How to install Skype application on Linux

How do I install Skype app on Linux to make telephone calls or stay in touch with friends and family?

Skype application make telephone calls over the Internet. It works on Windows, Linux, macOS and mobile phone operating systems. Calls are cheaper due to use of VoIP (voice over IP). Every Skype user has a unique username which you can use to talk with another user. This page shows how to install Skype on Linux using a snap package manager that works on Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Fedora, Arch and many other distros.

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Installing skype application on Linux

The procedure to install Skype on Linux is as follows:

1. Install snapd
2. Turn on snapd
3. Find Skyp snap:
   snap find skype
4. Install Skype VoIP app:
   sudo snap install skype
5. Run it:
   skype &

Let us see all steps and examples in details.

Step 1 – Install Snapd

You need to install snapd package. It is daemon (service) and tooling that enable snap packages on Linux operating system.

Snapd on a Debian/Ubuntu/Mint Linux

Type the following apt command/apt-get command as follows:
$ sudo apt install snapd

Install snapd on an Arch Linux

snapd is available in the Arch User Repository (AUR) only. Run yaourt command (see how to install yaourt on Archlinux):
$ sudo yaourt -S snapd
$ sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

Get snapd on a Fedora Linux

Run snapd command sudo dnf install snapd
sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

OpenSUSE install snapd

Execute the zypper command as follows:
### Tumbleweed verson ###
$ sudo zypper addrepo http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/system:/snappy/openSUSE_Tumbleweed/ snappy
### Leap version ##
$ sudo zypper addrepo http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/system:/snappy/openSUSE_Leap_42.3/ snappy
Install it:
$ sudo zypper install snapd
$ sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

Step 2 � Install Skype app on Linux using snap

Run the snap command:
$ snap find skype

Install skype application on Linux it:
$ sudo snap install skype --classic

Please note that this version of snap “skype” was published using classic confinement and thus may perform arbitrary system changes outside of the security sandbox that snaps are usually confined to, which may put your system at risk. If you understand and want to proceed install skype with –classic option.

Step 3 – Run skype and enjoy VoIP calls

Just type the following command:
$ skype

You can now log in to your Skype account:

How to delete Skype app

If you do not like it the app, you can delete it by typing the following command:
$ sudo snap remove skype
By default all the snap revisions are removed, including their data and the common data directory. For info see:

• Skype serivce
• Snaps project

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