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Written by:

frankeinstein

Score: 55 votes: 60 Format: Article

 How to make Webcam compatible with Skype.

Although some webcams work on Linux Mint with Cheese and other webcam apps, they do not all work out of the box with Skype . You may have a green screen when you access your video on skype or no video at all. This issue is down to the video 4 linux libraries (V4L).  By default the current library is V4L2, to make your webcam work with Skype if you have this problem, requires the preloading of V4L to make it compatible or V4L2 conversion.

Listed below is a simple and quick way to get your webcam up and running with Skype.

I'm using gedit as my text editor, if you use a different one just substitute gedit for the editor of your choice.

Firstly open Terminal.

Copy and paste the line below into the Terminal and press Enter.

sudo gedit /usr/local/bin/skype

This will open your editor with a blank text file, copy and paste the following lines into your blank text file.

Use lines below for x86(32bit)

#!/bin/bash
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype

Use lines below for x64(64bit)

#!/bin/bash
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib32/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype

Save the file and close it.

Now to make the file executable, copy and paste the following line into Terminal.

sudo chmod a+x /usr/local/bin/skype

Press Enter and close the Terminal, start Skype and webcam works.

Now your webcam is working you can optionally (to improve the quality of your webcam picture), install v4l2ucp(video for linux 2 universal control panel) from the Software Manager.

Type "v4l2ucp" in the search box and then select it.

Click "Install".

After installation go to

Menu> Preferences > Video4Linux Control Panel

This will allow you to adjust  the Contrast, Gamma, Auto Gain and Sharpness of your video. Simply click "Preview" and adjust the sliders to suit your requirements.

If your webcam has a built-in microphone, to set it to default for use with Skype, go to

Menu> Preferences > Sound

Click on the input tab and select your webcam microphone from the choices listed for input devices.

(Make sure microphone volume is not muted).

If  Skype crashes when starting video during a call, do the following.

Make a Skype call without starting your video, get the person you are calling to start their video, you should now see a light blue video icon appear at the bottom of the Skype call window.

Click on the video icon and change the video size from "Normal Size" to "Double Size"

Now start your video. (Please note that this is more of a workaround than anything else, if the person you have called stops their video before you, then Skype will crash)

As an alternative if the above fix does not work try using the lines below instead.

Use lines below for x86(32bit)

#!/bin/bash
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l2convert.so /usr/bin/skype

Use lines below for x64(64bit)

#!/bin/bash
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib32/libv4l/v4l2convert.so /usr/bin/skype

Make file executable as above.

Tested on Linux Mint 9(Isadora) 32 and 64 bit, Linux Mint 10(Julia) 32 and 64 bit

