CURRENT INSTALLATION METHOD
For the latest installation method, see the Lutris-based instructions:
Linux Installations (Current)

FOR REFERENCE USE ONLY
The configuration methods listed on this page are outdated and NOT RECOMMENDED. They remain documented here for reference purposes only.

Lutris

Deprecated method as of 2023-06-19.

By far the easiest way to use Windower 4 on Linux is through Lutris. By using the provided installation scripts, you will have a working Windower 4 installation that includes a functioning launcher GUI and does not require the linuxfix addon required by other methods.

Prerequisites

Install Lutris on your system. Refer to the Lutris documentation for the best way to do this for your system.

Download the following Lutris scripts to your local system:

Procedure

Install FINAL FANTASY XI

  1. In Lutris, click + and choose Install from a local install script.
  2. Select the ffxi_us_new32.yaml script and click OK.
  3. Click Install and complete the installation process.

    To configure PlayOnline and FINAL FANTASY XI, use the launcher options when you run it from Lutris.
    For example, configure your gamepad, if necessary.

Install Windower 4

  1. In Lutris, click + and choose Install from a local install script.
  2. Select the windower_4_32.yaml script and click OK.
  3. Click Install and complete the installation process.

Run Windower 4 and Configure

The older version of Wine required to use Windower 4 without the linuxfix addon does not support the version of SSL needed to update hook.dll and download plugins. To work around this:

  1. Start Windower 4 from Lutris before changing the Wine version.
  2. In the Plugins tab, enable any plugins that you need.
  3. Close the launcher before starting the game.

You may need to repeat this step to update Windower in the future or enable other Plugins.

Add Wine 4.21 to Lutris

  1. In the Runners list, click the Manage Versions button next to Wine.
  2. Check the box for lutris-4.21 in the list and click OK.

Change the Windower 4 Wine version

  1. Right-click on Windower 4 and choose Configure.
  2. In the Runner options tab, choose lutris-4.21-x86_64.
  1. Right-click on Windower 4 and choose Create Steam shortcut.

Updating Windower and Downloading Plugins

You may need to temporarily set the Wine version to something current (7.x) to update Windower and download plugins. Note that this does not apply for Addons.

  1. Change the Wine version as described above, start the launcher and download any plugins.
  2. Close the launcher, and re-set the Wine version to 4.21.
  3. Restart the launcher and play the game.

Steam Deck

Prerequisites

  1. On a Windows PC, download and configure Windower 4 to your liking.
    Recommended settings:
    • Resolution: 1280x800
    • Display Mode: Borderless Windowed
  2. Add the linuxfix addon to your Windower install:
    1. Download linuxfix
    2. Place linuxfix.lua in windower/addons/linuxfix/.
    3. Add lua l linuxfix to the end of windower/scripts/init.txt.
  3. Copy your configured Windower 4 folder to a USB drive or network-accessible location.

Known Issues

  • FFXIDB Causes instant crash to OS
  • linuxfix This addon is necessary to allow the keyboard (including software keyboard) to work with Windower 4, but essentially sacrifices the ability to use normal Windower keybinds.

Non-Steam Version

Install and Update Final Fantasy XI

  1. Switch your Steam Deck to Desktop Mode.
  2. Using Firefox or another browser, download the FFXI client installer files to your Steam Deck: http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/download/media/install_win.html
  3. Open Steam in Desktop Mode.

Add a non-Steam game to your library

  1. Choose Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library…
  2. Click Browse and navigate to the downloaded client files.
    By default, Firefox downloads to /home/deck/Downloads
  3. For File type, choose All Files.
  4. Select FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe and click Open.
  5. Click ADD SELECTED PROGRAMS.
    A new application called FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe appears in your Steam library.
  6. In your Steam library, select FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe.
  7. Click the configuration (cog) icon and choose Properties.
  8. In the SHORTCUT tab, change the name of the application to your liking.
    e.g. FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe -> FINAL FANTASY XI
  9. In the COMPATIBILITY tab, select Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
  10. Choose the version of Proton you wish to use.
    e.g. Proton 7.0-2
  11. Close the configuration window.

Extract the client installer

  1. In your non-Steam app, click PLAY.
    After some time, a WinRAR self-extracting archive window should appear. It may appear underneath the Steam window, so watch your task bar.
  2. Note the Destination Folder, and click Extract.
  3. After the extraction finishes, return to the application in the Steam library.

Install Final Fantasy XI

  1. In your non-Steam app, click the configuration icon.
  2. Click Browse and navigate to the newly extracted directory.
    e.g. /home/deck/Downloads/FFXIFullSetup_US
  3. Select FFXISetup.exe and click OPEN.
  4. Close the configuration window and click PLAY.
    After some time, the FINAL FANTASY XI Installer dialog appears.
  5. Step through the DirectX, PlayOnline, and FINAL FANTASY XI installers as normal.
    Accept the default installation paths. You can uncheck the boxes to create desktop shortcuts.

    NOTE:
    When the FINAL FANTASY XI Setup window appears, it will indicate that it is Computing space requirements and appear to be stalled. BE PATIENT AND WAIT. This step may take a long time (5-10+ minutes), but you will eventually be able to click Next.

Locate your non-Steam app directory.

  1. Open Dolphin and navigate to your Steam compatdata directory:
    /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/
    Each numbered directory here represents a virtual Windows installation (Wine Prefix) for a Steam Proton application.
  2. Browse the pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86) directory in each directory until you locate the one that contains PlayOnline.
  3. Make a note of the complete path to the pfx directory that contains drive_c/Program Files (x86)/PlayOnline.
    e.g. /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/12345678/pfx/

Further steps will refer to this directory as <prefix_dir>.

