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Proton is Valve’s compatibility tool for running Windows-only Steam games on Linux. Install the Steam Linux client, enable Steam Play in Settings > Compatibility, and let Steam install a Proton release. You can then choose a specific Proton version for any game from Library > game Properties > Compatibility. Compatibility is game-specific: check current ProtonDB reports, keep Vulkan drivers up to date, and treat anti-cheat support as a publisher decision rather than a Steam setting.
What Proton does
Proton is a Steam client compatibility tool based on Wine and additional components. It translates many Windows game calls into interfaces Linux can use, so a Windows build can run without a separate Windows installation. Valve describes Steam Play as a feature that can allow Windows-only games to potentially work on Linux; “potentially” matters because each game’s launcher, copy-protection system, graphics API, and anti-cheat implementation can behave differently.
When Steam starts a Proton game, it creates a game-specific prefix. The prefix contains a Windows-like directory structure, registry data, and settings isolated from other games. Proton also builds and stores shader data so graphics effects do not have to be prepared from scratch every time. The first launch can therefore take longer than later launches. Let that setup finish before concluding that the game is broken.
How graphics translation works
- DirectX 9, 10, and 11: Proton commonly uses DXVK to translate Direct3D calls to Vulkan.
- DirectX 12: Proton uses vkd3d-proton to translate Direct3D 12 to Vulkan.
- Vulkan itself: The Linux Vulkan loader and your GPU driver must be working. A broken Vulkan installation can make several unrelated games fail, regardless of which Proton release you select.
Proton does not turn every Windows program into a native Linux application. It is a compatibility layer selected by Steam for a particular game, and its success depends on the game, your distribution, your graphics stack, and any third-party launcher or protection system involved.
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Requirements before enabling Proton
You need the Steam Linux client for your distribution and a working 64-bit graphics stack. Desktop Linux users do not need a Steam Deck; the same Steam Play controls are available on ordinary Linux installations.
Software checklist
- Install Steam from your distribution’s supported package source, start it, and sign in.
- Use a current Linux distribution with updates applied. Some newer games require graphics drivers newer than those shipped in an older distribution release.
- For NVIDIA hardware, use a current proprietary NVIDIA driver rather than relying on an outdated fallback driver.
- For AMD or Intel hardware, install recent Mesa Vulkan packages supplied by your distribution.
- Confirm that Vulkan works before changing Proton versions. If Vulkan cannot initialize, switching between Proton releases usually will not fix the underlying driver problem.
- Leave enough disk space for the game, its Proton prefix, shader data, and any launcher downloads. The exact amount varies by game and is not a fixed Proton requirement.
Drivers are updated through your distribution’s normal software-update process. Do not mix random vendor packages with distribution packages unless you understand how that choice affects the Vulkan loader and 32-bit graphics libraries required by many games.
Enable Steam Play for all games
The global setting tells Steam when it may use Proton automatically. Ubuntu’s current Steam instructions use the labels below; wording can differ slightly in another distribution’s Steam package, but the controls are in the Compatibility section.
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- In the Settings sidebar, select Compatibility.
- Turn on Enable Steam Play for supported titles. This allows Steam to use Proton for games Valve has marked as supported.
- If you also want Steam to attempt games outside that supported set, turn on Enable Steam Play for all other titles.
- Accept the restart prompt if Steam displays one. When prompted, allow Steam to download its selected Proton compatibility tool.
Enabling the second option does not guarantee that every Windows game will work. It simply makes Proton available as a default attempt for titles that do not have a supported designation. You can still override the choice for an individual game.
Force Proton for one game
A per-game override is the most useful control when a title needs a different Proton release from your global default, or when you want to test compatibility without changing every game.
- Open the Library in Steam.
- Right-click the Windows game and choose Properties.
- Select Compatibility in the Properties window.
- Enable Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
- Open the drop-down list and choose an installed Proton release.
- Close the Properties window and press Play.
Steam may download the selected tool before launching. On the first run, wait while it creates the prefix and prepares shader data. A longer initial pause is normal; repeatedly stopping the process can leave an incomplete setup that has to be rebuilt.