Skype 2.1.0.81(Beta) with Logitech E1000 and Genius VideoCAM GE111 webcams

Comments
1 month ago	diazjavier	Thank you very much!!!! In Mint 14 64bits this Work fine: #!/bin/bash LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib32/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype
2 months ago	staphylea	What a cracking tutorial! I'm using Debian Squeeze and have been unable to get my web cam working with Skype for far too long. How fortunate to come across this tutorial. Thank you.
4 months ago	JML103	Thanks...
4 months ago	Yuri	Thanks! STLab WC-036 work! Excellent tutorial!
8 months ago	newpaul	The Logitech Quickcam Express camera is a software zombie, even in Windows, for which it was made (error messages show up for the default drivers & the updates in W7, even when the thing works, displaying its crappy image). Don't waste your time with it. It's a shame that Linux's reputation ends up suffering because of such crap. Down with zombieware!
9 months ago	Lewdsquirrel	Excellent tutorial, you just helped me to make the webcam work in less than 2 minutes! Thanks again.
11 months ago	JeffWinger	Thanks for the tip ktaragorn! Worked flawlessly with those instructions. Jeff from Diamond Supply Snapback
11 months ago	ktaragorn	This doesnt work "As-is" any more because the path to the relevant library appears to have changed. refer to http://community.skype.com/t5/Linux/video-is-not-working-on-Ubuntu-11-10/td-p/216792 Basically, u need to change the path from "Use lines below for x64(64bit) #!/bin/bash LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib32/libv4l/v4l2convert.so /usr/bin/skype" to Use lines below for x64(64bit) #!/bin/bash LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype Same path might work on 32 bit as well or just run a "locate v4l1compat.so" to find the new path. It would be great if someone, or author himself were to update this tut, it is the first place i found on a google search so should be correct
1 year ago	mexicanbob	Good Info Frank, I have only got Lisa on my pc atm. I gave Ubuntu 11.10 unity away as it kept on freezing tries (many cures). Anyway the only issue I have with Lisa is the webcam in skype. Cheese will show on desktop but not in skype. Two Scenarios : its me or its me Went thru all the above but no go. An assist would be great from anyone. Many Thanks Bob loves Lisa
1 year ago	kadama	Thank's a lot Frankeinstein! Very good guide, the printscreens make all the difference. I am using Ubuntu 12.04 with a Microsoft VX 1000 webcam. I couldn't get the camera to work since the 10.01 version of Ubuntu but following your guide I made it work. Rykellim's comment helped as well. The video quality of my camera is a bit disappointing in Linux. If someone knows a good set of drivers for Microsoft cameras, please let me know. Thanks again Frankeinstein!
1 year ago	kostason	Thank a lot!!! Works fine on LMDE, when using JuliusP0pp tip.
1 year ago	newpaul	When I said Katya I meant Lisa. I miss K, and even Gloria, but my life moved on...
1 year ago	Tonya	Well done! Thanks a lot!
1 year ago	newpaul	Maybe this should be updated to Mint 12, visually, I mean, just for the newly arrived... Thanks again!
1 year ago	newpaul	Worked perfectly in my grampa's ubu 12.04 beta, with a Logitech Quickcam Express, which has no support for Linux or Mac. Later I offered him a Creative Webcam Live Cam Socialize L8, which is dirt cheap, has a fantastic picture and works out of the box (support for Linux clearly stated). I kept the Logitech thing and repeated this solution in my Mint Katya & everything is OK. Let's give back to these companies that treat Linux with respect (& forget the rest). Thank you so much, frankenstein, for you clear and detailed tutorial. Admirable generosity.
1 year ago	form-at	the solution if the picture of your webcam is upside-down like on my laptop is simple: add the entry -flip to the list of arguments under preview>configure preview restart skype.
1 year ago	Osni	Thanks, it's working like a charm. For those who use Mint 12, the libv4l is now at /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/ If you still can't find the file, type locate v4l1compat.so in the terminal.
1 year ago	berlinerbeso	thanks, it was super! in three minutes my webcam from medion-laptop, tuned to T7300 and 4gb ddr2, is running under ubu 10.04 64bits under skype 2.2.0.35!! as soon as possible i test mint under virtual-os bts
1 year ago	raymund	Fixed the problem. Thanks for the solution.
1 year ago	rykellim	UPDATE: The comment by JuliusP0pp worked for Skype in Linux Mint 12! 1. Edit Skype binary - sudo gedit /usr/local/bin/skype 2. Add the following lines in the blank text - #!/bin/bash LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype 3. Make it executable - sudo chmod a+x /usr/local/bin/skype 4. Start Skype Thanks all!
1 year ago	rykellim	Neither worked for my Skype in Linux Mint 12. Has something gone wrong with this program on Linux Mint? It works OK in Ubuntu Maverick.
1 year ago	Simeon	Thank you
