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Marvin1099 edited this page Jul 8, 2024 · 29 revisions
WeModApp If you prefer a video tutorial, one is now available:
      WeMod-launcher Setup Tutorial by Marvin1099
WeModApp Just below this line, you will find a written guide

WeMod logo How to Install WeMod on a Steam Deck (Linux)
In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing WeMod on a Steam Deck running Linux.
We'll cover all the steps required to set up the necessary components and configurations to seamlessly integrate WeMod with your games.
‎

Heart You will need:

  • A Steam Deck running Linux (or any Linux-based x86_64 system).
  • A external Mouse and Keyboard (Recommended for Steam Deck).
  • A WeMod Pro Subscription (Recommended for Steam Deck).
    OR Use a Keyboard to send the key shortcuts to toggle cheats.
    OR Use a Keyboard and Desktop mode to switch the game and WeMod with alt+tab.
    OR Set your mods only on startup.
    OR Enable developer mode so you can switch windows in gaming mode.
  • A stable Internet Connection.
  • Optional: If you have access to another PC and wish to control the Steam Deck remotely,
    consider using RustDesk for easier setup.
    On SteamOS download the .flatpak file of RustDesk. ‎‎
    NOTE: You can also use any alternative approach to install RustDesk for your distro.
  • To Install some software, see just below this line.

Heart Step 1: Access Desktop Mode and Discovery Store

  1. Go to the Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck (Skip if you are not using a Steam Deck).
  2. Open the Discovery Store (or any other Flatpak-compatible store on your OS).
  3. Search for and install ProtonUp-QT in the store.
  4. Search for and install Protontricks in the store.
    NOTE: This is used to find the Game ID for your games,
    if you know how to find the Game ID without Protontricks you can skip this step.
    NOTE: You can use any alternative approach to install ProtonUp-QT that is available in your distro.
  5. Search for and install zip and unzip in the store (preinstalled on SteamOS).
  6. Search for and install TK in the store (preinstalled on SteamOS).
    WARNING: Tkinter may have a other name on your distro
    For example on Ubuntu its python3-tk
    Search online for tkinter on BASEDISTO,
    replace BASEDISTO with your basedistro eg. Ubuntu
  7. Search for and install python in the store (preinstalled on SteamOS).
  8. Search for and install python-venv or whatever is is named on your distro, from the store (preinstalled on SteamOS).

Heart Step 2: Install Recommended Version of Proton

  • NOTE: After some testing it seams Proton also works.
    So you can try to run the launcher with Proton and without GE-Proton.
    Then you can skip this entire step and go to step 3.
  1. Open ProtonUp-QT
  2. Click on Add Version under GE-Proton and select the newest version.
    NOTE: At the time of writing this, any GE-Proton9 version will work,
    but versions above 9 are untested, so maybe stick with any version 9 NOTE: After some testing it seams Proton also works
    So you can try to run the launcher with Proton and without GE-Proton
  3. Restart the Steam Deck (or Steam if you are not on Steam OS).

Heart Step 3: Installing WeMod Launcher

  1. Open Konsole/Terminal and make sure you are running as user.
    So echo $USER should NOT output root, then run:
    git clone https://github.com/DaniAsh551/wemod-launcher.git
    The following command may also be need to be run:
    sudo chmod -R ug+x /home/$USER/wemod-launcher

  2. In Dolphin/File Browser, navigate to your home at /home/$USER
    to find the wemod-launcher folder and make sure it's there.
    NOTE: $USER will need to be replaced with your username.
    On SteamOS, this will be /home/deck.

    Alert Meta Step: Deleting Game Prefix (If Needed)
    • IMPORTANT: It may be needed to delete the old game prefix.
      If you run into problems, follow these steps:
    1. Open Protontricks and note the "Game ID" next to the game.
    2. Open Dolphin file manager and enable "Show Hidden Files".
    3. Navigate to the .steam directory. Most of the time it's at /home/$USER. Its the drive where you installed your game.
      Then go too these sub-folders: steam/steamapps/compatdata/$GameID
      NOTE: $USER will need to be replaced with your username.
      On SteamOS, this will be:
      steam/steamapps/compatdata/$GameID
      NOTE: $GameID will also need to be replaced with the game id.
    4. Delete the folder with the corresponding Game ID.