The same per-game control is documented for Steam Deck. The handheld uses a Linux-based Steam environment, but the hardware, display mode, and control layout can introduce additional issues that do not occur on a desktop.
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Which Proton version should you choose?
There is no universally best Proton release. Start with the official stable choice Steam selects, then change one variable at a time when a current compatibility report or a reproducible failure points to another release.
| Choice | Best starting use | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Proton Stable | Most games and a dependable baseline | Valve-supported release with changes that have had more testing than Experimental builds | A newly updated game may need a fix that has not reached the stable branch |
| Proton Experimental | Recent games or updates that need newer compatibility fixes | Earlier access to fixes and newer components | Regression risk is higher; a change can solve one title while breaking another |
| GE-Proton | A game-specific workaround identified in a recent report, such as a media component fix | Unofficial patches and components can address issues not yet present in official Proton | It is not supported by Valve for every game or case; troubleshooting becomes less predictable |
A higher version number is not proof that a release is better for your game. Keep at least one official Proton release available as a baseline. If a test with Experimental or GE-Proton fails, return to the known-working official release before changing launch options or deleting files.
When GE-Proton is appropriate
GE-Proton is an unofficial compatibility-tool build. Install it through the same Steam compatibility-tool workflow used for other tools, then select it under the game’s Properties > Compatibility tab. Use it when a current ProtonDB report identifies a GE-specific fix or media component, not simply because the name is newer. Because support is unofficial, record which build you used and keep an official Proton release selected when asking for help.
Check a game before troubleshooting blindly
ProtonDB is the main community reference for game-specific reports. Search for the exact Steam app and read several recent entries rather than relying on a rating alone.
What to compare in a report
- Proton release or GE-Proton build used.
- Linux distribution and desktop session.
- GPU model and graphics-driver version.
- Whether the report covers single-player, multiplayer, or a separate launcher.
- Launch options, environment variables, or configuration changes that were required.
- The report date and the game version at the time of testing.
Community reports are evidence, not a permanent guarantee. A game update, driver update, or Proton update can change the result. A report from different hardware may not transfer to your system, and an old workaround may be harmful after the game or Proton changes. Prefer recent reports that match your GPU, distribution, and intended game mode.
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First-launch procedure that minimizes confusion
- Update the distribution and graphics driver, then restart if the driver update requires it.
- Open Steam and allow any pending Proton-tool download to complete.
- Launch the game once without adding custom launch options. This establishes the prefix and reveals the game’s unmodified behavior.
- Wait for shader preparation, launcher installation, or first-run redistributables to finish. Do not force-close Steam during this stage unless it is genuinely unresponsive.
- Reach the main menu, quit normally, and launch again. A second launch often distinguishes first-run setup from a persistent failure.
- Only then apply a change recommended by a recent, hardware-matched ProtonDB report. Test one change at a time and note the result.
Troubleshoot a game that closes immediately
Work from system-wide causes to game-specific causes. Changing several settings at once makes it impossible to know which change helped.
1. Verify Vulkan and drivers
Update to a current proprietary NVIDIA driver, or recent Mesa Vulkan packages for AMD or Intel. Verify that another known-working Vulkan game or a Vulkan diagnostic supplied by your distribution can start. If Vulkan is missing or broken, repair that stack before testing Proton releases.
2. Test the official stable release
Open Properties > Compatibility, force an installed official stable Proton release, and launch again. This removes uncertainty introduced by an unofficial build or a recently changed Experimental component.
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If the game was recently updated or a current report names a fix in Experimental, select Proton Experimental and test again. If the result is worse, switch back to stable. Do not leave Experimental selected globally just to solve one title.
4. Remove stale launch options
Open the game’s Properties and inspect its launch-options field. Delete obsolete options copied from an old report, then test with an empty field. An option written for a different Proton generation, driver, or launcher can cause an otherwise healthy game to exit.
5. Recheck the game’s current reports
Look for reports made after the latest game update and compare their Proton release, driver, and distribution. Avoid copying a fix solely because it has many votes; the exact version and context matter.
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Black screen, missing video, or graphical corruption
These symptoms often involve the graphics path rather than the game executable itself.
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- Confirm the Vulkan driver is current and that both the 64-bit and required 32-bit graphics components are installed by your distribution’s Steam package.
