Install and Run EXE Files in Linux
Today, I installed and ran an EXE file in Linux. Believe me, it’s true. Having known to all that the .exe files can not be installed or run in Linux. But how did I make it possible?
Update: Another better way to Run Windows Applications On Linux.
Actually, the Linux architecture does not support the .exe files. But there is a free utility, “Wine” that gives you Windows environment in your Linux operating system. Installing the Wine software in your Linux computer you can install and run your favorite Windows applications. To begin you have to install the Wine software in your Linux. After that you can install any EXE file.
How to install Wine in your Linux operating system
Firstly, download the specific version of Wine for your Linux from WineHQ. In the download page you can see the links of Wine software for various version of Linux e.g Ubuntu, Red Hat, Mandriva etc. Click on your preferred link and follow the onscreen installation direction. Every version has its own installation procedure. You can also directly install the Wine software from the terminal by the following commands:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install wineAssuming that you are the root user and the internet connection is available. If you are using Ubuntu then Press Alt + F2 and type “gnome-terminal” then hit enter.
This will open the terminal. Type “su” and hit enter to change your self in root user. You will be prompted for your root password. Now, here type the above commands one by one. At the time of installation system can download some files if required.
How to install and run EXE file
Navigate to the directory location of your windows application setup file and double click on it. It should start the installation of the application (.exe) file. If it does not work then you can start the installation process from the terminal by typing the following command
wine your_application_setup_file_name.exe
As example, if your application setup file resides in the desktop and the name of that file is install.exe then the command would look like these
After installing the application in your Linux operating system, you can run it from Application > Wine > Programs. You can also run the application from the terminal by typing the command
“wine your_application_setup_file_name.exe“.
Replace “your_application_setup_file_name.exe” with your own.
Note: Though Wine can provide an environment of Windows in Linux some application may not install or run properly.
Reader Comments
I really like wine, however it yet to support all program but good to see it support most major software like Microsoft Office, Photoshop and so.
@Arafat Hossain Piyada: Yes. Wine makes it possible to run your favorite windows application without searching for its Linux version. You can use an .EXE file in both Windows and Linux. Thanks for sharing.
To make sure that your executable run you also need to make sure that the shared libraries are also installed which are needed by the application. And for “major” softwares like MS office and Photoshop, atleast for me i have trashed MS Office long ago, and use OpenOffice for word processing and Latex for structured word processing, and for image editing i use GIMP. And for wine, i can still run counterstrike, flatout2, win rar etc in my fedora system.
And yes, i should also add that please log into a normal user account, and not the superuser account. Else the software will be installed in the root user’s account and not the one you are using.
And also avoid logging in the superuser account it is a very very bad practice, as it gives easy access to system.
how can i install .exe files in linux??????????
i tried installing smsdiscount using Wine but i am unable to install it. does anyone know if wine support it or not. please reply, i will be highly grateful…
ya , winne is superb it really helps , thnx
Hi…I didn’t find the file to download from winehq website…can you send me the direct link for RHEL 6 64 bit machine.
thank u for sharing this sowftware. i like wine software….
some days iam searching how to install .exe file in linux. now i got the solution with the help of wine s/w.
it is very help to me..