However, you could put your Chromebook into Developer Mode and install a standard Linux environment alongside Chrome OS. This application can’t be installed directly in Chrome OS. Microsoft still provides an officially supported version of Skype for the Linux desktop. This is probably the most complicated option here, but it will certainly work. RELATED: How to Install Ubuntu Linux on Your Chromebook with Crouton It’s different from the “Developer Mode” feature below that allows you to install Linux.) (Note that the “Developer mode” option here just activates some additional features on the Extensions page. You’ll just have to get an official Skype APK file to package it with.

If you just have a Chromebook, you can use the twerk Chrome app for this. Next, extract the Skype app and install it by opening the Extensions page in Chrome, activating “Developer mode,” and using the “Load unpacked extension” button. For now, the lack of Skype helps Microsoft slam Chromebooks with their “Scroogled” ads.įirst, install the Archon runtime on your Chromebook. In the future, Microsoft will hopefully switch to WebRTC for plug-in-free Skype calling on, and Skype will then be available on your Chromebook and every other device. On Windows and Mac, users can install a Skype plug-in to have video and voice calls from, as well. This hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves - ’s chat feature is basically just a web version of Skype.

Just log in to your account and use the built-in chat feature in, which connects to Skype. You can connect to Skype and send text messages with your contacts from. Many people just use Skype for text chatting, especially after it absorbed the old Windows Live Messenger (aka MSN Messenger.) Skype is often considered a voice-and-video-calling application, but it’s more than that. RELATED: The Best Ways to Video Chat from Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android You can head to in your browser, login, and start using instant messenger.

They might open this up in the future, however. This is a beta, so the video and voice calling doesn’t work yet in some browsers, including Chromebooks. Microsoft now provides a version of Skype that works directly in a browser, and even works for Chromebooks. Use Skype for Web (Instant Messaging Only)

Skype app for chrome os