Bottles review: run Windows games on Linux with more control

Bottles is a free open-source Wine manager for running Windows games and applications on Linux.¹²³ It suits people who want to keep using familiar software while making Linux their everyday desktop. Its useful privacy feature is restricted file access in the Flatpak package, which lets you be selective about the folders you share.⁵

Last checked October 28, 2026.

At a glance

What it is: A desktop manager for Windows applications and games on Linux.¹

Works on: Linux; the Flathub package lists x86_64 computers.¹

Price: Free download.¹

Licence: GNU General Public License version 3, or GPL-3.0.³

Best for: Trying a familiar Windows game while moving to Linux.

Official site: usebottles.com

What Bottles does and how it protects your privacy

Bottles organizes software into separate environments called bottles, with settings tailored to games or other applications.² Think of each bottle as a workspace for the program and the supporting pieces it needs. This makes it easier to approach a move to Linux one application at a time, instead of replacing every familiar tool at once.

The Flatpak build limits access to its own directories and uses file-selection portals to open or save elsewhere.⁵ A portal is a controlled way for an application to ask you to select a file. This gives you a useful starting point for deciding what a Windows program should be allowed to reach.

Keep that choice narrow: use a dedicated game folder rather than handing over your whole Documents folder. Treat the Windows program as a separate privacy decision, especially before signing into an account or opening personal files.

Key Bottles features

Ready-made environments: Start with configurations intended for games or everyday software.²
Dependency management: Install supporting components that a Windows program needs.²
Runner choices: Change the compatibility software used by an individual bottle.¹
Restore points: Version control lets you return a bottle to an earlier state.²
Portable backups: Export and import complete backups or just a bottle’s configuration.²
Program discovery: Installed programs can appear automatically in the program list.²
Process management: An integrated task manager helps manage running processes.¹

Bottles pros and cons

Pros

A practical way to try Linux without abandoning every familiar game immediately.
Separate workspaces make experiments easier to organize.
Ready-made settings offer a helpful starting point for beginners.
Backup options encourage saving a working setup before changing it.

Cons

The normal Flatpak route is a Linux desktop installation, so it does not suit someone seeking an iPhone app.⁸
Initial setup needs downloaded components before you can create a working bottle.⁶
Access to files outside the sandbox may require an additional folder permission.⁵
Allow time to try your particular game and learn unfamiliar settings before depending on the setup.

Is Bottles safe and private?

Flathub identifies the developers as The Bottles Contributors.¹ The project is actively maintained: its latest upstream release is 67.5, dated October 27, 2026, and Flathub also lists 67.5.⁴¹ Keep the Flathub package updated.

For the Flatpak edition, the documented local data directory is ~/.var/app/com.usebottles.bottles/data/bottles.⁷ Keep a separate backup of important saves.

The developers recommend sharing specific folders rather than exposing the whole system or home directory.⁵ For example, grant access to a folder containing game installers, then reconsider that permission when you finish. Keep unrelated documents elsewhere and download Windows installers directly from their publishers.

Consider telemetry separately. Telemetry means usage information sent back to a developer. Read each game’s or launcher’s privacy settings, decline optional reporting where offered, and decide whether its account requirements fit your needs. Do not treat the choice of Bottles alone as approval of everything installed inside it.

How to get started with Bottles

Use the supported download route. Open the Bottles Flathub listing on your Linux computer; the installation guide recommends Flatpak as its most supported and tested release.⁸
Complete the welcome setup. The first-run wizard explains some concepts, then Bottles downloads the components needed to create bottles.⁶ Allow this to finish before troubleshooting a game.
Create one bottle. Use the plus button and follow the prompts.⁶ Give it a clear name, such as the game you plan to try.
Start with a trusted installer. Bottles supports running Windows .exe and .msi files within a chosen bottle.² Download your installer from the publisher, then run it in that workspace.
Share only necessary files. If the application needs another folder, grant that folder rather than your entire home directory.⁵ Use a non-sensitive sample file for the first attempt.
Check the result and preserve it. Try launching, saving, closing and reopening the game. Once it works, export a backup before experimenting with other settings.²

Who should use Bottles, and who might prefer something else?

Bottles is a good starting point for someone willing to try one Windows game on Linux and learn a few settings along the way. Choose a game you can experiment with comfortably. Keep your existing working setup until you have confirmed that the tasks you care about work.

For a different approach to organizing games, consider Lutris. If you would rather start with a game available for Linux, explore The Battle for Wesnoth. These are useful directions to explore depending on whether keeping a particular Windows title or finding something new matters more.

Frequently asked questions about Bottles

Is Bottles free?

Yes. Flathub lists the download as free.¹ Budget separately for any game you choose to buy.

Does Bottles work on iPhone?

The supported installation described here is Flatpak on Linux, rather than an iPhone app.⁸ Start with a Linux desktop when following this guide.

Can Bottles access my personal files?

The Flatpak build confines files to its directories, with portals and explicit folder permissions providing access elsewhere.⁵ Review what you share before opening sensitive material.

Can I set up Bottles without internet access?

Plan to connect for the initial component downloads; the first-run guide says connection-dependent features remain blocked while offline.⁶ Check any game’s own connection requirements separately.