Yes. Many Windows applications and games can run on Linux through compatibility layers, without installing a full copy of Windows—but no tool guarantees that a particular program will work. Wine is the general-purpose starting point for Windows applications; Valve’s Proton is designed for Windows games launched through Steam. Check the exact app or game, including its launcher and online features, before relying on it.
How Windows software runs on Linux
Linux does not need to imitate an entire Windows computer for every compatible program. Instead, tools translate or provide parts of the Windows environment that software expects. The right option depends on whether you are trying to run a desktop application, a Steam game, or software from another game store.
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Wine for Windows applications
Wine is a compatibility layer for running Windows applications on Linux and other POSIX-compliant systems. It translates Windows API calls to POSIX calls rather than simulating a complete Windows system. Wine can also run some games, but check the WineHQ application database for the specific program and version you need.
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Proton for Steam games
Proton is Valve’s Steam Client tool for running Windows-exclusive games on Linux. It uses Wine along with additional components. Valve recommends that most users use the Proton version supplied through Steam, rather than treating Proton as a separate general-purpose Windows installer.
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Steam Play and Bottles
Steam Play settings let Steam users try Proton with non-native games. Canonical’s Ubuntu guide to configuring Proton distinguishes Valve-verified supported titles from other non-native games that users can try; it warns that unsupported titles vary greatly in functionality. A native Linux version, when available, likely works best without Proton.
Bottles offers a graphical way to manage Windows software environments, add games and stores, and choose among runners such as Wine and Proton. It can be useful for software outside Steam, but it does not make every launcher or game compatible. Its runner documentation explains how those selectable components fit into Bottles.
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Which option should you try?
| What you want to run | Starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| A Windows desktop application | Wine, or a manager such as Bottles | The exact application and version in the WineHQ application database; any required services or components. |
| A game in your Steam library | Steam Play with Steam’s supplied Proton | Whether it is a native Linux game, Valve-supported, or reported to work in its current state. |
| A game or store outside Steam | Bottles may help manage its environment | The launcher, game, and any online or multiplayer features; compatibility is not guaranteed. |
How to check before switching
- Identify the exact software. Note its version and, for games, the store or launcher it requires. Check whether you depend on multiplayer, anti-cheat, or another online service.
- For a Steam game, check its status and enable Steam Play. In Steam’s settings, enable Proton for the non-native titles you want to try. Start with Valve-supported titles; for other games, look for recent reports for that exact title. Canonical’s guide points readers to ProtonDB for game-specific information.
- For a desktop application, check WineHQ. Search the application database for the program and version rather than assuming that a report for a different release applies.
- Try an appropriate runner or manager. Use Steam’s supplied Proton for Steam games, or Wine/Bottles for general applications and other software. If a program fails, current compatibility notes or a different runner version or configuration may help, but there is no guarantee.
- Test essential software on the hardware you plan to use. Do this before replacing a working Windows installation if your job, studies, or gaming depends on a particular program.
What can go wrong?
Compatibility is specific to the software, its version, its dependencies, and sometimes the surrounding service. A game that launches may still have problems with particular features; an online service or multiplayer component can be as important to check as the game itself. Valve presents Windows-only Steam games as potentially able to work through Steam Play, not as universally compatible.
Compatibility can also change as applications, runners, and system components are updated. There is no reliable universal percentage for how much Windows software works on Linux, and the official sources cited here do not establish a general performance ranking. Judge the program you need by its current reports rather than assuming Linux will always be faster or slower.
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Can Proton run non-Steam games?
Proton is built as a tool for the Steam client. For non-Steam software, Bottles provides a way to manage environments and select runners, including Proton and Wine, but its availability does not guarantee that a particular non-Steam game or launcher will work. Check reports for the exact setup you intend to use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What games can you play?
You can play native Linux games and many Windows games that work through Proton, but the practical answer depends on the individual title. Check whether Steam marks a game as supported, then consult recent title-specific reports before counting on an unsupported game—especially if you need online or multiplayer features.
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Canonical’s Ubuntu Proton guide was last updated April 29, 2026. Compatibility reports and software support can change after that date, so confirm the status close to when you plan to install or switch.
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