Documentation

Getting Started

Welcome to StartWine-Launcher! This guide will help you quickly get started with the application.

What is StartWine-Launcher?

StartWine-Launcher is a graphical launcher for running Windows applications and games on Linux. It uses Wine, Proton-GE and Steam Proton to ensure maximum compatibility.

• User-friendly GUI without the need to use the terminal
• Support for multiple Wine and Proton versions
• Automatic configuration of prefixes and dependencies
• Library of ready-made recipes for popular applications

System Requirements

First Launch

After installation, StartWine-Launcher will automatically create the necessary directory structure and download basic components. Upon first launch you will see:

1. Main window with the application library
2. Sidebar for navigation
3. Option to add a new application or game

Installation

StartWine-Launcher is easily installed with a single command on any Linux distribution.

Quick Installation

Run one of the following commands in the terminal:

For Ubuntu (if installation fails)

Before installation, run:

Via AUR (Arch Linux)

Clone the repository:

Build and install the package.

Manual Installation

Download the latest release from GitHub, HuggingFace or Repo SW and extract the archive.

Make the file executable:

Run by double-clicking or with the command:

What happens during installation?

Updating

StartWine-Launcher automatically checks for updates at startup and offers to install the new version.

Uninstallation

To uninstall StartWine-Launcher, you can use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Through the application menu

Find the StartWine shortcut in your system's application menu, right-click and select "Uninstall".

Method 2: Manually

Delete the folder ~/.local/share/StartWine/ and the application shortcut.

Directory Structure

Understanding the file and folder structure of StartWine-Launcher will help you efficiently manage applications and prefixes.

Main Directory

All StartWine-Launcher files are stored in the user's home directory:

This folder contains all necessary components, settings and application data.

Directory Structure

Directory Descriptions

data/

Contains all application data: Wine prefixes, Wine/Proton versions, configuration files, logs and cache. This is the main working directory of StartWine-Launcher, where all components and settings are stored.

Games/

Directory for installing games and applications. Stores files of installed Windows programs. Each game or application can have its own subdirectory with executable files and resources.

Shortcuts/

Contains shortcuts for quick application launch. StartWine-Launcher automatically creates shortcuts for added applications that can be used to launch from the system menu or desktop.

data/ Structure

The data/ directory contains all technical components and application data:

data/ Subdirectory Descriptions

app_config/

Application configuration files. Stores settings for each added application, including launch parameters, environment variables and user preferences.

app_patches/

Patches and modifications for applications. Contains special patches and fixes to improve compatibility of specific applications.

app_saves/

Backups of game saves and application data. Contains three main elements:

• Public/ - shared files and saves
• steamuser/ - saves for Steam games
• user - symbolic link to user's home directory

img/

Images, icons and themes. Stores all graphic resources for the interface:

• app_icons/ - application icons (default, heroes, horizontal, vertical)
• gui_icons/ - system interface icons (controller, hicolor) in PNG and SVG formats
• launcher_icons/ - launcher icons (heroes, horizontal, install_launchers, vertical)
• sw_themes/ - design themes (background, css, sounds) with custom, dark, light options

pfx/

Wine prefixes (virtual Windows environments). Each prefix contains an isolated Windows environment with its own settings, libraries and installed applications.

pfx-backup/

Backups in ISO image format:

• pfx_default.iso - image with libraries and basic components
• saves_backup.iso - image with game saves

runtime/

Runtime environment and launch components:

• afqls/ - additional libraries
• ssrv/ - server components
• sw - symlink to ~/.local/bin
• sw_runtime/ - single-file Void Linux container for running in an isolated environment
• version - file with SW version
• nvidia/ - created only for NVIDIA GPUs (absent for Intel/AMD)

scripts/

Installation and configuration scripts. Contains automated scripts for installing applications, configuring prefixes and performing special tasks.

tmp/

Temporary files and caches. Contains temporary data during installation and operation:

• cdrom/ - mounting ISO images
• icons/ - temporary icon storage
• logs/ - installation and operation logs
• stats/ - statistics and metrics
• vulkan_shader_cache/ - Vulkan shader cache

Can be safely cleared to free up disk space.

tools/

Compatibility tools and additional utilities:

• utils/ - auxiliary utilities
• config/ - compatibility layer configurations
• d3d_extras/ - additional Direct3D libraries
• dgvoodoo2/ - Glide and DirectX emulator
• dlss_extras/ - NVIDIA DLSS components
• lossless/ - lossless scaling
• Proton BattlEye Runtime/ - BattlEye anti-cheat
• Proton EasyAntiCheat Runtime/ - EasyAntiCheat anti-cheat
• vulcan/ - DXVK and vkd3d-proton versions

wine/

Wine and Proton versions. Stores all downloaded versions of Wine-Staging, Wine-Staging-TKG, Proton-GE, Proton-EM and Steam Proton for use with applications.

