How to download, install, configure and play Steam on Linux

Gaming on Linux using Steam is smoother and more accessible than ever, thanks to Valve’s Proton compatibility layer. Proton dynamically translates Windows DirectX/Win32 calls into Vulkan and Linux system calls, allowing you to play the vast majority of Windows games seamlessly alongside native Linux titles.

1.Install Steam:Select Flatpak or your distribution's native package manager.

Depending on your Linux distribution, choose one of the following recommended installation methods:

• Option A: Universal Flatpak (Recommended for sandboxing & immutable distros)

Bash

flatpak install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam

• Option B: Ubuntu / Debian

Bash

sudo apt update && sudo apt install steam

• Option C: Fedora

  First, enable the RPM Fusion non-free repository if you haven't already:

Bash

sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
sudo dnf install steam

• Option D: Arch Linux / Manjaro

  Ensure the multilib repository is enabled in /etc/pacman.conf, then run:

Bash

sudo pacman -S steam

2.Verify Graphics Drivers:Prerequisite for Vulkan & Proton execution.

Steam relies heavily on Vulkan for game translation. Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date:

• AMD / Intel: Open-source Mesa drivers are pre-installed on almost all distributions. No additional setup is required.

• NVIDIA: Ensure you are using the official proprietary NVIDIA drivers (v550+ or newer) installed via your distribution's driver manager.

3.Configure Steam Play (Enable Proton):Crucial step to run Windows games on Linux.

1. Launch Steam and log into your account.

2. Click on Steam in the top-left menu bar and open Settings.

3. Navigate to the Compatibility tab on the left sidebar.

4. Toggle on Enable Steam Play for supported titles.

5. Toggle on Enable Steam Play for all other titles.

6. Under Run other titles with, select Proton Experimental or the latest stable version (e.g., Proton 9.0 or 10.0).

7. Click OK and restart Steam if prompted.

4.Install and Play Games:

1. Go to your Library.

2. Click Install on any game—Steam will automatically download the game files along with necessary Proton translation layers and pre-compiled shader caches.

3. Click Play once the download completes.

Post-Installation Tips & Troubleshooting

1. Per-Game Proton Configuration

If a specific game fails to launch or encounters visual glitches, you can force it to use a different compatibility version:

1. Right-click the game in your Steam Library and select Properties.

2. Go to the Compatibility tab.

3. Check Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.

4. Try switching to Proton Hotfix, an older version, or GE-Proton (Proton GloriousEggroll).

2. Format Drives as EXT4 or BTRFS

If you store games on a secondary hard drive or SSD, ensure the drive is formatted with a native Linux file system like EXT4 or BTRFS. Storing and launching games from an NTFS (Windows) partition often leads to file permission errors and broken Wine prefixes.

3. Check Game Compatibility

Before buying or installing Windows titles, search for them on ProtonDB. The community provides reports, performance ratings (Platinum, Gold, Silver), and specific launch options for thousands of games.

Share on Google Plus

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.