Yes. Many Windows apps and games can run on Linux using compatibility layers, but no single tool guarantees that a particular program will work. Wine is the general-purpose option for Windows applications; Valve’s Proton is designed to run Windows games through Steam. Check the exact app or game—including any launcher, multiplayer feature, or online service it requires—before relying on Linux.
How Windows apps and games run on Linux
Linux compatibility tools let some Windows software run without installing a full copy of Windows for each program. They do not make Linux identical to Windows: whether a program works depends on the software and its requirements.
Wine: general Windows applications
Wine is a compatibility layer that translates Windows API calls for Linux and other POSIX-compliant systems. It is a broad starting point for Windows desktop applications and some games. Look up the specific application and version in the WineHQ application database; a result for another version may not reflect your experience.
Proton: Windows games in Steam
Proton is Valve’s tool for running Windows-exclusive games through the Steam client. It uses Wine along with additional components, and Valve recommends that most users use the Proton version supplied through Steam. Proton is most straightforward for games in your Steam library; it is not a universal Windows-app installer.
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Steam Play: enable Proton for Steam games
Steam Play settings let you use Proton with non-native games in Steam. Canonical’s Ubuntu guide to configuring Proton distinguishes Valve-supported titles from other titles you can choose to try. Supported titles are verified by Valve to work well on Linux; unsupported titles vary greatly in functionality. A native Linux version, when available, is likely to work best without Proton.
Bottles: a graphical manager for Windows software
Bottles offers a graphical way to manage Windows software environments, add games and stores, and select among Wine and Proton runners. It can be useful for non-Steam software, but it does not guarantee that every game, launcher, or service will run. See its runner documentation for how runners fit into Bottles.
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How to check whether a specific program will work
- Identify the exact software. Note its name and version, and check whether it depends on a particular launcher, multiplayer mode, anti-cheat or other online service. Those dependencies can matter as much as the game or app itself.
- For a Steam game, check its current status. Start with titles Valve supports. To try other non-native Steam games, enable Steam Play for them in Steam’s settings, then check recent reports for the exact game. Canonical links to ProtonDB for reports on specific titles.
- For a desktop app, check WineHQ. Search the WineHQ application database for the app and version. You can then try Wine directly or use Bottles to manage the environment.
- Follow your Linux distribution’s setup instructions. If the software fails, consult its current compatibility notes. A different runner version or configuration may help in some cases, but it is not a guaranteed fix.
- Test essential software on your intended hardware. If you rely on a program for work or play, confirm that it works on your Linux setup before replacing a working Windows installation.
What to expect from compatibility
Compatibility is specific to the title and can change as the software, runner, and system components are updated. A successful report for one version or setup does not establish that another will work. Neither the official sources cited here establish a single reliable percentage for how much Windows software runs on Linux, so a blanket success rate would be misleading.
Performance also depends on the individual title and setup. The available sources do not support a universal claim that Linux is always faster or slower than Windows. If you are considering a Steam Deck, it is an optional Linux-based device that uses SteamOS and Proton; it is not required to run Wine or Proton on a Linux computer. Valve’s booklet explaining that relationship dates to 2022 and should not be treated as a source for current hardware specifications.
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