Install Steam on Linux and Force Proton Experimental for One Game

Many Windows games will not start on Linux with the default settings. The game window may flash and close, or Steam may show “Running” for a few seconds and then stop. In most cases the fix is simple: install Steam correctly, turn on Steam Play, and force that one game to use Proton Experimental.

Proton Experimental gets the newest fixes before the stable Proton releases. It often fixes launch crashes, missing video playback, and anti-cheat updates weeks earlier. This guide walks you through a clean Steam install on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Arch based systems, and then shows you exactly how to enable Proton Experimental for a single game without breaking everything else.

Quick Answer

Install Steam from your distribution repository or the official .deb from Valve, then open Steam Settings, go to Compatibility, and enable Steam Play for all titles. After that, right-click the problem game, open Properties, go to Compatibility, check “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool,” and select Proton Experimental from the list. Restart Steam and launch the game again.

What You Need Before You Start

Before installing anything, check three basic things. They save a lot of time later.

• A 64-bit Linux installation that is fully updated
• A graphics driver that supports Vulkan — Mesa for AMD and Intel, or the proprietary driver for NVIDIA
• At least 15 GB of free space for Steam, Proton, and shader caches
• An active internet connection for the first launch and downloads

If your driver does not support Vulkan, Proton will fail even if Steam installs fine. You can test Vulkan later with a simple command, but updating your system first is the safest starting point.

How to Install Steam on Linux

Install Steam on Ubuntu and Debian

Ubuntu and Debian users have two good options. The repository version is easiest to maintain. The official package from Valve is also fine if your release is older.

1. Open a terminal with Ctrl + Alt + T.
2. Update your package lists by running sudo apt update.
3. Enable 32-bit support if it is not already on with sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 followed by sudo apt update again.
4. Install Steam with sudo apt install steam-installer on Debian, or sudo apt install steam on Ubuntu.
5. Launch Steam from your applications menu and let it download its runtime updates.

On first launch Steam will ask you to sign in or create an account. Let it finish updating completely before you install any game. Interrupting this step is a common cause of broken libraries.

Install Steam on Fedora

1. Enable the RPM Fusion repository, which provides the Steam package for Fedora.
2. Run sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm.
3. Install Steam with sudo dnf install steam.
4. Reboot once if you also installed a new NVIDIA driver in the same session.

Install Steam on Arch and Manjaro

1. Make sure the multilib repository is enabled in /etc/pacman.conf.
2. Run sudo pacman -Syu to update the system.
3. Install Steam with sudo pacman -S steam.
4. Choose the correct Vulkan provider for your GPU when prompted.

Flatpak is another valid option on any distribution. Install it with flatpak install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam if you prefer sandboxed apps. The steps inside Steam are identical after installation.

Enable Steam Play for All Games

By default, Steam Play may only be turned on for verified titles. You need the broader setting so you can choose a Proton version per game.

1. Open Steam and sign in.
2. Click Steam in the top menu, then Settings.
3. Select Compatibility in the left sidebar.
4. Turn on “Enable Steam Play for all other titles.”
5. Leave the default Proton version as the latest stable release for now.
6. Click OK and allow Steam to restart if it asks.

This global setting does not force every game to use Experimental. It only unlocks the option. Your stable games will keep using the stable Proton build, which is exactly what you want for reliability.

How to Enable Proton Experimental for One Specific Game

This is the most important part. You apply Experimental only to the game that will not launch, so other games are not affected by possible regressions.

1. Go to your Steam Library.
2. Right-click the game that fails to launch and select Properties.
3. Open the Compatibility tab on the left.
4. Check the box for “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.”
5. Open the dropdown and select Proton Experimental.
6. Close the Properties window. No extra save button is needed.
7. Restart Steam completely to clear any cached compatibility settings.
8. Launch the game and wait. The first launch with a new Proton version can take two to five minutes while shaders and prefixes are built.

If the game has a native Linux version but you want the Windows version under Proton, this same forced setting overrides the native build. That is useful when the native port is old or broken.

For more help choosing the right build before you buy, read our guide on how to check a game’s ProtonDB rating and launch options before buying on Steam.

