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