Installing Skype on Ubuntu 9.04 using Synaptic

Want to make free phone calls using Skype? Running Ubuntu 9.04? Want to make sure that Skype stays up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates once you install it? Here’s how:

On the Skype Download for Linux page Skype lists Ubuntu 7.04-8.04 as the only supported versions of Ubuntu. You can install Skype on Ubuntu 9.04, but when new updates or security fixes come out you won’t get an automatic update. If you want to make sure that your Skype installation stays up-to-date you should add skype.com as a valid software repository and install Skype from that. If you do this you’ll automatically get updates when they’re available.

To add skype.com as a repository:

  • Start up Synaptic Package Manager. (On Gnome go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager)
  • Select Settings > Repositories
  • Click the Third-Party Software tab
  • Click Add
  • Enter “deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free” as the APT line
  • Click the Reload button in the upper left-hand corner to download the list of available files from download.skype.com
  • Type “skype” in the Quick Search box and you should see Skype listed as an installable package
  • Mark it for installation and install

Skype should now appear on your Applications > Internet menu.


Update: At the time that I wrote this the instructions worked. However, it looks as if Skype has removed their apt repositories for 9.04. If you attempt to connect to http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ you’ll get a “Hi, this page is off limits” error message.

If you are running Ubuntu 10.04 or later you can get Skype directly from Canonical. See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Skype for more info.

15 thoughts on “Installing Skype on Ubuntu 9.04 using Synaptic

  1. Skype installed no problem but locks up after call as with all other posts I have tried? Unable to get out of program without shutting down PC. Clean install of ubuntu 9.04, dell ins 1300.

    • Chris:

      Are you running Gnome as your desktop? On my copy of Ubuntu when Skype is running I see a green Skype logo-circle in the taskbar with a check mark inside it. If I right-click on the green circle I get a menu, one of the options of which is to quit.

      While Skype is running:


      [09:32:52] earl@earl:~ > ps -ef | grep -i skype | grep -v grep
      earl 4931 1 0 09:00 ? 00:00:05 /usr/bin/skype

      After I select quit:


      [09:32:57] earl@earl:~ > ps -ef | grep -i skype | grep -v grep
      [09:33:03] earl@earl:~ >

      As you can see Skype exited cleanly and did not leave any trace in memory.

  2. Problem only occurs having made a test call but will shut down ok if no calls have been made. Audio out works on test call but voice in is still a problem, still playing around with settings.

  3. Just noticed that when I force the application to quit then re-load, the following message appears in the skype window: Another Skype instance may exist.

  4. Have tried this again having installed sky completely, now unable to even find skype synaptic package manager!

    Installing skype on Ubuntu 9.04 does appear to be an issue as I have tried it on 2 different PC’s of varying spec with no luck, I continue to read every forum I can to see if there is a fix. Good luck.

  5. Chris reboot then take a look in audio devices in skype change them 1 driver at a time ie with me it was hda intel bla bla so i then changed to hda intel dev 1, 0. I had the same prob on my pressario v6000 could’nt end call had to re boot to put right when I changed the sound was much clearer also good luck

  6. i get this error message when reloading the page W: GPG error: http://archive.ubuntu.com jaunty Release: The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG 40976EAF437D05B5 Ubuntu Archive Automatic Signing Key and after I type skype in the search box i only get skytools Database management tools from Skype to PostgreSQL

    what do i do?

  7. Dear Earl,

    You first instructions are correct. I’ve just installed Skype 2.0.0.72 for Linux in my Ubuntu 9.10 (32, not 64), and it is working:

    Add “deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free” to “software sources / other software” and close it. Go to synaptics and quick search “skype”, and that is it.

    Thank you!

  8. I had initially installed Skype in Ubuntu 9.10 from a *.deb file, but I didn’t have any Skype Options? Anyhow, this worked well – thanks!

  9. Hey.. thank you for the helpful tip you got here.. Installation complete.. I have a hard time following the instructions.. kinda confusing.. hehhe Thanks anyway…

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