Tip of the Week Universal
4 min read

This Week’s Pro Tip: If a game shows a black screen, won’t launch, or crashes immediately, try changing the Proton version. It’s often the fix.

Note: This works on both the free Decky plugin and Junk Store 2.0.

The Problem

We’ve all been there: you install a game, hit play, and… nothing. After a bit of digging, someone suggests trying a different Proton version.

Junk Store makes this easy. You can change the compatibility tool (Proton, GE-Proton, Proton Experimental) directly in Game Mode using Steam’s built-in compatibility menu. No manually entering environment variables or launch arguments, and no separate compatibility tool management. As with other features, Junk Store leverages what’s already there inside Steam.

You’ll still need to download your Proton versions using a tool like ProtonUp-Qt or Wine Cellar. But once downloaded, it’s just a matter of navigating to the menu and selecting the version you want.

The Quick Fix

  1. Open your game in Junk Store
  2. Press Y to go to Steam's game page
  3. Select the gear/cog icon
  4. Choose Properties

Select Properties from the gear menu

  1. Go to Compatibility tab
  2. Select a different Proton version from the dropdown

Select your Proton version from the dropdown

That’s it. The setting saves automatically for that game.

Alternative: From Steam Library

You can also change Proton directly from the Non-Steam tab in your Steam Library:

  1. Find your game in Steam Library (Non-Steam tab)
  2. Press the Start/Options button (hamburger menu ☰)
  3. Select Properties

Access Properties from Steam Library

  1. Go to Compatibility tab
  2. Select a different Proton version from the dropdown

Same result, just a different way to get there.

Full Step-by-Step Guide with Screenshots →

Which Proton Version?

🎯 GE-Proton versions are generally recommended over standard Steam Proton. They include extra fixes and patches for non-Steam games.
⚠️ Newer isn't always better. We find a stable GE-Proton version and stick with it. Test before upgrading.
💡 Keep 2-3 versions installed so you can switch if one doesn't work for a particular game.

Not Sure Which Version Works?

Check our Games Tested page or ProtonDB.com to see what others are using for your specific game.

Hope this helps get your games running! Questions? Our team is always ready to help.

Cheers,
The Junk Store Team

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Have questions about this tip? Join our community on Discord or Reddit!