How to Install Wine 8 on Debian 11

Wine is a free program that lets you run Windows apps on your Linux computer. The Wine team released the new stable version 8.0 in January 24 2023. You can get the Wine 8 from the official website or using the package manager on your Linux system.

This guide will show you how to install the Wine 8 version on Debian 11 and Debian 10 using the PPA (Personal Package archive). Wine is made by volunteers and companies who want to help Linux users run Windows programs.

Wine is a program that allows running Windows software on the Linux computers like Debian 11. Windows programs normally only work on Windows, but Wine makes them work on Linux. Installing Wine 8 on Debian 11 is useful if you need the Windows programs but do not want to install the full Windows operating system. With the Wine, these Windows programs run directly on the Debian 11.

People install Wine 8 because it is the newest version with the latest improvements for smoothly running Windows programs without any issues.

Step 1: Configure PPA

First, check if your computer has 64-bit. Mostly the newer computers are 64-bit. If the computer is 64-bit then you need to make it able to use the 32-bit programs too. Do this by running the below command. This command will tell your 64-bit computer that it can also use 32-bit programs.

Command :

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

Output :

Next we need to get a special key file. This key file lets your computer trust that the Wine software is safe to install. Without this key your computer might think Wine is unsafe. Run the below command This command gets the key file from the Wine website. It then adds this key to your computers list of trusted keys.

Command :

wget -qO - https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key | sudo apt-key add -

Output :

Now tell your Debian computer where to find the Wine software. Use the below command to do that. This command adds the Wine software address to your computer’s list of places to look for programs.

Command :

sudo apt-add-repository https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/debian/

Output :

After doing these three steps, your computer knows it can trust and install Wine 8 from the official Wine place. Your computer is now ready for the actual Wine 8 installation command.

Step 2: Install Wine on Debian

Now we are ready to actually install Wine on your Debian computer. Use the below command. This command updates the list of available software on your computer.

Command :

sudo apt update

The following command installs the Wine software along with any other recommended programs that Wine needs to work properly. The –install-recommends part tells your computer to install those recommended programs too.

Command :

sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable

Output :

In some cases Wine might get installed in a special directory called `/opt/wine-stable`. If that happens you need an extra step to let your whole computer system access and use the Wine programs. The below command updates a setting called `PATH` that tells your computer where to look for programs. By adding `/opt/wine-stable/bin` to the `PATH` your computer can now find and run the Wine programs from anywhere.

Command :

export PATH=$PATH:/opt/wine-stable/bin

Output :

After running these commands, Wine 8.0 should be successfully installed on your Debian system! You can now try running Windows programs using Wine.

Step 3: Verify Installation

To make sure Wine was installed correctly, you can check which version is now on your computer. Use the below command this command asks the Wine program to tell you its current version number.

Command :

wine --version

Output :

Step 4: Run Windows Application

Now that Wine is installed you can use it to run the Windows programs right onto your Debian desktop. Next download the Windows program file with a .exe extension. For this example we use the popular PuTTY program. Save the putty.exe file in your Downloads folder. Open a terminal window and run the below command.

Command :

wine ~/Downloads/putty.exe

Output :

Wine allows to run the Windows programs directly to the your Debian Linux computer. By following the steps of enabling the 32 bit support adding the Wine repository and installing the Wine package and running the .exe file with the Wine you can easily use your favorite Windows software with your regular Linux programs.

Wine makes your Debian system more versatile by giving the access to Windows applications without needing a full Windows operating system installed.

What if I do not have the 64 bit computer Can I still install Wine?

Yes The Wine works on both 32 bit and 64 bit systems. If you have the 32 bit computer you can skip the step about enabling the 32 bit architecture.

Why do I need to add a special key for the Wine repository?

The key allows your computer to verify that the Wine packages come from a trusted source. Adding the key ensures Wine installs safely and smoothly.

How do I know which Windows programs will work with Wine?

While Wine supports many Windows programs, some may not work perfectly. You can check online compatibility databases or try running your needed program to see if it functions properly.

What if the Wine program opens but doesn’t work right?

Wine doesn’t guarantee flawless compatibility. You may need to adjust Wine’s settings install extra Windows components or try an older/newer Wine version for better compatibility.

Can I install Windows programs from a CD/DVD using Wine?

Yes after installing the Wine you can insert the Windows program disc and use Wine built in drive emulation to install the software similar to installing from an .exe file.