How to Run Windows Apps on Linux
Run Windows software on Linux using Wine, Bottles, and compatibility layers — no dual boot required.
Prerequisites
- A Linux distribution installed
- Basic terminal knowledge
Understand compatibility layers
Linux can't run .exe files natively, but Wine (Wine Is Not an Emulator) translates Windows system calls to Linux ones in real time. It's not a virtual machine — apps run at near-native speed. Tools like Bottles and Lutris build on top of Wine to make things easier.
Install Wine
Install Wine from your distribution's repositories. The winetricks package adds common Windows libraries that many apps need.
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 sudo apt update sudo apt install wine64 wine32 winetricks
Run a Windows program with Wine
Once Wine is installed, you can run most .exe files directly. Wine creates a fake C:\ drive in your home folder at ~/.wine/drive_c/.
wine setup.exe # Or run an already-installed program: wine ~/.wine/drive_c/Program\ Files/MyApp/app.exe
Install Bottles (recommended GUI)
Bottles is a modern, user-friendly app that manages Wine environments for you. It lets you create isolated "bottles" for different apps, each with its own configuration.
flatpak install flathub com.usebottles.bottles flatpak run com.usebottles.bottles
Use Lutris for games
Lutris is a game manager that automates the setup of Windows games on Linux. It has community-maintained install scripts for thousands of games, handling Wine versions, dependencies, and tweaks automatically.
sudo apt install lutris
Check app compatibility
Not every Windows app works perfectly. Before trying, check these resources:
- WineHQ AppDB (appdb.winehq.org) — rates thousands of apps from Platinum to Garbage
- ProtonDB (protondb.com) — specifically for Steam games via Proton
- Bottles app database — community reports inside the Bottles app
When to use a virtual machine instead
Some apps (especially those with anti-cheat, DRM, or deep Windows integration) won't work in Wine. For those, a Windows virtual machine is the better option. VirtualBox is free and works well for non-gaming apps.
sudo apt install virtualbox