How do I install and configure MangoHud and Feral GameMode in Steam on Linux?

MangoHud (a performance overlay for tracking FPS, temperatures, CPU/GPU load, and RAM usage) and Feral GameMode (a daemon that optimizes your system CPU governor, GPU performance states, and process priority while gaming) work together seamlessly on Linux.

Step 1: Install MangoHud and GameMode

Install both tools using your distribution’s package manager or Flatpak runtime.

Option A: Native Package Installation

• Arch Linux / Manjaro:

  Bash

  sudo pacman -S mangohud gamemode lib32-gamemode lib32-mangohud
  

  (Installing lib32- packages ensures 32-bit games work with the overlay and optimization daemon).

• Fedora:

  Bash

  sudo dnf install mangohud gamemode
  

• Ubuntu / Debian / Pop!_OS:

  Bash

  sudo apt update && sudo apt install mangohud gamemode
  

Option B: Flatpak Steam Installation

If you run Steam as a Flatpak, install the MangoHud Flatpak extension matching your runtime:

Bash

flatpak install flathub org.freedesktop.Platform.VulkanLayer.MangoHud

(GameMode integration works automatically inside Flatpak Steam if gamemode is installed on your host system).

Step 2: Enable in Steam Launch Options

You can apply GameMode and MangoHud per game, or globally across your entire Steam library.

Per-Game Launch Option

1. Open Steam, right-click any game in your library, and select Properties.

2. Under the General tab, scroll down to Launch Options.

3. Add the following command:

Plaintext

gamemoderun mangohud %command%

• What this does:

  • gamemoderun: Forces the CPU into performance mode, adjusts thread priority, and maximizes GPU clock states for the duration of the game session.

  • mangohud: Injects the performance overlay on top of the game's Vulkan/OpenGL renderer.

  • %command%: Steam's placeholder for the actual game executable.

Enabling Globally for All Steam Games

If you want MangoHud enabled for all Vulkan games automatically without typing it into launch options:

Bash

export MANGOHUD=1

(You can place export MANGOHUD=1 in your ~/.profile or environment variables, or control it globally via Goverlay).

Step 3: Configure MangoHud

By default, MangoHud displays a small FPS and hardware usage counter in the top-left corner. You can customize its layout, colors, keybindings, and metrics.

Method A: Graphical Configuration via Goverlay (Recommended)

Goverlay is a third-party GUI tool specifically designed to customize MangoHud presets visually.

• Install Goverlay:

  • Flatpak: flatpak install flathub io.github.benjamimgois.goverlay

  • Arch: sudo pacman -S goverlay

  • Fedora: sudo dnf install goverlay

Launch Goverlay, toggle the metrics you want (e.g., GPU temp, CPU clock, frame timing graph, custom position), and click Save.

Method B: Manual Configuration File

1. Create the configuration folder:

   Bash

   mkdir -p ~/.config/MangoHud/
   

2. Create or edit ~/.config/MangoHud/MangoHud.conf:

   Bash

   nano ~/.config/MangoHud/MangoHud.conf
   

3. Paste an example configuration:

   Ini, TOML

   ### Performance & Temps
   fps
   frame_timing
   cpu_stats
   cpu_temp
   gpu_stats
   gpu_temp
   ram
   vram
   
   ### Display & Position
   position=top-left
   font_size=24
   round_corners=10
   background_alpha=0.5
   
   ### Keybindings
   toggle_hud=Shift_R+F12
   toggle_logging=Shift_L+F2
   

Step 4: Verify GameMode is Active

To verify that Feral GameMode is successfully requesting performance mode when a game launches:

1. Launch your game with gamemoderun in its launch options.

2. Alt-Tab to a terminal and run:

   Bash

   gamemoded -s
   

3. If configured correctly, the output will state:

   Plaintext

   gamemode is active

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About Giampaolo Rossi.

Fond of computer and video games. Stay informed of the latest news on games for Linux and Android. The future of gaming is in Linux. All you need to know about How to play Windows games on Linux.