Email, Messaging, & Video Calls › Video Calls How to Download Skype on Any Machine Skype Download and Install Files - Where and How to Get Them? Share Pin Email Print Blend Images/Kevin Dodge/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images Video Calls Skype Facetime By Nadeem Unuth Freelance Contributor Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP. our editorial process LinkedIn Nadeem Unuth Updated January 21, 2020 If you are not already one of the millions of Skype users, you must have heard of it and may be wondering how to download Skype and install it on your computer, mobile phone, or TV. Follow these instructions to get Skype for your device. Download Skype for Windows, Mac, and Linux When you access the Skype download page, the operating system you are using is automatically detected and it is so smart that you don’t even need to bother about the OS and version you are using. But if you want to be able to choose, go to the Skype download page where you can choose your version. Note: You can also use Skype on your Chromebook, so don't assume that you're limited to Windows, Mac, and Linux. The Full Skype Download File vs. The Skype Download Launcher When you download and install Skype on your computer from the Skype site, the file you download, which is normally called SkypeSetup.exe (for Windows) is not the full Skype installation program. It is merely a launcher program, around 1 MB of size, that starts the installation process on your computer and as it progresses, more of the program is downloaded in the background and installed. Now, this might be a problem for some people. For instance, people with a slow connection will have to wait a lot for the installation process, and in some cases, the installation can fail. Not having the full install file also prevents you from porting the installation to another machine. Download for Your Mobile Phones and Smartphones You can carry the Skype application with you and benefit from the free calls worldwide on your mobile phone or smartphone. Skype for Mobile phones can be installed on the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android machines. For Your TV You can have Skype on your TV, but you cannot download Skype for your TV. You need to buy an HD TV that has Skype embedded. For Android To use Skype on your Android device, search for Skype on Google Play, download and install the app. Otherwise, you can search for the Skype spk file which every download site has.