Looking for the best way to install GE-Proton on Arch Linux in 2026? The answer is ProtonUp-Qt, a GUI tool that downloads and installs GE-Proton, a community-patched build of Valve's Proton, so Steam can use it as a compatibility tool for games that won't launch properly on standard Proton. Here's how to set it up on Arch Linux.
This guide is part of the MusaBase Linux Gaming series. For the complete overview, follow my Linux Gaming Roadmap: Complete Guide Series.
Hello world, and welcome back to MusaBase! In my Windows Games on Arch Linux (Part 1): Steam Setup Guide, I managed to successfully install Steam and Valve's official Proton on my Arch Linux system. But later on, I got a reality check: I could only play Steam games and some non-Steam games with this setup. So I also installed Bottles, which I covered in my Bottles on Arch Linux (Part 2): Epic, GOG, EXEs, and got to play other games and run Windows applications on Arch Linux too. But I still hit a wall because of compatibility layer limitations. Steam and Bottles each provide their own runners, Proton from Valve and Soda from Bottles, but they can't always run every Windows game or application with one click. Either the game won't launch at all, or it crashes randomly. Luckily, GE-Proton and ProtonUp-Qt solve exactly this. Today, I'm going to show you the best way to install GE-Proton on Arch Linux.
In this article, we'll cover:
- Install ProtonUp-Qt from AUR and Flatpak on Arch Linux
- Install GE-Proton with ProtonUp-Qt for Steam and Bottles
- Set GE-Proton as the default runner for games
⚡ TL;DR: ProtonUp-Qt and GE-Proton on Arch Linux (2026)
A quick reference for installing ProtonUp-Qt, then using it to install GE-Proton for both Steam and Bottles on Arch Linux.
-
Install ProtonUp-Qt (choose AUR or Flatpak):
yay -S protonup-qt # or flatpak install flathub net.davidotek.pupgui2 -
Launch ProtonUp-Qt:
protonup-qt # AUR version flatpak run net.davidotek.pupgui2 # Flatpak version -
Install GE-Proton for Steam:
Important: close Steam completely first, or the install may not register.# GUI: Select Steam → Add version → Choose GE-Proton → Select version → Install -
Install GE-Proton for Bottles:
# GUI: Select Bottles → Add Version → Compatibility: ProtonGE → choose version → Install -
Set GE-Proton as the default runner:
# Steam: game → Properties → Compatibility → Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool → select GE-Proton # Bottles: bottle → Settings → Components → Runner dropdown → select GE-Proton → confirm disclaimer
💡 For detailed step-by-step instructions with screenshots, refer to the full guide below.
What is GE-Proton and ProtonUp-Qt?
For starters, GE-Proton is a custom compatibility software layer that makes Windows games and applications run on Linux. While ProtonUp-Qt is the GUI tool that manages the version control of different Protons and helps in installing these layers on supported apps like Steam and Bottles.
What is GE-Proton?
GE-Proton, or simply called Glorious Eggroll, is a community-built fork of Valve's official Proton software. GE-Proton does things that standard Proton can't, such as:
- Specific game-breaking bug fixes
- Patched media codecs to fix unplayable in-game cutscenes or black screens.
- Upscaling implementation like AMD FSR updates.
What is ProtonUp-Qt?
ProtonUp-Qt is an open-source GUI tool that helps in installing custom versions of Proton or GE-Proton on Steam and Bottles with just a few clicks. With the help of ProtonUp-Qt, we don't need to manually navigate to certain paths, run commands, etc. We can just click, click, and install.
Prerequisites
Before continuing, make sure your system is ready. This guide assumes you already have Steam and/or Bottles installed and working.
- A working Arch Linux installation. If you haven't installed Arch yet, complete my Arch Linux installation guide first.
- Steam installed, if you plan to use GE-Proton with Steam. See my Steam and Proton setup guide.
- Bottles installed, if you plan to use GE-Proton with Bottles. See my Bottles installation guide.
- A non-root user with sudo privileges.
Step 1: How to Install ProtonUp-Qt on Arch Linux
In this step, we will install and launch ProtonUp-Qt. This is the first practical step to getting GE-Proton ready for your Windows games.
1.1: ProtonUp-Qt Installation from AUR
If you don't have an AUR helper installed yet, set up yay first, then come back here.
- Open terminal and run the following command:
yay -S protonup-qt
- The installation process is typical of how yay installs any package. When yay prompts for:
- Packages to cleanBuild?: Press Enter (skip)
- Diffs to show?: Press Enter (skip)
- Installation confirmations?: Press Enter to continue
1.2: ProtonUp-Qt Installation from Flatpak
Don't have Flatpak installed yet? See the install step in my Flatpak setup guide, the same steps apply regardless of your desktop setup.
