Install Skype in Debian

October 10, 2015 in software

Install Skype in Linux Debian

Skype is a simply way to make voice or video calls or chat with your friends with IM (instant messages). Go to official site of skype (http://www.skype.com/en/) and click on “Download skype”. Select Debian from the dropdown menu of distribution selection. Save the file in your Downloads directory. the file should be something like skype-debian_4.3.0.37-1_i386.deb where the “4.3.0.37-1_i386” is the version of skype.

before we proceed with the installation if you are running a 64bit Debian we need to add 32bit compatibility in case that you dont have already.
open a terminal and type:

sudo dpkg –add-architecture i386

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install lib32z1 lib32ncurses5

sudo apt-get update

Now move to Downloads and try to install the downloaded skype package:

cd ~/Downloads/

sudo dpkg -i skype-debian_4.3.0.37-1_i386.deb

At that point most likely the installation will fail due to some missing dependancies. to fix that issue the following command:

sudo apt-get -f install

Once that is finished then type again

sudo dpkg -i skype-debian_4.3.0.37-1_i386.deb

Now that all dependancies are there the installation will be able to finish normally.
In order to start skype either type in terminal “skype” or by clicking the skype icon in menu.