How to Enable Proton for All Your Steam Games on Linux

Switching a Linux gaming machine from "some of my games run" to "almost all of my games run" takes one toggle in Steam. Proton is Valve's compatibility layer that translates Windows games so they run on Linux, and while Steam enables it automatically for a curated list, flipping on the global setting forces every Windows-only title in your library through it. Here is how to turn it on and what to expect once you do.

Quick Answer

Open Steam, go to Settings, then Compatibility, and switch on "Enable Steam Play for all other titles". That single setting forces every Windows-only game in your library to run through Proton, not just the ones Valve has officially verified. A Steam restart applies it, and you can pick a specific Proton version from the same menu.

What Proton is doing under the hood

Proton bundles together a translation layer and graphics tools that turn Windows instructions into something Linux understands, on the fly, while the game runs. By default Steam only switches it on for titles that have been tested and approved, which leaves a lot of perfectly playable games sitting behind a "not available" message. The global toggle removes that gate and lets you try everything.

This matters most on a Linux desktop or a handheld running a Linux-based system, where the built-in compatibility list is conservative. Many games run flawlessly through Proton without ever appearing on the official list. If you are setting up a Linux gaming machine from scratch, the handheld gaming consoles at Evetech include portable units built around exactly this kind of Linux-plus-Proton setup.

Step by step: enable Proton for everything

Follow these in order and the whole process takes under a minute.

1. Open Steam and go to Settings. Click the Steam menu in the top-left corner and select Settings, or Preferences depending on your distribution.
2. Find the Compatibility section. In the settings window, look down the left-hand list for Compatibility. This is where all the Proton controls live.
3. Enable Steam Play for supported titles. Make sure the first box, "Enable Steam Play for supported titles", is already ticked. This covers Valve's verified list.
4. Tick "Enable Steam Play for all other titles". This is the key step. Switching this on tells Steam to run every Windows-only game through Proton, including ones outside the official list.
5. Choose a Proton version. Use the dropdown beneath the toggle to pick a Proton version. The latest stable release is a sensible default; you can change it per game later if one title prefers an older build.
6. Restart Steam. Steam will prompt you to restart so the change takes effect. Once it reopens, previously greyed-out games show an Install or Play button.

After you flip the switch

With the toggle on, expect most of your library to launch. A handful of games still will not run, usually those with aggressive anti-cheat systems that block compatibility layers, and that is a limitation no setting fixes. For everything else, performance is often close to native, especially on hardware with a strong graphics card.

A few practical habits help. If a game stutters or refuses to start, try a different Proton version from the per-game properties menu, since some titles favour specific builds. Keep your graphics drivers current, because Proton leans heavily on them. And give each game a moment on first launch, as Proton compiles shaders the first time you run something, which can make the opening minutes feel slow before it smooths out. Pairing a capable machine with the right peripherals from the best-selling PCs and gaming gear at Evetech rounds out a Linux gaming setup that genuinely competes with Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will every game work after I enable Proton for all titles?

Most will, but not all. Games with strict anti-cheat systems often block compatibility layers and will not run regardless of the setting. The vast majority of single-player and many multiplayer titles work well.

Which Proton version should I choose?

Start with the latest stable release listed in the dropdown. If a particular game misbehaves, open its properties and try an older Proton version, since some titles run better on specific builds.

Why is my game slow the first time it launches?

Proton compiles shaders on the first run, which can make the opening minutes feel sluggish. Performance usually smooths out once that one-time process finishes, so let it complete before judging how a game runs.

Do I need a powerful PC for Proton gaming?

Proton itself adds little overhead, so performance tracks your hardware much as it would on Windows. A strong graphics card and current drivers matter more than Proton's translation layer for smooth frame rates.

Does enabling this affect games that already worked?

No. Verified titles keep using the Proton version Valve assigned unless you override it. The global toggle only adds support for the previously unsupported games in your library.