How to install Skype on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux

Objective

The objective of this guide is to install Skype, the video chat and voice calls application on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux

Operating System and Software Versions

  • Operating System: – Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver 64-bit

Requirements

Privileged administrator/root access is required to install this software.

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

Other Versions of this Tutorial

Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa)

Instructions

Snap Skype Installation

Using Snaps you can install Skype with a single command. Open up terminal and enter:

$ sudo snap install skype --classic
INFO Waiting for restart...
skype 8.15.0.4 from 'skype' installed

Skype installation from Official package

Install prerequisites

The simplest way to install an external package, like in this case Skype, is by use of the gdebi command. Open up terminal and install the gdebi package using the following linux command:

$ sudo apt install gdebi-core

Download Skype

Next, use the wget command to download the Skype package:

$ wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb


Install Skype

To install the Skype package on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver using the gdebi command is simple as:

$ sudo gdebi skypeforlinux-64.deb

When asked: Do you want to install the software package? [y/N] answer y.

Start Skype

Regardless of your graphical user interface you can always start Skype from the terminal. Depending on which Skype installation method you have performed, your can start skype by executing:

$ skype
OR
$ skypeforlinux

Alternatively, GNOME users can click on Activities and search for skype.

install Skype on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux

Skype on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver