How to install GE-Proton on Steam Deck, SteamOS, Linux

GE-Proton (formerly Proton-GE) is a compatibility layer to run Windows games on Linux platforms like SteamOS / Steam Deck that can at times give you better game compatibility than Valve's official Proton. Here's how to install it.

Confused on all the different versions of Proton? Go check out the explainer guide on that. Firstly, you need to know how to install extra apps, which we already have a guide on! But the full steps will be included below to save you clicking around.

For any time you need an on-screen keyboard on Steam Deck you can press STEAM + X.

Go into Desktop Mode

To do this on a SteamOS system you'll need to boot into Desktop Mode via the Power menu. Picture examples are from a Steam Deck with SteamOS 3.6:

Note: in Desktop Mode, you'll have a shortcut on your Desktop named "Return to Gaming Mode" to go back to the main Steam Gaming Mode interface.

Once in Desktop Mode you're going to want to search for an app called Discover. Do this by tapping the bottom left button to open the menu on the desktop. Discover may also show up on the bottom bar as a blue shopping bag icon.

Install ProtonUp-Qt

Now we want an app called ProtonUp-Qt, which allows you to easily install various different compatibility layers with a few quick button presses. Search for ProtonUp-Qt inside Discover.

Load ProtonUp-Qt

Once installed you can launch it from inside Discover, and it will also show up in the bottom left app menu inside the Utilities menu.

Ensure Steam is selected at the top, which it should be as it's the default. Then click Add version. This will bring up a list, where you can select GE-Proton.

Here just tap Install. Then wait for it to be done so it shows in the main list.

That's GE-Proton installed, but now you need to actually use it.

You'll need to either close and reload Steam for it to show up, or just boot back into Gaming Mode where it will also show then up.

Changing a game to use GE-Proton

Inside Gaming Mode you can find any game in your Library, with Path of Exile 2 as my example, and go into the Properties (the little cog icon highlighted on the right).

From here go to the Compatibility menu on the left, and put a tick in the box on the right where it says "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" to allow you to select a different version of Proton for this game.

Doing this will show the drop-down box that in my screenshot below currently says Proton 9.0-4. Tap it and then it will open the drop-down box containing all versions of Proton you currently have installed.

After that, you're done!

That's all you need to do to install GE-Proton and select it on a specific game.

Updating GE-Proton

To update GE-Proton, it's a manual process you need to do yourself each time a new version of it is released. You might not need to do this though, if your game continues working well with your currently selected version. But if you do need to, just repeat the steps above for the new version.