpkg –install –force-architecture skype_filename.deb
32bit?
big-swallow-all-the-money-and-don’t-care-about-anything-else companies, read this: THIS IS THE XXI CENTURY!!!!!!!!!!!
These are the clearest instructions I have seen. Unfortunately, on an AA1 running Ubuntu 9.04, I have never, ever, been able to change the sound devices preferences in Skype; as a result, Skype never recognizes the built-in microphone, and is unusable. I’ve tried installing and uninstalling Skype over and over again, updated sound device drivers, ad nauseum, and have never been able to overcome this problem.
Selden, install padevchooser and use that to configure your microphone.
There is a 64 bit version for download on the skype website, but the repository listed above does not work for 64 bit users.
Padevchooser was installed; no setting that I could think of resulted in the mic working with Skype. Skype-mid (which is part of Ubuntu 9.04 Canonical distribution) recognizes the mic; Skype does not.
I’m a computer dummy, does it matter where to add the line ( deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free ) at the beginning, at the end ???
Some progress: Unchecking the “Allow Skype to automatically adjust my mixer levels” allows the Skype sound options to be changed.
Mic = HDA Intel, ALC272X Analog (hw:0,0) produces some, very garbled sound input for the test call. Still useless, but some progress, nonetheless.
Selden. that’s exactly what I’m getting. Checked the mike with Audacity and it works fine, also tried using a line input into Skype and that gave the same distorted sound.
Running 64bit and have no problems. Maybe I am an anomaly or something.
Lazaro: At the end is easiest; you can even add a comment line, for future reference.
XNGK: That’s what’s so frustrating — many people report that Skype is running fine, but I have tried every setting, and applied every fix and change that I can find, and the best I have been able to do is get a garbled “rowf rowf” from the built-in microphone. Skype-mid sound quality is fine. At this point, I’m working on this as a challenge, not so much because I actually want to do anything with Skype.
Thank so much Selden
Installed Skype on my eee 701 with Lucid netbook remix and it worked perfectly. Oh I did have to uncheck the mute on the sound input in the sound preferences, but other than that it is fine.
Thanks!
Tried forcing the install (architecture error – amd64) but though the Skype icon shows up, when I click on it I get the error, “Failed to execute child process “skype” (No such file or directory)” Any ideas?
Skype is available from the Ubuntu Software Center in Lucid (“partner” repository), where you can download 32-bit or 64-bit. Much easier than this.
To those having problems with skype working, try an older version.
Thanks for the tip. Where does one find an older version of Skype for Linux?
wget http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-beta-ubuntu-32
sudo dpkg -i skype*.deb
sudo apt-get install -f
rm skype*.deb
thats it.
Using an old version of skype, shpuld you be lucky enough to find them, they are there, cant think of the url tho, sorry, but they install, some even have good mic audio on Ubuntu (I Use KDE Kubuntu 10.04) but they instantly crash on a instant message coming in or going out. you can use the Kopete plugin to IM on Skype at the same time but Skype is still flaky. just have to pressure Skype’s few dev’s to fix and release i’m afraid. thats propriety software for you…. 🙁
That’s reassuring (in the misery loves company sense), and will deter me from further Skype experimentation. I recently upgraded to 10.04 (mainly because of the LTS) and an SSD, and am still going through the tweaking phase. Everything worked out of the box, but I can’t let well enough alone.
The URL that Totya cites is the current development release of Skype, over which I have already wasted two days of effort.
Dont let it put you off trying Seldon ..
i did a re-install of Kubuntu 10.04 LTS
and found one of my two skype accounts, audio worked ok. weird.
.. 2 thinggs, i generally remove ALL thhe bluetooth off the OS .. but not yet.
i messed around with kmix and the sound screwed up again.knowing it cant be much, i found that sliding DIGITAL up full (you may have to enable this channel in kmix options) and leaving skypes ‘mic in’ at default and the other
2 options on a definate device, in my case,
HDA ATI SB analog default audio device –
default card=SB ..
of course you likely got different hardware anddd desktop environment to me, but this one surprissed me.
Thanks a lot for the instructions!
I have spent about 18 hr. trying to setup a system for my parents who needed skype and, whos computer is not to fast.
I tryed to install different light distros, but just could’t get skype working on them.
So finaly I desided to go with Kubuntu 10.04 and still, I couldn’t install oficial version of skype for Ubuntu.
With you simple instructions I finaly got this crappy pies of software working!
Thanks a lot!
i have ubuntu 9.04 and it shares the same drive space with my XP set-up but because of this i cannot update ubuntu because i don’t have a”/” binary space on my drive. can u help? because of this i could not install skpye