Prefix Structure

Each prefix in data/pfx/ mimics the Windows structure and contains:

Backup

To restore, copy the folder back. All applications, settings and saves will be restored.

Clearing Space

If you need to free up disk space:

• Delete unused prefixes from the data/pfx/ folder
• Delete old Wine/Proton versions from the data/wine/ folder
• Delete unused games from the Games/ folder
• Clear temporary files from the data/tmp/ folder
• Delete old backups from the data/pfx-backup/ folder

Tools

Overview of the main sections and functions of StartWine-Launcher. Each tool is accessible via the application's sidebar menu.

Games and Applications

The main screen of StartWine-Launcher. Displays your library of all added Windows games and applications in a convenient grid with covers. Allows you to quickly launch any application, view its settings or remove it from the library.

• Display of installed games and applications as tiles with covers
• Quick launch by clicking on the cover
• Context menu with settings for each application
• Search and filter the library

Files

Built-in file manager for navigating the file system and Wine prefix contents. Allows you to view application files, manage virtual C:\ drive contents and find necessary executable files.

• Navigation through Linux file system and Wine prefixes
• View virtual C:\ drive contents
• Launch .exe files directly from the file manager
• Quick access to Games, Shortcuts, rootfs directories

Web Browser

Built-in Chromium-based web browser for viewing web pages inside StartWine-Launcher. Allows you to download game and application installers directly from the browser, as well as use web versions of gaming services and launchers.

• Built-in Chromium-based browser
• Download installers directly through the SW interface
• View official game and store websites
• Integration with file manager to launch downloaded .exe files
• Bookmark and browsing history support

GOG Games

Integration with the GOG Galaxy platform. Allows you to import games from your GOG library, install and run them through StartWine-Launcher with automatic compatibility configuration.

• Import games from GOG library
• Automatically add games to the common SW library
• Run GOG games with cloud save support
• Automatic Wine prefix configuration for each game

Epic Games

Integration with the Epic Games Store platform. Allows you to import your games from Epic Games, install them through the official launcher and run them through StartWine-Launcher with optimal compatibility settings.

• Import games from Epic Games library
• Launch Epic Games Store through Wine with preset settings
• Automatically add imported games to the SW library
• Support for free games received weekly
• Optimization for Epic Games using Proton-GE or Wine-Staging-TKG

Applications and Stores

Catalog of ready-made recipes for automatic installation of popular Windows applications and game launchers. Installation occurs in one click with automatic configuration of all necessary components and dependencies.

• Ready-made recipes for Epic Games, Battle.net, Rockstar Games, EA Play and others
• Automatic prefix and dependency configuration
• One-click installation without manual configuration
• Regular recipe database updates

Wine Builds

Wine and Proton version manager. Allows you to download, install and manage different versions of compatibility layers. You can keep multiple versions simultaneously and assign different versions for different applications.

• Download and install Wine-Staging, Wine-Staging-TKG, Proton-GE, Steam Proton
• Manage multiple versions simultaneously
• Automatic update to latest versions
• Delete unused versions to free up space

Interface Settings

Personalization of StartWine-Launcher's appearance and behavior. Allows you to change the theme, color scheme, window control button style, interface language and other parameters.

• Automatic StartWine launch in tray at system startup
• Restore menu after exiting a game or application
• Interface language selection
• Automatic Wine process termination after application exit
• Auto-hide top and bottom panels
• Custom theme: background colors, accent color, window button style
• Built-in icon theme with color palette selection

Shutdown

The last item in the StartWine-Launcher sidebar menu. When clicked, terminates all active StartWine-Launcher processes, including running Wine/Proton processes and related services. Use to completely shut down the application.

• Terminates all running Wine/Proton processes
• Stops StartWine-Launcher background services
• Frees occupied system resources
• Ensures correct termination of all components

Functionality

Detailed description of StartWine-Launcher configuration and management capabilities. Learn what and where you can configure for optimal application performance.