Verify That Proton Experimental Is Actually Updating

Proton Experimental updates separately from Steam. To confirm you have the latest build:

1. Go to Library and change the filter from Games to Tools.
2. Find Proton Experimental in the list.
3. Right-click it, select Properties, then Updates, and set it to always keep this tool up to date.
4. Check the Downloads page to see if a Proton update is queued.

Valve publishes changes frequently. You can follow the official development and known issues on the Valve Proton project on GitHub, which lists supported titles and recent fixes.

What to Do If the Game Still Will Not Launch

Delete the Old Compatibility Prefix

When you switch Proton versions, the old prefix can keep broken files. Removing it forces a clean setup.

1. Close the game and Steam.
2. Open your Steam library folder, usually ~/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/.
3. Find the folder named with the game’s App ID. You can find the App ID on the game’s store page URL.
4. Delete that folder only. Do not delete the whole compatdata folder.
5. Restart Steam and launch the game again.

Your cloud saves are stored separately, but local saves inside the prefix can be lost. Back up the folder first if the game does not support Steam Cloud.

Check Vulkan Support

Run vulkaninfo --summary in a terminal after installing vulkan-tools. If you see your GPU name and a Vulkan version, support is working. If the command fails or shows only a software renderer, fix your graphics driver before trying other steps. Also run glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer" to confirm which GPU is active on hybrid laptops.

Try a Launch Option for Logging

Right-click the game, open Properties, and in the General tab add PROTON_LOG=1 %command% as a launch option. Launch once, then look for a log file in your home folder named like steam-APPID.log. The end of the log often shows a missing library or a failed video codec, which gives you a clear next step.

General help for crashes and missing dependencies is also covered in Steam Support’s guide to game troubleshooting and compatibility tools.

Common Mistakes and Useful Tips

• Using Experimental for every game: This causes random breakage after an Experimental update. Use it only for games that need it and keep others on stable Proton.
• Skipping the Steam restart: Compatibility changes sometimes do not apply until Steam fully restarts. Close it from the tray as well, not just the window.
• Installing the Snap version on Ubuntu without checking permissions: The Snap can have file access limits for external drives. If your library is on another disk, the .deb or Flatpak version is often simpler.
• Forgetting 32-bit libraries: Many games still need 32-bit components. Missing them causes an instant crash with no error message.
• Judging too fast on first launch: The first run builds a prefix and compiles shaders. Give it several minutes, especially on a slower drive.
• Mixing launch options: Add one change at a time. If you add five variables at once, you will not know which one helped or hurt.

A good tip is to note what worked. Add a short note in the game’s Properties under a custom note or keep a simple text file listing the Proton version and launch options for each problem title. It saves repeating the same tests after a reinstall.

Conclusion

Installing Steam on Linux is straightforward when you use your distribution package and let it update fully. The key fix for a game that will not launch is not to change everything, but to force Proton Experimental for that single game through its Compatibility properties. Combine that with a clean prefix, working Vulkan drivers, and a patient first launch, and most stubborn titles will start. If one game still fails, check its community reports, try the previous stable Proton as a comparison, and use the Proton log to find the exact error instead of guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Proton Experimental break my other games?

No, if you set it per game. The Properties Compatibility setting applies only to that title. Games without a forced tool continue to use your global default Proton version.

Do I need to download Proton Experimental separately?

No. Once you select it for a game, Steam downloads it automatically as a tool. You can also find it in Library under Tools and keep it updated from there.

What is the difference between Proton Experimental and Proton Hotfix?

Experimental is the ongoing development branch with broad fixes. Hotfix is a small, targeted build released for a specific new game or urgent issue. Use Hotfix only when Valve or the game’s community specifically recommends it.

My game launched once but now crashes again after an update. What should I do?

Delete the game’s compatdata prefix for its App ID and relaunch. Updates to the game or to Proton can leave old prefix files that conflict with the new version.

Can I go back to stable Proton easily?

Yes. Open the game’s Properties, go to Compatibility, and either uncheck the force box to use the global default, or select a stable version like Proton 9.0 from the dropdown.