How to Use PlayOnLinux to Install Windows Apps on Linux

Unlike Wine, which requires command-line knowledge and manual configuration, some programs provide a user-friendly graphical interface that streamlines the entire process. One such program is PlayOnLinux. Let’s find out what it is and whether it’s still a viable way to handle Windows applications on Linux.

What Is PlayOnLinux?

PlayOnLinux serves as a graphical front-end for Wine, which is a compatibility layer that allows you to enjoy Windows software on Linux without installing a full Windows virtual machine. PlayOnLInux is especially appealing if, like me, you find Wine’s command-line complexity daunting.

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What makes PlayOnLinux special is its approach to application management. Instead of using a single Wine environment for all your Windows programs—which often leads to conflicts—PlayOnLinux creates separate Wine environments for each application. This isolation ensures that if one Windows program requires a specific Wine configuration or version, it won’t interfere with others.

Furthermore, PlayOnLinux includes scripts for many popular Windows games and applications. These scripts automate the installation process, handling tweaks and settings specific to each program, making installation a breeze.

Getting Started With PlayOnLinux

The PlayOnLinux is present in the repositories of various major Linux distributions. However, if you prefer the most current version, you can download the .deb file from the PlayOnLinux download page.

For example, for Ubuntu and Debian-based Distributions (like Linux Mint and Pop!_OS), use APT:

sudo apt install playonlinux

Fedora users can use DNF, the modern package manager, to install PlayOnLinux.

sudo dnf install playonlinux

For Arch Linux and Arch-based distributions, run:

sudo pacman -S playonlinux

Additionally, for all distributions, PlayOnLinux is available via Flatpak, offering a universal installation method.

flatpak install flathub com.playonlinux.PlayOnLinux4

It’s also recommended to add 32-bit Wine support if you’re using a 64-bit system, as certain Windows applications run solely on 32-bit Wine. You can enable 32-bit Wine support by running these commands:

dpkg --add-architecture i386 
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wine64 wine32

Once installed, you should be able to find PlayOnLinux in your Applications menu.

When you open it for the first time, you’ll be greeted by the PlayOnLinux main window. It’s a pretty straightforward interface with buttons like “Install a Program,” “Configure Wine,” and “Run.”

And that’s it! PlayOnLinux is installed and ready to go on your Linux system.

Install and Run Windows Program

Now, let’s actually use PlayOnLinux to run a Windows program. To keep things simple and relatable, let’s take a classic example: Notepad++, a popular text editor for Windows.

Open PlayOnLinux from your Applications menu. In the main window, you’ll see a button labeled Install a Program or Install. Click on that.

A new window will pop up, titled PlayOnLinux Install Menu. Here, you can either search for a program by name or navigate via categories. In the search bar at the top, type Notepad and press Enter. You should see Notepad++ appear in the list of applications. Click on Notepad Plus Plus to select it, and then click Install.

PlayOnLinux will now start a wizard to navigate you along the installation process. It might ask you a few questions, and it will likely download the necessary Wine components if it hasn’t already. Just go with the on-screen directives. It’s usually pretty self-explanatory.

Once the installation is complete, you should see Notepad++ listed in the main PlayOnLinux window. To run it, simply select Notepad++ in the PlayOnLinux window and click the Run button.

That’s it! Notepad++ should launch and run just like a native Linux application. You can now use it to edit text files, code, and do all the things you’d normally do with Notepad++.

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What If Your Program Isn’t Listed?

If the Windows program you want to install isn’t in PlayOnLinux’s list of predefined scripts, don’t worry! You can still install it. In the PlayOnLinux Install window, look for the option “Install a Non-Listed Program” (usually at the bottom-left). Click on it.

Then follow the installation wizard and provide the installer file of your Windows program (usually an EXE file). PlayOnLinux will then create a Wine prefix and let you run the installer within that prefix.

Once the installation is complete, you can run the program the same way you did earlier from the PlayOnLinux main window. You can also create desktop shortcuts on your Linux desktop and run your Windows program directly from there.

Configuring Wine Settings Per Application

You can configure Wine settings for each installed application to optimize performance or resolve compatibility issues. To configure Wine settings for a specific program in PlayOnLinux, first, select the Program you want to configure from the list of installed applications. Then click Configure.

In this window, you can adjust various settings, such as, Windows version, display settings, or any other advanced options. For example, you can change the Wine version for a specific program, emulate different Windows versions (e.g., Windows XP, 7) to match application requirements or enable/disable OpenGL and others.

PlayOnLinux vs. Modern Alternatives (Bottles and Heroic)

PlayOnLinux is known for its simplicity and straightforward interface; it has been a favorite for years. The familiar, wizard-driven setup makes it accessible even to newcomers. But is it still viable today? Newer alternatives like Bottles are considered very easy to use, even for beginners. It simplifies the creation and management of Wine environments (which it calls Bottles). Also, creating a new Bottle for an application is very straightforward.

Just like PlayOnLinux, Bottles also is highly flexible. It lets you easily switch between different Wine versions and also provides more granular control over Wine settings and dependencies.

Heroic Games Launcher, on the other hand, is primarily focused on gaming, but you can also use it to install and run any Windows apps on Linux using an EXE installation file. For example, to run Notepad++, you need to download its EXE file and manually add it to Heroic Launcher as a custom game using the Add Game option. You also need to configure it to use Wine or Proton in the game’s settings within Heroic before you start using it.

One thing that frustrated me about PlayOnLinux is that its performance largely depends on the underlying Wine versions. Sometimes, while installing new apps, the Wine version crashes, requiring manual tweaks to achieve optimal performance. However, modern alternatives like Bottles and Heroic often leverage more recent advancements in Wine and Proton, which can translate to smoother performance and better support for cutting-edge applications and games.

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Also, most modern alternatives lack the extensive script database that PlayOnLinux has for automated installations. Thus, if you are not into automated installation, then you might need to consider Bottles.

For me, PlayOnLinux remains a viable option for running Windows applications on Linux, because of familiarity with its interface, extensive script database and isolated environments.