Social Media Original APK
Skype Original, with the privacy patches the official app refuses to ship.

Download Stories, hide read receipts, kill the sponsored feed. The Skype client people actually want, packaged as an APK because Meta will not ship it on the Play Store.

  • Story Downloads
  • Ghost Mode
  • Ad-Free Feed
  • Version

    Latest tested build.

    v8.150.0.125
  • Download size

    On disk after install.

    66 MB
  • Installs

    Play Store installs.

    100K+

Skype is an Android app for free voice and video calls and instant messaging. This page covers the latest APK release with screenshots, key features, installation steps, compatibility details, and what to check before installing.

What is Skype?

Skype is the Android client for Skype, the long-running calling and messaging app from Microsoft. You can make one-to-one and group video calls, voice calls, send chat messages, share files and photos, and call regular phone numbers using Skype Credit. One-to-one calls, group calls, chat, screen sharing, and call recording all work the way they do on the desktop client.

This download is the original Skype build, the same package you would get from Google Play. Nothing is patched or repackaged. The APK is here so you can grab a specific version, install on a device without the Play Store, or keep a clean copy for sideloading.

Sign-in works through your normal Microsoft or Skype account. Your contacts, chat history, and saved conversations all carry over once you log in. The app syncs across phones, tablets, and desktops, so a call you start on one device picks up where you left off on another.

What does Skype offer?

Skype focuses on free communication that works across devices and networks. Place HD video calls with up to 100 people in a group. Make voice calls to other Skype users for free, anywhere in the world. Send instant messages with photos, files, and reactions.

You can also call landlines and mobile numbers in most countries using Skype Credit or a subscription, share your screen during a call, and record calls so you can revisit them later. Live subtitles can show what people are saying as they speak, which helps on noisy connections.

Account sign-in works through your existing Microsoft or Skype credentials, so your contacts and chat history carry over. Everything stays in sync across the phone, web, and desktop versions, so you can pick up a conversation on whichever device is closest.

Key features

Skype ships with the same toolset as the desktop and web versions. Here is what people actually use the app for:

  • Video and voice calls: Make free one-to-one or group video and audio calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
  • Instant messaging: Send text, photos, files, and reactions in one-to-one or group chats.
  • Call phones: Dial landlines and mobile numbers in most countries with Skype Credit or a subscription.
  • Screen sharing: Share your phone screen during a call for support, demos, or remote help.
  • Live subtitles and translation: Read real-time captions and translated text during calls and chats.
  • Cross-device sync: Start a chat or call on one device and continue it on another.

What's new in the latest version?

The latest build of Skype (v8.150.0.125) focuses on stability, compatibility, and minor interface fixes. Microsoft ships regular updates to the calling engine and chat, so each release tends to smooth out call quality and patch small bugs rather than overhaul the layout.

  • Improved stability across newer Android versions, including Android 14 and 15
  • Faster loading and reduced memory footprint on lower-RAM devices
  • Bug fixes for reported call-quality, sync, or sign-in issues
  • Updated interface elements that match the current Skype design
  • Better support for foldable and tablet form factors
  • Refinements to call connection and audio handling

Pros and cons

What works
  • Save photos and Reels
  • Ghost mode for Stories
  • Hide read receipts
  • Ad-free feed
  • Tracking removed
  • Works alongside official app on some builds
What does not
  • Account flagging risk if you sign in with your main
  • Not on Google Play, sideload only
  • No automatic updates, you reinstall by hand
  • Some features may differ between builds
  • Sign-in via main account is riskier than burner
  • Permissions require manual review on first launch

Good to know before installing

Installing an APK directly means sideloading, so Android will ask you to allow 'Install unknown apps' for your file manager or browser. This is normal. Only enable it for sources you trust.

Check the package name, version, and requested permissions before opening the app. If permissions do not match what a calling app needs, hold off on installation.

App information

At a glance
The Skype Original spec sheet
  • App name
    Skype Original
  • Package name
    com.skype.raider
  • Version
    8.150.0.125
  • Updated
    Latest release
  • Android required
    5.0+ (Lollipop)
  • Developer
    Skype
  • Category
    Social Media
  • File size
    66 MB
  • Installs
    100K+
  • License
    Free / Freemium

How to install Skype APK on Android

Install in five steps
Getting Skype Original on your device
  • 1
    Tap the download button
    The Skype Original APK file lands in your Downloads folder.
  • 2
    Allow unknown apps
    Grant the install-unknown-apps permission to your file manager when Android prompts.
  • 3
    Run the installer
    Accept the in-place update if a previous version is on the device.
  • 4
    Launch the app
    Complete first-run setup or sign in to your account.
  • 5
    Review permissions
    Open Settings inside the app and confirm permissions match the app's purpose.

Is Skype safe?

Skype is safest when downloaded from Google Play or directly from Microsoft. APK files from unknown mirrors can be outdated, modified, or unsafe. Before installing, check the package name, version, file size, and requested permissions. If anything looks different from the official listing, do not install the APK.

The Skype APK on this page is the original, unmodified build, the same one published by Microsoft. Because it comes from outside the Play Store, Google Play Protect may still show a quick scan prompt on install. That is standard for any sideloaded APK. The package name (com.skype.raider), version number, and file size are listed up top so you can confirm you are installing the genuine app before you tap through.

FAQ

  • Is Skype free?
    Yes. The app is free to install, and Skype-to-Skype calls and messages cost nothing. Calling regular phone numbers needs Skype Credit or a subscription.
  • What can I do with Skype?
    Voice and video calls, group calls, instant messaging, file sharing, screen sharing, and calls to landlines and mobiles.
  • Do I need an account?
    Yes. Sign in with a Microsoft or Skype account. Creating one is free and takes a minute.
  • Can I install Skype without Google Play?
    Yes. Download the APK and install it via sideload.
  • Does Skype update automatically?
    Not when you sideload it. Pull a fresh build from this page when a new version drops, or install from the Play Store for auto-updates.
  • What Android version does it require?
    Android 8.0 (Oreo) or later for the latest builds.

Final verdict

Skype is worth installing if you want free voice and video calls, group chat, and messaging that work across your phone, tablet, and computer. The app handles HD group calls, screen sharing, file transfers, and calls to regular phone numbers. Check compatibility, permissions, and the download source before installing the APK, and update from this page when a new build drops.

For most people the Play Store version is the easiest install path because of Google's pre-install scanning and the auto-update channel. The APK here is useful when you need a specific version, are setting up a device without the Play Store, or want to keep a clean copy for sideloading. Either way you are running the same original app, so confirm the package name and version before you install.