Application Context Menu

Right-clicking on any game or application in the library opens a context menu with advanced management options.

• Launch — quick application launch
• Open — open game directory in file manager
• Application Settings — change launch parameters, Wine prefix, environment variables
• Rename — change displayed game name
• Specify New Location — change path to executable file
• Delete — remove application from library (files are not deleted)
• WineHQ — open application page in WineHQ compatibility database
• ProtonDB — open game page in ProtonDB database to view reviews
• Search Image — find and set cover for game
• Menu Shortcut — add shortcut to system application menu
• Desktop Shortcut — create shortcut on desktop

Statistics and Application Data Management

For each game or application in the library, detailed information about usage time, directory size and average FPS is available. Open the application context menu and select "Application Settings", then click the info icon next to the name.

• Total Game Time — time spent in the application (displayed in days, hours)
• Average Frame Rate — average FPS for performance evaluation
• Directory Size — disk space occupied by the application and its data
• Desktop Shortcut — toggle for quick shortcut creation/deletion
• Menu Shortcut — add shortcut to system application menu
• Open File Location — quick access to executable file directory
• Search Image — automatic search and installation of game cover from online database
• Icon Gallery — select alternative icon from preset options

Launch Control Panel

At the bottom of the application settings window there is a control panel with the main elements for launching and configuring games and programs.

• Stop (square) — stop the running application and all related Wine processes
• Start (launch button) — launch the application with current settings
• Proton/Wine Version Selection — dropdown list to select a specific compatibility version (GE-Proton9-20, Wine-Staging, etc.)
• Application Prefix — select or create a new isolated Wine prefix for the application
• Settings (gear) — access to advanced launch settings, command line parameters and environment variables

Prefix and Wine Tools Menu

The "Tools" button opens a menu with advanced capabilities for managing the Wine prefix and application.

Prefix Tools:

• Delete Current Prefix — complete deletion of the prefix and its data
• Reinstall Prefix — create a new clean prefix
• Backup Prefix — save the current prefix state
• Restore Prefix — restore from a previously created copy
• Backup Saves — archive game saves
• Restore Saves — restore game saves

Wine Tools:

• Wine Settings — configuration of libraries, graphics and sound
• Wine Console — command line for debugging
• Registry Editor — edit Windows registry in prefix
• File Explorer — built-in Wine file manager
• Uninstaller — remove installed programs from prefix
• Winetricks — install libraries, fonts and DirectX components
• Clear Shader Cache — free space by deleting cache
• Controller Settings (Gamepad) — configure gamepad support, button mapping and vibration

Application Settings Reset

If an application is not working correctly or you want to return to default settings, StartWine provides an "Application Settings Reset" button in the context menu (right-click on the application tile).

What is reset:

• All launch parameters return to default values
• Wine environment variables are reset
• Wine/Proton version settings return to system defaults
• The application prefix is recreated with basic libraries

What is preserved:

• All game saves remain in data/app_saves/
• Installed mods and user content
• Screenshots and gameplay recordings

Application Launch Settings

For each added application or game, individual launch settings are available. Open the application context menu (right-click on the tile) and select "Application Settings". The section provides full control over application launch parameters, Wine environment variables and performance optimization technologies.

Basic Parameters

• LAUNCH_PARAMETERS — command line parameters (e.g.: -d3d9, -d3d11, -opengl)
• WINEDLLOVERRIDES — DLL library overrides (e.g.: libglesv2=d)
• WINDOWS_VER — Windows version for emulation (Windows 10, 8.1, 7, XP)
• REGEDIT_PATCH — apply registry patches at launch
• DXVK_VER — DXVK version for DirectX 9/10/11
• VKD3D_VER — VKD3D version for DirectX 12
• FSR_MODE — AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution mode
• LANG_MODE — language for game or application

Performance and Monitoring

• FPS_LIMIT — frame rate limit (0 = unlimited)
• WINE_CPU_TOPOLOGY — CPU core limitation
• WOW64 — mode for running 32-bit applications in 64-bit prefix without using 32-bit libraries (improves stability and compatibility)
• DXVK_GE — use DXVK from wine-proton-ge
• VKD3D_GE — use VKD3D from wine-proton-ge
• GALLIUM_HUD — system monitoring for OpenGL
• MANGOHUD — monitoring in OpenGL or Vulkan modes
• MESA_OVERLAY_HUD — monitoring in Vulkan mode