1 year ago	pleurastic	Worked for me on Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 64bit Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks 046d:08dd Thanks
1 year ago	JuliusP0pp	Hi, I'm using LMDE and this tutorial (and a few other ones) didn't work for me in the ginning, but with a little tweak it does now: Instead of #!/bin/bash LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype I put #!/bin/bash LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype in /usr/local/bin/skype, and together with the other steps in this tutorial it works now.
1 year ago	JoachimL	Hi, I tried the ideas proposed here but failed to get my Logitech C510 to work with Skype on Linux Mint 11. Googling for a while took me to the following site https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Webcam and it solved my problem. I am again a happy Mint user.
1 year ago	kazztan0325	This tutorial is very easy for newbies to understand. Great!
2 years ago	th1nG	working great! 10x
2 years ago	peleng	making a script based on bash -c 'XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1 skype' and placing it in usr/bin solved the problem. however, adding skype.sh to mintmenu stopped skype from launching. funny enough, because standard gnome menu works with the modified command line as expected. I've tested this tweak on Mint 10.
2 years ago	Firoz_usf	thanks I need this.
2 years ago	alibahaloo	Great tutorial. Thx :)
2 years ago	chevy4lady	Excellent tutorial! Thank you very much!
2 years ago	cimiuk	Hi Im having problems using video cam from my laptp i have a built in cam ,is funy at times works fine then at times it says that i have no cam installed ,im using linuxmint (10) julia Gnome if that make any sens im new to this any body can help ?
2 years ago	jimcost	Great fix. Running Mint 10 on Lenovo 3000N100 with Microsoft Lifecam NX6000. Worked like a charm!
2 years ago	tux_errante	Hi ! I'm sorry, but skype still crashing, after I've tried both methods.. any help ? driver uvcvideo card videowebcam Linux mint Debian kernel 2.6.32-5amd64, Gnome here's the output: alessandro@alex-pc ~ $ skype Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "canberra-gtk-module": /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/modules/libcanberra-gtk-module.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64 (:27358): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/engines/libmurrine.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64 (:27358): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/engines/libclearlooks.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64 /usr/local/bin/skype: line 2: 27358 Segmentation fault LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib32/libv4l/v4l2convert.so /usr/bin/skype
2 years ago	kvaju	Thanks man! Great tutorial
2 years ago	efthialex	Nice! (y)
2 years ago	angelmiljenko	Great job!!!ty
2 years ago	grim	Wow, amazing tutorial, ty sir!
2 years ago	DonK	This has turned out to be an increasingly user friendly guide. The illustrations added should help us new Linux users to understand and learn how the system is organised. Just as you run through it with me showed me a lot.
2 years ago	rbennett	This is a great tutorial. It delivered and I even can use the Microsoft cam. Thanks for your detailed tutorial, that even this newbee could understand. I wish there was a tutorial on getting this same cam to work on Linux Mint in general. Keep up the great job frankeinstein! I clicked back to this tutorial again, and it has even been made better - wow! This to me as a newbee, is the standard to what I will work to, should I ever write a tutorial. An awesome job.
2 years ago	frankeinstein	Glad I could help Donk. I have updated this tutorial to cover the Skype crash problem and also to cover the built-in microphone problems that you were experiencing.
2 years ago	DonK	Thanks for all your help frankeinstien I think this tutorial should be listed as #1 for all Skype users to get them online.
2 years ago	DonK	Thank You, now the camera works fine when I go to test now. But here's the kicker, during the call I turn on the web cam and Skype crashes. Dell Optiplex GX260 Microsoft LifeCam NX-3000
2 years ago	Darrel	Excellent,everything just as you said, Microsoft Life-Cam NX-6000 in LM9 32bit and LMDE 32bit both 100%
2 years ago	banjoman	this is what community computing is all about, thanks for the knowledge and effort put into this tutorial - most problems can be overcome with perseverance and support...
2 years ago	CharlesF	This was the only thing that didn't work for me in Mint..... This is one MINT solution. Thank you for sharing it!
2 years ago	minhajz	Awesome .... Thanks a lot brother ... now my cam works fine...
2 years ago	Elisa	+1
2 years ago	tihomir	Thank you very much!After installing Isadora(I used Gloria before),my webcam Genius stopped working with Skype but it worked with Cheese app.Since I am not computer wizard,I would never find solution,thank you again!And now I even have much better video quality than with Gloria.

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