While Zoom is more of an enterprise solution, Skype, on the other hand, is still popular among general consumers. It’s clean, offers smooth video calls, has useful features, and it’s available on a range of platforms and devices. Not to mention, with the new web-first approach, Microsoft has brought Skype to Chromebooks as well. And that is not all. There are multiple ways to get Skype for Chromebook working seamlessly. So in this article, we bring you a detailed guide on how to install and run Skype on a Chromebook with some helpful tips along the way. With that in mind, let’s see how you can use Skype on your Chromebook in 2021.
There are particularly three ways you can get Skype working on your Chromebook. The first one is the Web App which is, by far, the best way to access Skype on a Chromebook. After that, we have Android and Linux apps. We will discuss all the methods, but let’s start with the web app first.
- Web App
- Android App
- Linux App
Get Skype for Chromebook Working: Web App
Apart from offering native apps, Microsoft has moved its prized video-conferencing app to the web. Now, you can seamlessly access Skype on a Chromebook using the Chrome browser. It comes with support for call notifications, screen sharing, and the recent, Skype Meet Now feature. Simply put, you won’t miss any of the major features of the desktop app. Now having said that, let’s get to the steps.
- After that, you will be instantly taken to the main dashboard which is pretty similar to the desktop app. You can chat, make a video call, start a group call with Skype Meet Now, and more.
If you have Play Store support on your Chromebook then you can use the Android variant of Skype on your Chromebook. In my testing, it worked pretty well, but you don’t have access to some of the desktop features like background blur and real-time caption.
1. Open the Play Store on your Chromebook and install Skype (Free).
Among all the versions of Skype, the Linux app seems more like a solid desktop app on Chromebook. Almost everything works pretty well and there is no Terminal tweaking required. It can even receive notifications if the app is closed in the background. But there is one problem and it’s a glaring one.
Linux on Chromebook still does not have access to the webcam due to virtual machine restrictions and as a result, Skype can’t use the webcam. The microphone works fine out of the box so there is that. To put it straight, if you want Skype for voice calls and chats then the Linux app is a really good option on Chromebook.
- After downloading the installer, open the “Files” app and double-click on it to install Skype on your Chromebook. Next, hit the “Install” button.
Note: If Skype is not launching initially then click on “File” and quit the program. Reopen it and now Skype should work fine.
