Valve has released a new Steam Beta update that automatically launches non-Steam Windows binaries using Proton on Linux. The client change removes a manual step for players adding custom programs, alongside library fixes, Big Picture screensaver controls, and controller updates.
Running Windows-exclusive software on Linux just got a little more straightforward. In a fresh update pushed out by Valve, the Steam Beta client will now launch Windows binaries with Proton by default when users run non-Steam games on Linux systems.
Automatic Proton Defaults For Custom Windows Binaries
The update targets programs and software that users manually add to their library rather than purchasing directly through the platform. Previously, running these titles required adjusting compatibility settings to force them through translation software. Under the updated beta client, Steam assumes that any added Windows binary—such as a file ending in .EXE
—should utilize Proton, configuring the compatibility layer automatically.
This adjustment removes a step in the installation process, shifting some of the compatibility burden away from consumers who previously had to hunt down options manually when a program failed to open right away. While games bought through the storefront already benefit from streamlined integration, the change extends similar convenience to custom shortcuts and non-game software. Although this modification merely cuts out a single phase during setup, it can relieve users of configuration duties, as manual troubleshooting of compatibility settings is now only necessary if the application fails to start initially.
Proton is translation software Valve helped create that allows games built for Windows to run on Linux. The clear advantage lies in playing your library items on Linux free from operating system compatibility concerns, even if performance might occasionally lag until specific Proton patches arrive for that application. Non-Steam programs added to your library can also use Proton, regardless of whether you bought them outside the Valve ecosystem. And yes, that also includes apps that aren’t games at all.
Beta Fixes Linux Library Bugs and Controller Issues
Alongside the Proton default change, the beta package addresses several long-standing bugs impacting desktop and handheld Linux environments. Developers and users testing the client will find corrections for library playtime values that occasionally displayed incorrect numbers.
Input devices and navigation also received direct attention in the patch notes. Steam Input features a specific fix for the Linux reorder controller screen, where swapping physical controllers would occasionally fail to register. Additionally, Steam Controller firmware adjustments resolve a bug where switching to BLE mode would stick even if the host device could not be found.
Big Picture Mode Disables Screensavers During Gameplay
Interface controls inside Big Picture mode gained a practical addition for users playing on living room setups or dedicated media machines. The beta introduces a new setting designed to disable the screensaver when in game, preventing unwanted display blackouts during active play sessions.
Other quality-of-life repairs in the release fix a frustrating behavior where non-Steam titles would refuse to launch after a user changed the target binary using the browse button. The client also resolves an issue where the stop button failed to close out games if an external tool originally initiated the launch sequence.