Update PlayOnline and Final Fantasy XI

  1. In your non-Steam app, click the configuration icon.
  2. Click Browse and navigate to <prefix_dir>/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/PlayOnline/SquareEnix/PlayOnlineViewer.
  3. Select pol.exe and click OPEN.
  4. Close the configuration window and click PLAY.
    After some time, the PlayOnline viewer appears.
  5. Update and configure your account in PlayOnline as normal.
  6. After PlayOnline restarts, update Final Fantasy XI.

Configure the PlayOnline Viewer

  1. In your non-Steam app, click the configuration icon.
  2. Click Browse and navigate to <prefix_dir>/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/PlayOnline/SquareEnix/PlayOnlineViewer/polcfg.
  3. Select polcfg.exe and click OPEN.
  4. Close the configuration window and click PLAY.
    After some time, the PlayOnline Viewer Config window appears.
  5. Select Use Gamepad and click Gamepad Configuration.
    Ensure that Controller (XBOX 360 for Windows) is listed, and click OK.
  6. Save the settings, click OK and exit the config tool.

Configure Final Fantasy XI

  1. In your non-Steam app, click the configuration icon.
  2. Click Browse and navigate to <prefix_dir>/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/PlayOnline/SquareEnix/FINAL FANTASY XI/ToolsUS.
  3. Select FINAL FANTASY XI Config.exe and click OPEN.
  4. Close the configuration window and click PLAY.
    After some time, the FINAL FANTASY XI Config window appears.
  5. Uncheck Play opening movie on startup.
  6. Click Gamepad Settings.
  7. Select Enable Game and click XInput (F).
  8. (Optional) Click Test Gamepad (T) and verify that the controls work as expected.
  9. Click OK, save the settings, and Close the config tool.

Configure Windower

  1. Insert your USB drive or open your network location containing your configured Windower 4 folder.
  2. Copy your Windower 4 folder to <prefix_dir>/drive_c.
    You should end up with something like <prefix_dir>/drive_c/Windower4.
  3. In your non-Steam app, click the configuration icon.
  4. Click Browse and navigate to <prefix_dir>/drive_c/Windower4.
  5. Select windower.exe and click OPEN.
  6. In LAUNCH OPTIONS, enter -p=""
  7. Close the configuration window and click PLAY.
    After some time, the Windower splash screen appears, followed by the PlayOnline Viewer.
    The PlayOnline Viewer title should indicate Windower Enabled

You can now switch back to Game Mode, and launch your non-Steam app to play FINAL FANTASY XI with Windower 4 enabled. You can use the gamepad controls and PlayOnline software keyboard to log in without needing a keyboard and mouse connected.

Steam Version

You can use Windower with a Steam copy of the game by manipulating the Steam launch command for the game.

Install ProtonUp-Qt and Proton-GE

  1. Switch your SteamDeck to desktop mode.
  2. Open Discover, search for ProtonUp-Qt and install it.
  3. Launch ProtonUp-Qt.
  4. Click Add version, select and Install the following version:
    • Compatibility tool: Proton-GE
    • Version: GE-Proton7-24 (or latest available)

Install and Update Final Fantasy XI

  1. Install the game from Steam.
  2. Update the game as normal.

Change Launch Options and Configure Windower

Export the Steam launch command

  1. In your Final Fantasy XI Steam library entry, click the Manage icon and choose Properties.
  2. In LAUNCH OPTIONS, enter the following: 
    echo %command% > /home/deck/Documents/steam_launch_command.txt
  3. In COMPATIBILITY, select Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
  4. From the dropdown, select GE-Proton7-24 or the version you installed in ProtonUp-Qt.
  5. Close the Properties window and click PLAY.

Configure Windower

  1. Open the generated text file: 
    /home/deck/Documents/steam_launch_command.txt

  2. Note the AppID and the final path to polboot.exe.
    For example, for FINAL FANTASY XI: Ultimate Collection - Abyssea Edition:

    /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/reaper SteamLaunch AppId=39250 -- /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamLinuxRuntime_soldier/_v2-entry-point --verb=waitforexitandrun -- /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/compatibilitytools.d/GE-Proton7-24/proton waitforexitandrun /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ffxi/SquareEnix/FINAL FANTASY XI/polboot.exe
    • AppID: 39250
    • polboot path: /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ffxi/SquareEnix/FINAL FANTASY XI/polboot.exe
  3. Copy your pre-configured Windower folder into the following directory: 
    /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/<AppID>/pfx/drive_c

    For example, windower.exe should now be located at /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/39250/pfx/drive_c/Windower4/windower.exe

Modify the launch command

  1. In the exported Steam launch command, replace the final path to polboot.exe with the path to windower.exe.
  2. Add ` -p=”” #%command%` to the end of the command.
    For example: 
    /home/deck/.local.share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/reaper SteamLaunch AppId=39250 -- /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamLinuxRuntime_soldier/_v2-entry-point --verb=waitforexitandrun -- /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/compatibilitytools.d/GE-Proton7-24/proton waitforexitandrun /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/39250/pfx/drive_c/Windower4/windower.exe -p="" #%command%

    If you have a named profile that you want to use, specify the name inside the double quotes. For example, ` -p=”MainChar” #%command%`

  3. Copy the entire modified launch command.
  4. Return to the Properties for your Steam library entry.
  5. Replace the entire existing LAUNCH OPTIONS string with the modified launch command.

Play the Game

You can now return to Gaming Mode and play FINAL FANTASY XI.

After clicking Play, you should see the Windower splash screen for a short time and then PlayOnline should start.