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

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Run your Windows programs on Linux with Wine so you don’t have to dual boot

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Will EXE files run on Linux?

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How to Download Wine

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How to Run an EXE File

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Running Windows Software

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EXE Equivalent

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Video

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Tips

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

How to Run EXE Files on Linux

You can run an EXE file on your Linux system using a free compatibility layer called Wine. To install Wine, update your system repositories, type sudo apt-get install wine64 (replace with wine32 if using a 32-bit version of Linux), and then press Enter. Once installed, you can run a Windows EXE file by typing wine program_name.exe

Section 1 of 5:

Will EXE files run on Linux?

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Yes, you can run .exe files on Linux through Wine (a free program). Wine is a compatibility layer that acts between the operating system (Linux) and the file (written for Windows).^{[1]XResearch source} It is the only way to run .exe files without a copy of Windows.^{[2]XResearch 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).
- While you can run many EXE files on Linux with Wine, some may not work as expected, or not at all.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Download Wine

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Open your Linux terminal and type these commands one by one. Start by updating the Linux kernel repositories. To do so, type sudo apt update and press ↵ Enter.^{[3]XResearch source} When prompted, enter your password and press ↵ Enter. Now you’re ready to enter the commands to download Wine:^{[4]XResearch source}
- If you're using a 64-bit version of Linux (you can use the lscpu command to check), type sudo apt-get install wine64 and press ↵ Enter
- If you have a 32-bit version, type sudo apt-get install wine32 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.

Section 3 of 5:

How to Run an EXE File

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Navigate to the directory with the file, then open the file with Wine. In the terminal, navigate to the directory containing the file with the command cd <directory name>.^{[5]XResearch source} Then, run the file with the command wine <filename>.exe.
- For instance, if the file example.exe were stored on your desktop, you’d follow this procedure:^{[6]XResearch source}
  - cd Desktop/ and press ↵ Enter
  - wine example.exe and press ↵ Enter
- Some Windows EXE files will not run without some configuration tweaks. If you're seeing an error message or otherwise having trouble getting an EXE to run, check the Wine Application DB to find out about compatibility settings and configuration for specific Windows apps.^{[7]XResearch source}

Section 4 of 5:

How to Run Windows Software on Linux

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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.
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Choose a virtual machine for slightly better performance. Virtual machines are programs that run a full copy of Windows in their own window. This approach is less buggy than running apps through Wine because you technically run them in their native environment (Windows). The downside is that you’ll be running two operating systems (Linux and Windows) simultaneously, so your PC’s performance might suffer.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Popular virtual machines include: VirtualBox, VMware, and Linux’s built-in KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine).^{[9]XResearch 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 many video games.
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.^{[10]XResearch source}
WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) is an environment that supports running Linux tools and apps with a native Linux kernel through a hypervisor layer. WSL requires less setup to get started as well.^{[11]XResearch source}

Section 5 of 5:

What is the `.exe` equivalent in Linux?

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Linux does not have a direct .exe equivalent. For Windows, .exe indicates an executable file, meaning the operating system can run the file. Linux doesn’t use file extensions to indicate which files are executable. Instead, it uses permissions (the basic permissions are read r, write w, and execute x). Permissions determine which files are executable.^{[12]XResearch source} As a result, Linux files can have different extensions (ex. .sh) or no file extensions and still be executable.^{[13]XResearch source} Here’s how to change file permissions and run a file:
- 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.