FAQ

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

This page covers general questions about the AffinityOnLinux project: which distros work, which Affinity versions work, and how to get help. For problems specific to one install method, check that method's own Troubleshooting section, or General Known Issues for problems that cross multiple install methods.

About This Project

What is this project about?

We are users of Affinity by Canva ourselves, and we know how valuable it is to have it working on Linux. Our goals are to:

• Maintain a reliable, easy way to install Serif's Affinity Suite (Photo, Designer, and Publisher) on Linux.
• Give clear, friendly help to new users of Affinity and Linux, especially artists who are not programmers or system admins.
• Keep the onboarding process simple so you can stay focused on your creative work.

Who maintains this project?

GameDirection (interfaceas on Discord) and Seapear (M on Discord), along with many contributors and the active community.

Check the project's Credits page for the full list. If your pull request gets merged, you get a special GitHub Contributor badge.

Getting Started

How do I choose an install method?

1. Check that your Linux distribution is supported in the Tested Distros and Methods table below.
2. Pick a Wine manager:
   • Install Guide: Wine: recommended if you are comfortable with a terminal.
   • Install Guide: Lutris: recommended if you want a GUI Wine manager. Currently the best option for Nvidia GPU users.
   • Install Guide: Heroic
   • Install Guide: Bottles
   • Install Guide: Rum: terminal-based.
3. Follow the install guide for your chosen method.
4. Report bugs on the Issues tab, or in the Help channel on Discord.
5. If you have a fix, submit a pull request, and mention it in #feedback on Discord.
6. Once you have Affinity running, grab your Success Badge on Discord. We would love to hear about your setup.

Which Affinity versions are supported?

Affinity v1 and v2 both work in most cases with these guides. So does Affinity by Canva (v3).

Tip

Official installer download links:

Program	URL
Affinity by Canva	https://www.affinity.studio/download
Photo V2	https://store.serif.com/update/windows/photo/2/
Designer V2	https://store.serif.com/update/windows/designer/2/
Publisher V2	https://store.serif.com/update/windows/publisher/2/
Photo V1	https://store.serif.com/update/windows/photo/1/
Designer V1	https://store.serif.com/update/windows/designer/1/
Publisher V1	https://store.serif.com/update/windows/publisher/1/

Warning

If you bought the old v1 Affinity apps through the Windows Store, you cannot activate that license on any operating system other than Windows. The Windows Store does not give you the product key you need after installation. If you want to stay on Linux and do not want to buy a v2 license (v1 is no longer sold), your only option is a Windows virtual machine. Sign into your Microsoft account in the Windows Store and download your v1 apps from there.

Tested Distros and Methods

Distro/Method	Wine 10.17+	Lutris	Heroic	Bottles	Rum
Debian	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Fedora Linux	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Arch Linux	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Ubuntu	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Zorin OS	✔️	✔️	⚠️	⚠️	❌
CachyOS	✔️	✔️	✔️	❓	✔️
EndeavourOS	✔️	✔️	✔️	❓	✔️
Nobara Linux	✔️	✔️	✔️	❓	✔️
SteamOS	✔️	✔️	✔️	❓	❓
Pop!_OS	✔️	❓	❓	❓	✔️
NixOS	✔️	✔️	❓	❓	❓

Click a linked icon for more context, where available.

• ❓ Untested
• ✔️ Working and tested
• ⚠️ Working, but unstable or buggy
• ❌ Not working

Where do I get the install guides?

• Install Guide: Wine: minimal and recommended.
• Install Guide: Lutris: recommended if you want a GUI Wine manager.
• Install Guide: Heroic
• Install Guide: Bottles
• Install Guide: Rum: terminal-based.

What if the main mirrors are down?

Use these mirrors instead:

• https://gitlab.com/twig6943/affinityonlinux
• https://gitlab.com/twig6943/ElementalWarrior-Wine-binaries/-/releases

Commonly Asked Questions

• I can't get Zorin OS to work.
• My settings aren't saving.
• My 4K/2K display's UI is too small to read. How do I increase the size?
• Does Bottles work?
• Exporting keeps offsetting by a pixel.
• How do I set Wine to dark mode?
• I can't redock or rearrange my panels.

How do I get support?

Post a question in GitHub Issues, or ask in the Discord.

Where do I report issues?

Report it in GitHub Issues, or in the Discord.

How can I contribute?

Submit a pull request, and let us know in the #feedback channel on Discord.