How-To

How to Install Roblox on Linux

By Adam Davidson

Published March 5, 2023

Roblox isn’t supported on Linux, but if you’re a Linux user, you can use the Wine app layer to get it running. This guide explains how.

Roblox has been around for longer than you think. It first launched all the way back in 2006. That’s right—before the first iPhone. After a slow start, Roblox has really picked up traction in recent years, with more than 50 million people accessing Roblox on a daily basis.

If you’re ready to join those numbers and give Roblox a try, as a Linux user you may come up against a stumbling block: Roblox doesn’t support Linux. Don’t panic, as all is not lost. It’s still possible to get Roblox running on Linux if you know how.

If you’re ready to find out what all the fuss is about, then here’s how to get Roblox on Linux.

What is Roblox?

This isn’t a question with a simple answer because Roblox can be used in so many different ways. Roblox is an app that allows people to play user-created games or even create their own games for others to play. It also allows users to chat to each other online.

Games in Roblox are known as ‘experiences’ and there are a huge number of these experiences in a wide variety of genres. These experiences cover everything from role playing games and simulators to obstacle courses and adventure games. You can also use the Roblox Studio to create your own games for others to play.

Some users earn serious amounts of money by creating popular Roblox games.

How to Install Roblox on Linux

Roblox is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Xbox, but it’s not currently supported on Linux. However, it’s still possible to play Roblox on Linux by using an app called Wine which allows you to run Windows applications on Linux.

Using Wine, you can run the Windows version of Roblox on your Linux machine.

How to Download Roblox on Linux

You can download Roblox for Windows directly through the Roblox website. You’ll need to create an account in order to do so, but you’ll need this account anyway in order to play Roblox games once you’ve got it up and running on Linux.

To download Roblox on Linux:

1. Open your browser of choice.
2. Navigate to the Roblox website.
3. Sign in, or if you don’t already have an account, enter your details under Sign Up And Start Having Fun.
   
4. Once you’re signed in, click on any of the Roblox experiences.
   
5. Click the green Play icon.
   
6. You’ll be prompted to download the app. Click Download and Install Roblox.
   
   
7. The app will start downloading.

How to Install Wine on Linux

The app you have downloaded won’t run natively on Linux. You’ll need to install the Wine app in order to be able to run it and play Roblox.

To install Wine on Linux:

1. Open your browser and navigate to the Wine website.
2. Click Download.
   
3. Select the option for your version of Linux. For this example, we’re using an Ubuntu-based version of Linux.
   
4. The page will give you the instructions to follow to download the repository and install Wine. They will differ depending on your system, but these are the steps you’ll need to follow for a system built on Ubuntu 22.04.
5. Open a new Terminal window.
6. If you’re using a 64-bit system, enable 32-bit by entering the following command in Terminal and pressing Enter:

   sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

7. Download and add the repository key by entering the following commands:

   sudo mkdir -pm755 /etc/apt/keyrings 
   
   sudo wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/winehq-archive.key https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

8. Download the WineHQ source files for your version of Ubuntu by entering the relevant command. For Ubuntu 22.04, the command would be:

   sudo wget -NP /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/dists/jammy/winehq-jammy.sources

9. Ensure the packages in the repositories are up-to-date by entering the following:

   sudo apt update

10. Install the stable version of Wine by entering the following command:

    sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable

11. Wine will install. This may take some time to complete.

How to Install and Run Roblox Using Wine

Once you’ve installed Wine, you’re ready to run the Roblox installer. You can do this through your file manager.

To install and run Roblox using Wine:

1. Open your file manager.
2. Navigate to the Downloads folder or the folder you downloaded the Roblox installer to if you saved it somewhere else.
3. Right-click on RobloxPlayerLauncher.
4. Click Open With and select Open With “Wine Windows Program Loader” from the options.
   
5. The installation wizard for Roblox will start. Follow any additional on-screen instructions.
   
6. Once the installation is complete, you will see a Roblox Play icon on your desktop.
7. Click the icon to start Roblox.
   
8. Log in with the account you created earlier and start having fun!

Playing Games on Linux

Learning how to get Roblox on Linux is just one way to get more from your Linux experience. There are plenty of other tips and tricks that Linux users should know.

If you want to be able to run both Linux and Windows, you can learn how to dual boot Windows and Linux. Alternatively, you can run Linux apps and services in a lightweight virtual environment on Windows 11 by installing Windows Subsystem for Linux. If you change your mind, you’ll need to know how to uninstall Linux from Windows 11.