Heart Step 3.5: Set settings of Steam Flatpak if in use

  • This is only need if you must use the Steam Flatpak (not recomended),
    if you are NOT using the Flatpak skip this step
  1. Install Flatseal to change the settings of the Steam Flatpak.
  2. Install flatpak-xdg-utils so the wemod-laucher can start itself outside of the flatpak
  3. Now change the following settings inside Flatseal on the steam flatpak:
    • Add the path /home/$USER/wemod-launcher to Filesystem: Other files
      Replace $USER with your username
    • Enable Socket: D-Bus session bus
    • Enable Socket: D-Bus system bus
  4. Open a Terminal / Console and run:
    sudo chmod -R ug+rw /home/$USER/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata
    Note: Replace $USER with your username
  5. Restart Steam

Heart Step 4: Configure Steam Play Compatibility and Launch Options

  1. Launch the game and exit after you reach the game's Main Menu.
  2. Click the game you want to use WeMod with from Steam.
  3. Click on the gear icon and select Properties.
  4. Go to the Compatibility tab.
  5. Enable Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
  6. Choose the downloaded GE-Proton9.x (restart Steam if not listed).
    NOTE: x can be any number (eg. GE-Proton9.5)
  7. Under Launch Options, paste: /home/$USER/wemod-launcher/wemod %command%.

Heart Step 5: Install WeMod for Your Game

  1. Launch the game.
  2. If you have built or downloaded the launcher in the past,
    use the option to copy a other prefix if it says that it likely works.
    The launcher will ask you if it can be done and do it for you.
    IMPORTANT: If WeMod fails to start, go to the Meta Step of Step 3 and try to delete the prefix.
    In that case, if the launcher asks you if you want to copy, select no.
    • NEW: Use download instead of build, to speed up the process, by not building and go to Step 6.
    • ALSO: All rundll32.exe errors can safely be ignored (click on no here)
  3. Select Build and then Winetricks (this process takes around 25 minutes on a Steam Deck).
    IMPORTANT: if you are using GE-Proton7.55 or earlier, select wemod-launcher instead of winetricks.
  4. Once the build is complete, launch the game (Desktop mode might be needed, if you are on a Steam Deck).

Heart Step 6: Configuring WeMod Account and Installing Game Mods

  1. When you launch the game now, WeMod should Launch with it.

  2. If not logged in, log in or create an account in WeMod (One time only).

  3. Search for the game you launched in WeMod.
    IMPORTANT: It may be needed to add your game in WeMod.
    But if your game gets detected, you can skip the following steps.

  4. Click the arrow next to install.

  5. Navigate to the drive where you installed your game.
    Most of the time it's at:
    /home/$USER/steam/steamapps/common.
    NOTE: $USER will need to be replaced with your username.
    On SteamOS, this will be:
    /home/deck/steam/steamapps/common.

  6. Select the file /steam/steamapps/common/Game/Game.exe. NOTE: Game/Game.exe will need to be replaced with your game name / executable.

    Alert Game Locations may differ
    IMPORTANT: You might have a different installation location than the one provided in the guide,
    especially if your game is installed on your SD card.
    This location can vary from person to person. To locate it,
    you'll need to determine the drive where your SD card is located and then navigate to

    /run/media/SDCardName/steamapps/common/Game/Game.exe.

  7. It may be needed to Restart the Steam Deck (or Steam if you are not on Steam OS).
    If so relaunch the game after Restart

Heart Final Step: Enabling Mods

‎

NOTE: If you wish to enable or disable mods within SteamOS you will need:

  • A WeMod Pro subscription is required for controlling cheats using a mobile device
  • OR you can do it by sending over the keystrokes to toggle mods with a Keyboard.
    Nevertheless, with the free version of WeMod, you can still solely manage toggle settings at game start.
    Its also possible to switch between the game and WeMod from gaming mode.
    To do this you will have to have developer mode active.
    After that you can use the steam button to switch between WeMod and the game.
  • If this doesn't work you will have to start the game in desktop mode,
    so you can use Alt+Tab to switch between open windows.
  • Then just set the cheats you use and start the game in Desktop mode.
Alert If you find games where WeMod doesn't go on top at game start on SteamOS, please report it.

If WeMod goes on top as expected,
you will have to click Play, even if the game is running.
You also want to set your cheats at this point
and after that, you can close the window
and still use the hotkeys to toggle them on the fly.

You may need to initiate game launches from WeMod.
Also, it's important to be aware that certain games may require
launching exclusively through WeMod in desktop mode to access its features.

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