How to get the latest Wine on Linux Mint 19

Linux Mint is a powerful operating system, with impressive features, and an excellent reputation. It does its best to support new users, and provide them with the tools they need to make Linux easy. However, despite their best efforts, sometimes features aren’t added as fast, or packages provided as quickly, since it is a community project, and not backed by huge companies like Ubuntu or Fedora.

One of the downsides to it being a community project is that sometimes they have to make tough choices on what the operating system should include, and what it shouldn’t (like not shipping Snap support by default, for example). A great example of this is the latest Wine. Sure, since it’s based on Ubuntu, users can get access to the stable release that Ubuntu provides, but not the most recent. So, if you need the latest Wine on Linux Mint, you’ll have to install it yourself. Here’s how to do it.

Wine Stable

The Wine Stable release carried in the Ubuntu software sources is what Linux Mint 19 carries in its software sources. So, if you like to have a stable setup of Wine, but find that the Mint version is lacking, you’ll be able to set up the Wine software repository.

To start up the installation process, launch a terminal window using the Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T keyboard combination. Then, when the terminal window is open, follow the step-by-step instructions to get the latest Wine Stable on Linux Mint 19.

Step 1: Mint needs an external software repository enabled to install Wine Stable. To do this, use the apt-add-repository command and add Wine’s “Bionic” software repository for Mint 19.

sudo apt-add-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ bionic main'

Step 2: Adding the software repository is the first step. Now, we must add the Wine key, as Mint will refuse to interact with insecure software sources. To add the software key, use wget and apt-key.

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

Step 3: Linux Mint 19 must be updated and upgraded so that the operating system has the latest software patches. Also, updating will set up the new Wine software repository necessary for Wine Stable. To run an update and upgrade, do the upgrade and update commands in a terminal.

sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 4: Install the latest release of Wine Stable on your Linux Mint 19 OS with the apt install command.

sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable

Step 5: Start up the Wine Configuration window to create your Wine prefix on Linux Mint.

wine-cfg

When the prefix is done being set up, Wine Stable is ready to use!

Wine Staging

Wine Stable is excellent for those looking to run basic Windows apps, but if you’re a Linux Mint gamer, it’s imperative that you install Wine Staging, as it comes with regular Vulkan and DXVK patches, and other gaming fixes.

To install the latest Wine Staging on Linux Mint 19, open up a terminal window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T on the keyboard. Then, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1: Staging on Mint 19 requires the external Wine HQ software repository. To set it up, use the add-apt-repository command.

sudo apt-add-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ bionic main'

Step 2: With the software repository set up on Linux Mint, the key is needed. Using the wget and apt-key command, download and enable the signed key so that Linux Mint can interact with the repo.

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

Step 3:  After enabling the signed key for the Wine repo, run the update and upgrade commands so that Mint 19 will have the latest software patches, and so that the Wine repository is up to date.

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 4: Install the latest Wine Staging packages on your Linux Mint 19 PC with apt install.

sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-staging

Step 5: Open up the Wine configuration window to create your new Wine Staging prefix.

wine-cfg

Allow the Wine configuration window to create your new Staging prefix. When it’s done, Staging is ready to go on Linux Mint 19!

Wine Development

Are you interested in contributing to the Wine project? Just want access to the version that the developers have access to on Linux Mint 19? If so, follow the step-by-step instructions below to get it working.

Step 1: Like all other versions of Wine for Linux Mint 19, subscribing to a third-party software repository is necessary. To add it, open up a terminal window using Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T on the keyboard. Then, run the following apt-add-repository command.

sudo apt-add-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ bionic main'

Step 2: After adding the third-party software source to Linux Mint 19, download the Wine key. Without this key, Wine development will not install, so don’t skip this step!

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

Step 3: The key is added to Linux Mint 19. Now, run the update and upgrade commands to set up the software repo added earlier, and to install any pending software patches for your system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 4: Following the update process, you’ll be able to install the Wine Development packages using the apt install command below.

sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-devel

Step 5: With the Wine Development packages installed, run the Wine configuration tool to create your new prefix.

When the new prefix is fully set up, Wine Development is ready to use on Mint 19!