How to Install Wine on Ubuntu 22.04

27/07/2025

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How to Install Wine on Ubuntu 22.04: A Step-by-Step Guide

Unlock the full potential of your Ubuntu system by running your favorite Windows applications and games. Wine (a recursive acronym for “Wine Is Not an Emulator”) is a powerful compatibility layer that translates Windows system calls into native Linux commands on the fly. This allows you to run a vast library of Windows software directly on your Ubuntu desktop without the performance overhead of a virtual machine.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of installing the latest stable version of Wine on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish). By following these clear, sequential steps, you’ll be up and running in no time.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

A system running Ubuntu 22.04.
Access to the terminal.
A user account with sudo or root privileges.

Step 1: Enable 32-bit Architecture

Even on a 64-bit system, many Windows applications still rely on 32-bit architecture. Enabling it is a crucial first step to ensure maximum compatibility.

Open your terminal and execute the following command:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

This command tells your system’s package manager to recognize and handle 32-bit software packages.

Step 2: Add the Official WineHQ Repository Key

To ensure the packages you are about to download are authentic and have not been tampered with, you need to import the official WineHQ GPG key. This key is used to sign the packages in the repository.

First, create a specific directory for keyring storage:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings

Next, download and add the WineHQ key to the newly created directory:

sudo wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/winehq-archive.key https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

Step 3: Add the WineHQ Repository to Your System

With the key in place, the next step is to inform your system where to find the Wine packages. You’ll add the official WineHQ repository that corresponds to your Ubuntu 22.04 version.

Execute this command to create a new source list file for Wine:

sudo wget -NP /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/dists/jammy/winehq-jammy.sources

Step 4: Update Your System’s Package List

After adding a new repository, you must update your system’s package list. This downloads the latest information about available packages, including the new Wine versions you just added.

sudo apt update

Step 5: Install Wine on Ubuntu 22.04

Now you are ready to install Wine. The WineHQ repository offers three different branches. For most users, the stable branch is the recommended choice as it offers the highest level of reliability.

Stable Branch: The most tested and reliable version. Ideal for everyday use.
Staging Branch: Includes newer features and bug fixes that are not yet considered fully stable. Good for users who need support for a specific application that isn’t working on the stable version.
Development Branch: The bleeding-edge version, primarily for developers and testers.

To install the recommended stable version, run the following command:

sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable

The --install-recommends flag is important as it ensures that all suggested supporting packages are also installed for better compatibility.

Once the installation is complete, you can verify it by checking the version:

wine --version

This should return the version of Wine you just installed.

Post-Installation: Initial Wine Configuration

The first time you run a command with Wine, it will automatically set up its configuration in your home directory within a hidden folder named .wine. This folder acts as a virtual C: drive.

To start this initial configuration, run the winecfg utility:

winecfg

A window will pop up, and you may be prompted to install missing components like “Wine Mono” and “Gecko.” It is highly recommended to click “Install” for both. These packages provide support for applications that require .NET and embedded HTML rendering, respectively.

The winecfg tool allows you to tweak various settings, such as the Windows version Wine should mimic, graphics settings, and audio drivers. For most applications, the default settings are sufficient.

How to Run a Windows Application

Running a Windows program is straightforward. First, download the executable file (e.g., application.exe). Then, navigate to its directory in the terminal and run it using the wine command:

wine setup.exe

Alternatively, you can simply right-click the .exe file in your file manager and choose “Open With Wine Program Loader.”

Actionable Security Tips and Best Practices

Run Software from Trusted Sources: Just like on Windows, running executables from unknown sources is risky. Wine does not provide a security sandbox, meaning a Windows virus could potentially affect your user files. Only run applications from developers you trust.
Use Winetricks for Dependencies: Many applications and games require specific libraries like DirectX or .NET runtimes. The Winetricks utility simplifies this process immensely. Install it with:
```
sudo apt install winetricks
```
You can then run winetricks from the terminal to easily install common components into your Wine environment.
Isolate Applications with Prefixes: To prevent applications from conflicting with each other, you can use separate Wine prefixes. A prefix is a self-contained .wine directory. To create and use a new prefix for a specific application, you can run commands like this:
bash WINEPREFIX=~/.new-app-prefix winecfg WINEPREFIX=~/.new-app-prefix wine setup.exe

By following this guide, you have successfully installed and configured Wine on your Ubuntu 22.04 system, opening the door to a massive world of Windows software and games on your Linux desktop.

Source: https://kifarunix.com/install-wine-on-ubuntu-22-04/