How to install other Proton variants

Using a different Proton variant on Steam

If you’re gaming on Linux, chances are you’re already familiar with Proton – the compatibility layer that makes it possible to run Windows games on Steam. By default, Steam ships with a few official Proton builds, but sometimes you may want to try a different variant for better compatibility or performance. That’s where ProtonPlus comes in. This handy tool makes it easy to download, manage, and use other Proton variants without having to dig around in system folders.

What you need

The first step is understanding what ProtonPlus actually does. ProtonPlus is a simple graphical application that lets you install and manage multiple Proton variants. Instead of manually downloading Proton variants and placing them in the right directories, ProtonPlus automates the process for you.

The app is compatible with Steam, Lutris, Heroic Games Launcher and others, which means you can use it across the most popular Linux gaming platforms. That flexibility is useful because some games may work better with a specific Proton variant, and with ProtonPlus you can easily switch between them depending on which launcher you’re using.

How to use ProtonPlus

Using ProtonPlus is straightforward. Once installed, you open the app and are greeted with a clean interface that lists available Proton variants. From there, you can select the version you want and download it directly through the app. ProtonPlus handles the installation automatically, placing everything in the correct location so you don’t have to.

After installing a Proton version, you’ll see it available in your game launcher’s compatibility settings after restarting the game launcher. For example, in Steam you can go to a game’s properties, choose the compatibility tab, and select the new Proton version you just installed. The same goes for Heroic and Lutris, where ProtonPlus-managed versions will also appear as selectable options.

Screenshots:

ProtonPlus on FlatHub

Open ProtonPlus

Select a Proton variant

Install version of Proton variant

Restart game launcher and select Proton version from dropdown selection

Where to find ProtonPlus

ProtonPlus is actively developed and available through several repositories. If you’re on Arch Linux, you can find it in the AUR. Fedora users can grab it through COPR. It’s also available in various distro-specific community repos.

Importantly, the developers officially maintain a FlatHub package, which makes ProtonPlus accessible on almost any Linux distribution. If you’re unsure which method to choose, FlatHub is the recommended way to install ProtonPlus, since it ensures you always get the latest stable release directly from the maintainers.

ProtonPlus is available on these repos by other maintainers:

• Arch Linux (AUR) (Maintained by yochananmarqos)

• Fedora (COPR) (Maintained by wehagy)

• NixOS (MyNixOS) (Maintained by Seth)

• Ubuntu (Pacstall) (Maintained by Vysp3r)

• openSUSE (Maintained by rrahl0)

• Void (Maintained by xJayMorex)