How To Install Wine On Steam Deck

I have been thoroughly enjoying playing games on my Steam Deck and have decided to enhance my gaming experience by installing Wine. Wine is a compatibility tool that enables the use of Windows applications on Linux-based systems, such as the Steam Deck. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Wine on your Steam Deck.

Before we dive into the installation process, it’s worth noting that Wine is not officially supported on the Steam Deck. While the Steam Deck runs on SteamOS, which is based on Linux, it has its own unique hardware and software configuration. Therefore, there may be some compatibility issues or limitations when trying to run certain Windows applications or games using Wine. With that being said, let’s get started!

Step 1: Enable Proton Experimental

Proton is a software component developed by Valve that allows you to run Windows games on Linux through Steam. While it’s not exactly Wine, it builds upon Wine and includes additional enhancements specifically for gaming. To enable Proton Experimental on your Steam Deck, follow these steps:

1. Launch Steam on your Steam Deck.
2. Go to “Steam” in the top menu and select “Settings”.
3. In the Settings menu, click on the “Steam Play” tab.
4. Check the box that says “Enable Steam Play for supported titles”.
5. Under “Advanced”, select “Proton Experimental” from the drop-down menu.
6. Click “OK” to save the settings.
7. Restart Steam for the changes to take effect.

Step 2: Install Wine

Now that Proton Experimental is enabled, we can proceed with installing Wine on your Steam Deck. Follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal on your Steam Deck by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.
2. Enter the following command to add Wine’s repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa

1. Press Enter to confirm adding the repository.
2. Next, update the package list by running the command:

sudo apt update

1. Once the package list is updated, install Wine by running the command:

sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable

During the installation process, you may be prompted to confirm the installation and accept the license agreement. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

Step 3: Configure Wine

After Wine is installed, we need to configure it to optimize its performance on the Steam Deck. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open a terminal and run the following command to launch Wine’s Configuration window:

winecfg

1. In the Configuration window, you can adjust various settings such as audio, graphics, and Windows version compatibility. Take some time to explore these settings and make adjustments according to your preferences and needs.
2. Once you’re done configuring Wine, click “OK” to save the changes.

Step 4: Test Wine with Steam Games

Now that Wine is installed and configured, it’s time to test it out with some Steam games. Here’s how:

1. Launch Steam and go to your library.
2. Select a Windows game that you want to play on your Steam Deck.
3. Click on the “Play” button to start the game.
4. If everything is configured correctly, the game should launch and run smoothly on your Steam Deck. However, keep in mind that not all games may be compatible or perform optimally using Wine. Experiment with different games and settings to find the best combination for your Steam Deck.

That’s it! You’ve successfully installed Wine on your Steam Deck and can now enjoy a wider range of Windows games on your Linux-based gaming handheld. Remember to keep an eye out for future updates and improvements to Wine and Proton, as they may further enhance your gaming experience on the Steam Deck.

Happy gaming!