Compatibility and Graphics

• VIRTUAL_DESKTOP — Windows desktop emulation
• CONTROLLER — redirect controller to other input devices
• NTSYNC — alternative synchronization implementation based on NT events (can improve performance in multi-threaded applications compared to FSYNC/ESYNC)
• FSYNC — frame rate improvement through policy scheduling
• ESYNC — performance increase for CPU-dependent games
• OLD_GL_STRING — for old games with long extension strings
• NVAPI_DISABLE — disable nvapi for CUDA acceleration
• WAYLAND — use native Wayland protocol instead of X11 for Wine (improves performance and reduces latency on Wayland environments)
• WINEDBG_DISABLE — disable Wine debug mode
• LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE — allocate more than 2 GB of memory to 32-bit applications

Optimization Technologies

• WINE_SIMULATE_WRITECOPY — simulate write-copy for DLLs
• STAGING_SHARED_MEMORY — optimize Wineserver calls
• DXVK_HUD — system monitoring in DXVK
• ENABLE_VKBASALT — Vulkan post-processing layer for graphics
• FSR — AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution for FPS increase
• DRI_PRIME — hybrid graphics management on laptops
• WINE_MONO — cross-platform .NET Framework implementation

Anti-cheats and Additional Options

• BATTLEYE — BattlEye anti-cheat support for online games
• EASYANTICHEAT — EasyAntiCheat anti-cheat support
• D3D_PLUGINS — preload D3D libraries
• VSYNC_DISABLE — force disable VSync
• HIDE_NVIDIA_GPU — hide NVIDIA GPU detection
• DGVOODOO2 — for DirectX 8 and lower games in DXVK mode
• DLSS — Nvidia DLSS for scaling and high frame rates
• DISABLE_UPDATE_PFX — disable prefix update on launch
• SHADER_CACHE — enable/disable shader cache

Interface Control Elements

Top Navigation Bar

• Go to Home Directory — quick jump to user's home directory
• Show Search Bar — opens search bar for quick file and directory search
• Address Bar — displays current path and allows manual path entry for quick navigation
• Current Directory Menu — additional actions with current directory
• Go to Parent Directory — navigate to parent directory
• Header Button Menu — additional application settings and options

Bottom Navigation Bar

• Show/Hide Navigation Panel — opens sidebar menu with main SW sections
• Show/Hide Volume List — displays connected drives and their usage
• Show/Hide Bookmarks List — quick access to favorite directories
• Show/Hide Playlist — media player for audio files
• Navigation Panel — central area shows current section and allows switching between adjacent sections with arrows

Display Settings

• Change Icon Size — adjust game and application tile size (from small to large)
• Change Color Scheme — choose between dark, light or custom theme
• Vertical or Horizontal Icons — switch between compact vertical view and wide horizontal banners

Logs and Debugging

Application operation logs are saved for problem diagnosis and debugging.

• data/logs/ — main SW logs
• data/tmp/logs/ — temporary installation logs

In the application settings you can enable the WINEDEBUG=+all environment variable to obtain detailed information about Wine operation.

Hotkeys

StartWine-Launcher supports an extensive hotkey system for keyboard and gamepad, allowing you to quickly control the application without using the mouse. You can customize key bindings to your preferences through the "Hotkeys" menu.

About the Application

The "About" section contains information about the current version of StartWine-Launcher, project news, authors and license. Here you can also check for updates.

• What's New — list of changes and new features in the current version
• Details — full description of StartWine-Launcher capabilities
• Authors — information about developers and contributors
• License — terms of use and distribution
• Help the Project — ways to support StartWine development
• Check for Updates — automatic check for new version availability

Help

The "Help" section opens the built-in web browser with official StartWine-Launcher documentation.

• Official Repository — https://github.com/RusNor/StartWine-Launcher
• Data Repository (HuggingFace) — https://huggingface.co/RusNor/StartWine-data
• Data Repository (mirror) — https://startwine-launcher.ru/StartWine-data/

Window Management

• Minimize — minimize window to tray or taskbar
• Maximize — expand window to full screen or return to normal size
• Close — close current window (use the "Shutdown" button in the sidebar for complete termination)

Configuration

Configure StartWine-Launcher to suit your needs for maximum performance.

What is a Prefix?

Prefix is an isolated virtual Windows environment that contains all necessary files, libraries and settings for running Windows applications. Each prefix mimics the Windows folder structure (C:\, Program Files, etc.).

