Can you run windows software on linux

How can I install Windows software or games?

.exe files are not binary-compatible with Ubuntu. There are, however, compatibility layers for Linux, such as Wine , that are capable of running .exe.

Detailed answer and solutions

The underlying problem:

Ubuntu is a completely different system than MS Windows. Not only it looks differently, but it also uses different mechanisms for its core functions.

The problem with .exe files is that they are specific to Windows. No other system is capable of running them, because their contents are designed to work on a Microsoft’s system. Linux uses different standards, different concepts, and therefore Ubuntu applications need to be adapted to them to work correctly.

If you have just migrated from Windows and are doing your baby steps with Ubuntu, you may be indeed surprised that .exe files fail to run. There may be different symptoms, either an error message may appear, or there may be no effect at all when double-clicking an .exe. This all happens, because Ubuntu has no idea what should it do to run that file. Ubuntu is not knowledgeable about how MS Windows works «behind the curtain», and therefore it can’t execute the code that’s within them. In technical jargon, one says that Windows and Linux executables are not binary-compatible.

Looking for alternatives

The first thing you should do is to realise that most likely you do not want to run that .exe file. Most Windows applications you are used to have their Ubuntu alternatives in Ubuntu Software Center.

Therefore the very first step when you try to run an .exe file is to check whether there is a Ubuntu version of the same application (like Firefox — it has both a Windows and Ubuntu edition), or a close alternative, which is not the same app, but does 99% the same stuff. For example, if you want to compose a document, instead of MS Office you will want to use LibreOffice.

How can I find an alternative?

1. Search Ubuntu Software Center.
   • Launch the Ubuntu Software Center, type in the search box what kind of application you are looking for. For example, typing in «photoshop» finds The GIMP, which is a great advanced image editing tool, and is a great substitute for Adobe Photoshop.
   • Many Windows applications are also available for Ubuntu, and have their identical version in Ubuntu Software Center, which is the preferred way of installing software in Ubuntu.
2. Search Ask Ubuntu (this very site).
   • There are many questions here that explain what applications can be used as substitutes. Also, do not forget to ask a question if you need software-recommendation.
3. This Ubuntu Help page contains great tips when seeking for alternatives.
4. http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Alternatives
5. http://alternativeto.net/

Okay, but not all applications have alternatives. There are a number of cases where you will want to run the .exe program anyway. Examples include:

• You are trying to run an application of which alternative makes no sense. In case of most video games you will want to run them and not an alternative.
• You may want to run the original application instead of an alternative, because the alternative is not good enough. For example, many people consider Photoshop to be a much better editor than The GIMP.
• This is a very Windows-specific program, that makes little sense on Linux.

Luckily, you can get .exe files to run on Ubuntu.

Running .exe files on Ubuntu with WINE

What is Wine? Well, technically it’s a compatibility layer. What it means is that it provides an environment similar to Windows to any .exe application you try to run. Therefore, with WINE .exe files will run on Ubuntu.

WINE is not installed by default. You can get it either by:

• Searching for «wine» in Ubuntu Software Center.
• Running the command: sudo apt-get install wine .

Details on installing WINE can be found in this question.

Okay, so I installed WINE. Now what?

Proceed to launching your .exe file! Double-click it, and with a bit of luck everything will seem like on Windows. Voilà!

WARNING: Not all applications will behave correctly when run with WINE. WINE is by no means perfect, and because it pretends to be a Windows environment instead of actually being a real one, some applications may malfunction. Common problems may include incorrectly displayed fields, fullscreen issues with video games, copy-protection problems. Some of them can be solved with litte hassle, make sure to check the WINE application database and use google to find hints in case your .exe does not work correctly.

Running Windows applications on Ubuntu with PlayOnLinux

There is another tool you may like which aids you in running Windows applications.

It’s called PlayOnLinux (website) and it supports quite a wide range of software (browse).

What it does is it runs a specific version of Wine which is known to work best with the application you are willing to run. It also installs additional paths to provide maximum compatibility with Ubuntu. But you don’t need to know about that; everything is done automatically.

Because of that, PlayOnLinux tends to provide the best results in case of running a widely known piece of software, including many video games.

Installing PlayOnLinux:

Using PlayOnLinux:

Instead of double-clicking the .exe (which launches it with WINE), run PlayOnLinux application. Select «Install» button on the toolbar, and choose what application you wish to install. PlayOnLinux will guide you through the installation process (of course you will need installation media).

Once it’s done, your installed application will be displayed in PlayOnLinux main window. Double click to launch it!

Commercial solutions

If you are not satisfied with WINE, there are some commercial softwares that runs Windows applications on Linux. One of the most well-known is CrossOver. In some cases it has significantly better results, yet it is not available for free.

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Can Linux Run .exe Files? How to Run Windows Software on Linux

This article was co-authored by Garnik Ovsepyan and by wikiHow staff writer, Kira Jan. Garnik Ovsepyan is a Computer Specialist and the Owner of HeliX PC based in Burbank, California. With over 25 years of experience, Garnik specializes in custom computer builds, computer repairs, virus removal, computer tune-ups, hardware and software troubleshooting and installations, diagnostics, and data backup and recovery.

There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 260,196 times.

You don’t have to sacrifice the appeal of Windows software for the stability, security, customizability, and old-school cool of Linux. This wikiHow guide will walk you through running Windows executable (EXE) applications and games on any Linux distribution, including Ubuntu, Kali Linux, and CentOS.

Will .exe files run on Linux?

Yes, you can run .exe files on Linux through Wine (a free software). Wine is a compatibility layer that acts between the operating system (Linux) and the file (written for Windows). [1] X Research source It is the only way to run .exe files without a copy of Windows. [2] X Research source Since .exe files are native to Windows operating systems, to run them, you must have a compatibility layer (like Wine) or copy of Windows via a Windows emulator (which means you’ll no longer solely be using Linux).

How do I download Wine?

• sudo apt-get install wine and press ↵ Enter
• sudo apt-get install wine32 and press ↵ Enter
• sudo apt-get install libwine and press ↵ Enter
• Even though the terminal might look intimidating, don’t worry! You’re unlikely to mess anything up, and all you have to do is copy these commands.

How do I run .exe files on Linux?

How can I run Windows software on Linux?

Use Wine for single applications. This is the only option for running software designed for Windows without a true version of Windows. Wine is open-source, free software that recreates just enough of Windows to run Windows programs. As a result, you might encounter more bugs and lower performance running software through Wine. [6] X Research source

• Popular virtual machines include: VirtualBox, VMware, and Linux’s built-in KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine). [8] X Research source
• Because of the computing power required to run both Linux and Windows, this approach works great for productivity apps like Microsoft Office, but not great for graphics/computing-intensive programs like video games.

Use dual-booting to run Windows games and complex applications. Dual-booting means you’ll reboot your computer into Windows so the application can run in its native environment. This method is best for games or applications that need high performance. Unfortunately, it does mean you’ll have to reboot your machine every time you want to run Windows software. [9] X Research source

Consider using WSL to get the best out of both Windows and Linux. WSL is an environment that supports running of Linux tools and apps with a native Linux kernel through a hypervisor layer. WSL requires less set up to get started as well.

What is the .exe equivalent in Linux?

• Type chmod +x file-name.run in the command line to change the file permission to “executable.”
• Type ./file-name.run to execute the file.
• If an error pops up, type sudo ./file-name.run . Typing sudo allows you to run the file as an admin. Just be careful, since sudo allows you to make changes to your system.
• Software installation will often require you to type sudo .

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