How to install Skype on Debian 9 Stretch Linux 64-bit

Objective

The following article provides you with a simple to follow procedure on how to install video chat and voice call application Skype on Debian 9 Stretch.

Requirements

Privileged access to your Debian 9 Stretch Linux system is required.

Difficulty

EASY

Conventions

• # - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
• $ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

Instructions

Enable i386 Architecture

Skype requires i386 architecture enabled on your system.

# dpkg --add-architecture i386
# apt-get update

Install Prerequisites

If you have not done so yet, install gdebi command which is a great tool to install l packages and their dependencies:

# apt-get install gdebi

Next, download and install libssl v1.0.0 library as part of the Skype dependency:

$ wget -q http://ftp.at.debian.org/debian/pool/main/o/openssl/libssl1.0.0_1.0.1t-1+deb8u5_i386.deb

Install previously downloaded libssl package:

# gdebi libssl1.0.0_1.0.1t-1+deb8u5_i386.deb 
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree        
Reading state information... Done
Reading state information... Done
Requires the installation of the following packages: gcc-6-base:i386 libc6:i386 libgcc1:i386 

Secure Sockets Layer toolkit - shared libraries
 This package is part of the OpenSSL project's implementation of the SSL
 and TLS cryptographic protocols for secure communication over the
 Internet.
 .
 It provides the libssl and libcrypto shared libraries.
Do you want to install the software package? [y/N]:y

Download and Install Skype

Download the Skype Debian package:

$ wget -O skype-install.deb http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-deb

Lastly, use gdebi to install skype along with all its dependencies:

# gdebi skype-install.deb 
...
Wherever you are, wherever they are
 Skype keeps you together. Call, see, message and share with others.
  * It's free to download and join.
  * Call, instant message and send photos and documents to anyone else on Skype.
  * And with a webcam you can catch up face-to-face with a video call.
  * Call mobiles and landlines worldwide at low rates.
  * Easily text message anywhere in the world.
  * Get your friends together on a conference call.
 .
 And that's just the start...
Do you want to install the software package? [y/N]:y

If the above Skype installation completed successfully, you can start Skype from the command line with:

$ skype

or from your GUI start menu.