Install for Windows Games is Greyed Out
Hi. I've got a new Bazzite install on an old laptop, Dell Lattitude 3310, just completed installing using GNOME (I also have a Steam Deck; Still running SteamOS on that, so I'm somewhat familiar with Linux.)
When I run Steam on the Dell using Bazzite Steam it updates fine and lets me install Linux games without problem, but anything Windows is greyed out. I thought at first this was a Proton issue but saw that ProtonPlus was installed; I installed ProtonUp-Qt and Protontricks anyway (the more the merrier, right?), but that didn't seem to do anything to enable the Install button (which makes sense since that's an outside program; why would it be "connected"?).
I remember that I ran into trouble with the SteamDeck when using the Itch.io launcher/installer where, if I used the Linux version of the launcher it would only ever install the Linux versions of the games, so I wasn't sure if that might be some of the issue here, that Steam is the Linux "version", so only wants to install Linux versions of games?
Has anyone come across this issue at all? Anyone know of a fix/workaround? And is this a GNOME issue, maybe, that I need to use KDE to have access to the same repos that Steam uses on the Steam Deck?
I'm a bit stumped
6 Replies
In case anyone else is stumped by this, I found a solution on https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/8358#; The solution seems to be to go into the game's Properties, click on Compatibility, and then check the box next to "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool".
Not sure if there's a way around this to install without having to check this, or if it's really seen as an "issue" or not. On SteamOS this doesn't happen since you can install without first enabling Proton; The game won't work without enabling Proton, though, so it's kind of a moot point. As a bit of feedback, though, it's still strange and confusing to see different behaviour here than there, especially if you're already used to SteamOS' behaviour.
It'd be better user-wise (to idiot-proof it) if Proton could just be enabled by default for any Windows-only games, but I suppose that's something that the team here wouldn't have control over so it kinda is what it is. It would be nice if this was added to a FAQ in case anyone else is more of a Linux Gaming "noob" like me.
GitHub
Greyed-out install button · Issue #8358 · ValveSoftware/steam-for-l...
Hi, I had an issue with the steam client marking several Proton games with a greyed-out "install" button, with "available for (windows logo)" next to it. This makes the game unp...
In steam settings there's a global default you can set
Then every Windows game will have this without having to set it per-game
Tho you cannot set custom version such as Glorious Eggroll to default with this setting...is bug or feature who knows .. it has been that way for a while it seems.
ProtonUpQT does let you view game list and reassign versions easily at least.
@Catterwaul The reason why you need to set that "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" on some games, is because not all games are flagged like that on Steam's side. They only flag some games which makes this transparent for those games.
I have it always set in the global settings like Kyle suggest.
You do need to get those other versions to be installed on your system or else you're only getting the Valve-provided pure versions, at which time using ProtonUp-QT or an alternative is paramount
I've run into this before myself. The issue is that in the past you have used a specified version of Proton (Compatibility Tab -> Use specific version:) to run that game.
Steam remembers this prior choice and if you no longer have the version of proton you selected previously installed on the new system, which you probably wouldn't if you had used Proton-GE-OLDER version, the Install button will be grayed out.
I wish there was more documentation on this, but I found out the hard way opening a case on the valve github...
Of course the solution is what you found. Go to the compatibility tab for the game and either select an installed version of proton or uncheck "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" and allow steam to use the system default version of proton.