Getting Simlink Working With MSFS 2024 on CachyOS Linux (Steam + Proton Experimental)

[stevengfx]

Obviously Linux is not support as mentioned in the ‘Technical Requirements’ section on the Navigraph website. Add support to the wishlist item at Moving map support for X-Plane on Linux for this.

I’m running MSFS 2024 (Steam) on CachyOS Linux using Proton Experimental, and I wanted Simlink to work inside the same Proton prefix so it can talk to the sim and handle the browser login. Here’s what worked for me (relatively simple) and hopfully others search google can find something useful here.

Note:
MSFS 2024’s Steam AppID is 2537590, so its Proton prefix is at:
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2537590
If for some reason your AppID is different, adjust that number.

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1. Install Simlink into the MSFS Proton prefix

Download the Simlink installer (for example: Navigraph+Simlink.exe) and run it via Proton Experimental so it installs into the MSFS prefix:

STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=“$HOME/.local/share/Steam” STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=“$HOME/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2537590” ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Proton\ -\ Experimental/proton run “$HOME/Downloads/Navigraph+Simlink.exe”

During the installer, just accept the default Windows path, e.g.:

C:\Program Files\Navigraph\Simlink

After that, Simlink ends up here (Linux path):

$HOME/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2537590/pfx/drive_c/Program Files/Navigraph/Simlink/NavigraphSimlink.exe

(If your installer uses Program Files (x86) instead, just adjust that part below.)

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2. Create a Simlink launcher that uses Proton + the MSFS prefix

Create or edit:

nano ~/.local/share/applications/Simlink.desktop

With this content:

[Desktop Entry]
Comment=Simlink is a plugin that runs in the background and displays the position of your aircraft directly in Navigraph Charts. It helps you navigate complex taxiways and conveniently displays on top of procedural charts, in real-time.
Exec=env STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=$HOME/.local/share/Steam STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=$HOME/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2537590 "$HOME/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Proton - Experimental/proton" run "$HOME/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2537590/pfx/drive_c/Program Files/Navigraph/Simlink/NavigraphSimlink.exe" %u
GenericName=
Icon=0343_NavigraphSimlink.0
MimeType=x-scheme-handler/navigraph-traffic-desktop;
Name=Simlink
NoDisplay=false
Path=/home/<your-username>/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2537590/pfx/drive_c
PrefersNonDefaultGPU=false
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=false
TerminalOptions=
Type=Application
X-KDE-SubstituteUID=false
X-KDE-Username=

Replace <your-username> in Path= with your actual user name.

What this does:

• STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH → points Proton at your Steam install

• STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH → tells Proton to use the MSFS 2024 prefix

• Runs Proton Experimental and launches NavigraphSimlink.exe inside that prefix

• MimeType=x-scheme-handler/navigraph-traffic-desktop; and %u allow the Navigraph login page (in your browser) to call back into Simlink via the navigraph-traffic-desktop://… URL

On my system, just creating this file was enough — the browser started opening the Simlink launcher automatically after login.

4. Usage

1. In Steam, set MSFS 2024 to use Proton Experimental.

2. Launch MSFS from Steam.

3. Launch Simlink from your desktop/menu (it will use the .desktop entry above).

4. Simlink (under Proton) opens your browser to the Navigraph login.

5. Log in, allow it to “Open Simlink” when prompted.

6. Simlink is now logged in and connected to MSFS 2024, same as on Windows.

That’s all I needed to get Simlink fully working with MSFS 2024 with Steam + Proton on CachyOS Linux.