- Try the official stable release if you are using Experimental or GE-Proton, then test Experimental if the game’s recent reports point to it.
- Remove old launch options that disable video playback, force a renderer, or were copied from a different driver generation.
- Check recent ProtonDB entries for the exact symptom. A missing video may be specific to a launcher or codec, while a black screen can be caused by fullscreen mode, an overlay, or an unsupported graphics feature.
- Change one setting, launch, and record the result. Reverting a failed change is easier when you keep a short log.
Do not assume that deleting every Proton prefix is a harmless first step. A prefix can contain game saves or configuration data, and rebuilding it can remove useful evidence. Back up saves when the game stores them locally, and use prefix removal only when a current report or a clearly corrupted installation justifies it.
Anti-cheat and multiplayer limits
A game can render correctly and still refuse to join protected multiplayer servers. Anti-cheat is controlled by the game developer and publisher, not by a Proton toggle in Steam.
Valve documents integration for Easy Anti-Cheat, but the developer must add the Linux library and enable the integration for its title. If those steps have not been completed, Proton cannot enable them on the player’s behalf. Kernel-level or otherwise unsupported anti-cheat systems remain a common reason a multiplayer game cannot connect to protected servers.
How to diagnose an anti-cheat failure
- Check whether single-player or an offline mode starts. If it does, the graphics and basic Proton setup may be working.
- Read recent ProtonDB reports specifically for protected multiplayer, not just reports saying that the game reaches its menu.
- Check the game developer’s current support notes for Linux or Proton enablement. A change in server policy can invalidate an older report.
- Do not attempt to bypass anti-cheat or replace protected files. Such changes can violate the game’s rules and still will not provide supported access.
When the developer has not enabled a compatible anti-cheat path, the practical solution is to use a supported platform or an unprotected game mode if the developer offers one.
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Some Steam games start a separate Windows launcher before the game. The launcher may need its own web-rendering or login components and can fail even when the game executable is compatible. Treat the launcher as part of the title: read reports that mention the launcher, avoid adding fixes intended for a different game, and test the game without overlays when diagnosing an immediate crash.
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Controllers are optional. Proton can run games with keyboard and mouse, and Steam Input can provide controller mapping when the game supports the relevant input path. A controller does not enable Proton and will not repair a Vulkan or anti-cheat failure.
Keep a working configuration
Once a game works, record the Proton release, distribution, GPU driver, and any launch option that was actually required. This small record makes future updates easier to diagnose.
- Update Steam and your distribution regularly, but avoid changing Proton, the driver, and the game on the same day when you are investigating a regression.
- If an update breaks a game, first return to the last Proton release you recorded as working.
- Keep the official stable release installed even when you use Experimental or GE-Proton for a particular title.
- Recheck ProtonDB after a major game update instead of assuming yesterday’s workaround remains valid.
- Back up local saves before removing a prefix or reinstalling a launcher.
A practical decision path
- New installation: update the system, install Steam, enable Steam Play for supported titles, and confirm Vulkan.
- Known supported game: launch with the default official Proton release and allow first-run setup to finish.
- Unlisted or Windows-only game: enable Steam Play for all other titles, check the exact ProtonDB app page, and compare your hardware with recent reports.
- Launch failure: test Vulkan, then official stable Proton, then Experimental only when a recent report supports it.
- Persistent multiplayer failure: investigate anti-cheat enablement rather than repeatedly changing graphics settings.
- Specific community fix: use GE-Proton only when the report identifies it, and retain official Proton as your comparison baseline.
Common questions answered
Do I need a Steam Deck to use Proton?
No. Proton is available in the Steam Linux client on desktop distributions. Steam Deck documentation shows the same per-game compatibility override, but the hardware is not a prerequisite.
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Will Proton make every Windows game work?
No. Graphics translation can solve Windows API differences, but launchers, copy protection, proprietary middleware, and anti-cheat can still block a title. Compatibility can also change after a game, driver, or Proton update.
Why does changing Proton sometimes make performance worse?
Each release contains different patches and graphics components. A newer release may fix one game while introducing a regression in another, and driver behavior can expose those differences. Compare one release at a time and keep the last working choice documented.
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