- Run the following command:
flatpak install flathub net.davidotek.pupgui2 - Press ENTER when prompted for Required runtime for net.davidotek.pupgui2/x86_64/stable (runtime/org.kde.Platform/x86_64/X.X) found in remote flathub. Do you want to install it? [Y/n]: and Proceed with these changes to the system installation? [Y/n]: Flatpak will then start downloading and installing ProtonUp-Qt on Arch Linux.
1.3: Launch ProtonUp-Qt via AUR/Flatpak
- To launch ProtonUp-Qt, you can either open it from your application launcher or run the following command in the terminal:
protonup-qt # for AUR version flatpak run net.davidotek.pupgui2 # for Flatpak version
Step 2: Best Way to Install GE-Proton on Arch Linux (2026)
This step will guide you through installing GE-Proton for both Steam and Bottles, ensuring broad compatibility for your Windows games.
2.1: Install a Custom Proton Version in Steam Using ProtonUp-Qt
- Open ProtonUp-Qt.
- Select Steam from the Install for: dropdown (it is usually selected automatically).
- Click Add version.
- In the dialog window, choose the Compatibility tool (for example, GE-Proton).
- Select the required Proton version (in my case, GE-Proton10-27).
- Click Install and wait for the download and installation to complete.
- Once finished, the installed Proton version will appear under Installed Compatibility Tools.
Steam includes several Proton options like Proton Experimental, Sniper, and Legacy, which work fine for many games. However, some Windows titles need very specific Proton builds that are not available directly inside Steam.
This is where ProtonUp-Qt becomes necessary. It lets you install custom and community-maintained Proton builds such as GE-Proton and older Proton versions. In my case, Red Dead Redemption 2 only ran reliably after installing GE-Proton through ProtonUp-Qt, see my original RDR2 testing in Part 1 for the full comparison.
2.2: Install Custom GE-Proton on Bottles
- Open ProtonUp-Qt (install it first if you haven’t already).
- Select Bottles from the application list and click Add Version.
- From the Compatibility dropdown, choose the Runner you want to install (e.g., ProtonGE, Lutris Wine, etc.).
- Next, choose your preferred version from the Version dropdown and click Install.
- The installation may take around 2–5 minutes, depending on your internet speed.
- Once installed, the custom runner will appear under Installed Compatibility Tools on the ProtonUp-Qt home screen.
Step 3: Set GE-Proton as the Default Runner for Games
To set GE-Proton as the default for games, you need to do it manually for each game or game manager like Steam or Bottles. This manual step ensures that your chosen titles always launch with the custom Proton build you just installed.
Quick Steps for Steam
- Right-click the game in your Steam library → Properties → Compatibility.
- Enable Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
- Select your installed GE-Proton version from the dropdown.
For the full walkthrough with screenshots and ProtonDB launch option tips, see Force Proton for Windows Games in Steam in my Windows Games on Arch Linux (Part 1) guide.
Quick Steps for Bottles
- Open the Bottle → Settings → Components.
- Click the runner dropdown and select your installed custom runner.
- Confirm the Proton Disclaimer (I got it → Use Proton).
For the full walkthrough with screenshots, see Enable Custom Proton/Wine Runner on Bottles in my Bottles on Arch Linux (Part 2) guide.
Frequently Asked Questions: ProtonUp-Qt and GE-Proton
What's the difference between ProtonUp-Qt and GE-Proton?
ProtonUp-Qt is the installer/manager tool. GE-Proton is the actual Proton build it installs, a community-maintained fork with extra compatibility fixes not in Valve's official Proton. You use ProtonUp-Qt to fetch and manage GE-Proton versions, then select GE-Proton as the compatibility tool for a specific game.
What's the best way to install GE-Proton on Arch Linux?
The easiest and most reliable method is through ProtonUp-Qt, available from both the AUR and Flathub. It handles downloading, extracting, and placing GE-Proton in the correct location automatically, no manual file management required.
Do I need to close Steam before installing a Proton version?
Yes. Steam should be completely closed before installing any Proton version through ProtonUp-Qt. If Steam is still running in the background, the installation can fail or not register correctly.
Can I use ProtonUp-Qt for both Steam and Bottles at the same time?
Yes. ProtonUp-Qt manages compatibility tools separately for each supported application. You can install different GE-Proton versions for Steam and Bottles independently, without conflicts.
Should I install ProtonUp-Qt from the AUR or Flatpak?
Either works. The AUR version integrates more directly with your system, while the Flatpak version runs sandboxed and updates independently of your system packages. If you already use Flatpak for other apps, the Flatpak version keeps things consistent.
🚀 ProtonUp-Qt and GE-Proton: Fully Set Up!
You now have GE-Proton installed and ready for both Steam and Bottles, closing the gap standard Proton and Soda leave open. Between Steam, Bottles, and now GE-Proton, your Arch Linux gaming setup is genuinely complete.
If this completed your Linux gaming setup, stick around, MusaBase has plenty more Arch guides where this came from.
101 out, I'll see you in the next one! 🚀