Bottles, an open-source software tool built on top of Wine that helps users run Windows applications and games on Linux systems by providing a user-friendly GUI, has just released its latest version, 52.0, named “I’m Back”.
One of the most notable additions is the Sandbox feature, providing an extra layer of security when running Windows applications on Linux. Users now also have more control over operations, with the ability to cancel bottle creation and abort ongoing component downloads, reducing frustration during longer tasks or accidental launches.
Moreover, the Onboard Dialog has been ported to AdwDialog for better integration with libadwaita, aligning Bottles more closely with modern GNOME design standards. It also now displays which operations are being performed in real time, offering improved transparency and user feedback.
Performance-wise, Bottles 52.0 significantly improves copy operations, now transferring data in chunks instead of byte by byte, which speeds up internal file handling and reduces system load during large data transfers. The update also fixes orphaned library entries left after uninstalling programs and resolves an issue where configurations failed to load in specific situations.
For better visuals, font smoothing is now enabled by default, resulting in cleaner text rendering throughout the application. The donation button has been made more prominent to support ongoing development, while the GNOME Platform has been updated to version 49.
Lastly, on the compatibility front, Bottles 52.0 introduces support for Windows Vista, expanding the range of environments it can emulate. Additionally, a long-standing issue with Weblate translations has finally been resolved, meaning translations will once again stay up to date for all supported languages.
For more information on all the changes, visit the project’s GitHub changelog.
