📖 How to

How to Install Wine on Arch Linux and Its Derivatives

Tirsasaki

18 Feb 2025 • 2 min read

Wine is a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows applications on Linux. If you are using Arch Linux or its derivatives like Manjaro, installing Wine is straightforward. This guide will walk you through the installation process and provide additional tips for optimal performance.

Prerequisites

Before installing Wine, make sure your system is up to date. Open a terminal and run:

sudo pacman -Syu

This ensures that all packages are updated to their latest versions.

Installing Wine on Arch Linux

Wine is available in the official Arch Linux repositories. To install it, run:

sudo pacman -S wine wine-mono wine-gecko winetricks

Explanation of Installed Packages:

wine: The main Wine package.
wine-mono: Used for running .NET applications.
wine-gecko: Required for applications that depend on Internet Explorer components.
winetricks: A helper script to install libraries and dependencies.

Configuring Wine

After installation, you should configure Wine using:

winecfg

This will create a ~/.wine directory and open the Wine configuration tool where you can set the Windows version and other preferences.

Installing 32-bit Support (Multilib)

If you are running a 64-bit system and need 32-bit support, ensure that the multilib repository is enabled. Open /etc/pacman.conf and uncomment the following lines:

[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

Then, update your package database and install the necessary libraries:

sudo pacman -Syu
sudo pacman -S lib32-mesa lib32-alsa-plugins lib32-libpulse

Running Windows Applications

To run a Windows executable, use:

wine application.exe

For example, to install Notepad++:

wine npp.8.5.2.Installer.exe

Additional Tips

Using a Wine Prefix

A Wine prefix allows you to create isolated environments for different applications. To create a new prefix:

WINEPREFIX=~/wine-applications/app1 winecfg

This is useful for keeping applications separate to prevent conflicts.

Installing DXVK for Better Performance

DXVK provides better DirectX support. To install it:

sudo pacman -S dxvk-bin
WINEPREFIX=~/.wine setup_dxvk install

Enabling Fonts and UI Enhancements

Some applications may look better with additional fonts. Install them using:

winetricks allfonts

Conclusion

Installing Wine on Arch Linux and its derivatives is a simple process that allows you to run Windows applications efficiently. By enabling multilib support, using Wine prefixes, and installing DXVK, you can significantly enhance compatibility and performance.