Benefits of using separate prefixes:

• Isolation of applications from each other — conflicts are eliminated
• Different Windows versions for different applications (XP, 7, 10, 11)
• Individual settings and DLLs for each application
• Easy removal — simply delete the prefix folder

Choosing Wine/Proton Version

StartWine-Launcher supports several versions of compatibility layers:

• Wine-Staging — classic compatibility layer. Suitable for most applications and older games.
• Wine-Staging-TKG — experimental version of Wine with additional patches and performance improvements. Recommended for advanced users.
• Proton-GE — optimized version of Proton with additional patches. Recommended for modern games.
• Steam Proton — official Proton version from Valve. Best compatibility with Steam games.

Graphics Configuration

To improve gaming performance, configure the following parameters:

• DXVK — enable for DirectX 9/10/11 games
• VKD3D — enable for DirectX 12 games
• Esync/Fsync/NTsync — improves performance of multi-threaded applications

Additional Tools

StartWine-Launcher supports integration with useful tools to enhance your gaming experience:

MangoHud

Performance monitoring overlay in games. Shows FPS, CPU/GPU temperature, processor load, memory usage and other metrics in real time. Enable the toggle in the application settings to display the overlay.

vkBasalt

Image post-processing for Vulkan games. Allows you to apply image enhancement effects: sharpening (CAS), color enhancement, ambient occlusion (SMAA) and other filters. Especially useful for improving visuals in older games or at low resolutions.

Environment Variables

You can set additional environment variables for each application through the settings interface. Popular variables:

• DXVK_HUD=fps — show FPS
• WINE_FULLSCREEN_FSR=1 — enable FSR
• PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 — use WineD3D

Running Applications

Learn how to add and run Windows applications and games in StartWine-Launcher.

Adding a New Application

Using Ready-made Recipes

For popular applications, ready-made installation recipes are available:

• Open the "Applications and Stores" section
• Select the desired application from the list
• Click "Install" — everything will be configured automatically

Prefix Management

Each application can have its own isolated prefix (virtual Windows environment). This avoids conflicts between applications.

• Create separate prefixes for different applications
• Configure Windows version for each prefix
• Install necessary DLLs and components

Running Games

Most modern games work great with these settings without additional configuration.

Troubleshooting

Solutions to common problems when working with StartWine-Launcher.

Application doesn't start

Try the following solutions:

• Check the launch logs in "Files" → "Logs"
• Try a different Wine/Proton version
• Make sure necessary DLL components are installed
• Check if there is enough disk space

Graphics Issues

Black screen or artifacts:

• Try disabling DXVK and using WineD3D
• Update your graphics card drivers
• Check Vulkan support in your system

Low performance:

• Enable Esync/Fsync/NTsync in settings
• Use Proton-GE instead of regular Wine
• Close unnecessary background applications

Sound Issues

If sound does not work or stutters:

• Check your system sound settings
• Make sure PulseAudio or PipeWire is working correctly
• Try changing the audio driver in Wine settings

Getting Help

If the problem is not resolved, contact the community:

FAQ

Answers to popular questions about StartWine-Launcher.

Which games and applications are supported?

StartWine-Launcher can run most Windows applications and games. Compatibility depends on the specific application and selected Wine/Proton version. Check the compatibility database on ProtonDB for games.

Is it necessary to install Wine separately?

No, StartWine-Launcher includes all necessary components and does not require Wine to be installed on the system. Everything works in isolation.

Can I use it with Steam games?

Yes, you can add games from Steam to StartWine-Launcher. However, for Steam games, it is recommended to use the built-in Proton in the Steam client itself for better integration.

How do I update Wine/Proton versions?

Go to the "Wine Builds" section in the sidebar menu. There you can download and install new versions of Wine, Proton-GE and Steam Proton. StartWine-Launcher automatically manages all versions.

Is it safe to use StartWine-Launcher?

Yes, StartWine-Launcher is an open source project. All components are downloaded from official sources. Applications run in isolated prefixes and do not have direct access to your system.

What is the performance compared to Windows?

Performance depends on the specific application. Many games run with 90-100% of native Windows performance. Some games may even run faster thanks to optimizations in Proton. Use Proton-GE and enable DXVK for best results.

Where are my data and saves stored?

All data is stored in the ~/.local/share/StartWine/ directory. Each application has its own prefix with saves and settings. You can create a backup of this folder to save all data.