How to Fix the "wine32 is missing" Error on Ubuntu
Fix the 'wine32 is missing' error on Ubuntu with these simple terminal commands to enable 32-bit support and install the required Wine components.
If you're trying to install Wine on Ubuntu and see the message "wine32 is missing", don't worry, this is a common issue with a straightforward fix. The error occurs because Wine needs both 64-bit and 32-bit libraries to function properly, especially when running older 32-bit Windows software. Without the 32-bit components, Wine can't properly emulate those applications, leading to this error.
So, it’s either your system lacks multi-architecture support (needed to install 32-bit packages on a 64-bit OS), or the “wine32:i386” package simply wasn't installed during the initial Wine setup. Ubuntu, being a 64-bit system by default, doesn't always include 32-bit libraries unless explicitly configured. Fortunately, enabling multi-arch and installing the missing package is quick and painless. Below, we'll show you how to get Wine working properly again.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
How to Install Wine32 on Ubuntu
Step 1: Enable Multi-Architecture Support
Run the following command in your terminal:
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
This tells Ubuntu that you want to support 32-bit (i386) packages alongside your existing 64-bit ones. Without this, the system won’t allow you to install 32-bit Wine libraries.
Step 2: Update Your Package List
Next, refresh your package sources to ensure Ubuntu recognizes the newly added architecture:
sudo apt update
This ensures that “apt” (Ubuntu’s package manager) knows where to find the 32-bit Wine packages.
Step 3: Install Wine32
Now, install the missing 32-bit Wine components:
sudo apt install wine32:i386
This command fetches and installs all 32-bit libraries Wine needs to run older Windows applications.
Step 4 (Optional): Install Recommended Dependencies
If you still encounter issues, install Wine’s recommended packages for better compatibility:
sudo apt install --install-recommends wine
This ensures you have all the additional libraries Wine might need for different applications.
Step 5: Verify the Installation
Finally, check that Wine is correctly installed by running:
wine --version
If everything worked, you should see the Wine version without any missing-library errors.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
Conclusion
The "wine32 is missing" error is a common problem when setting up Wine on Ubuntu, but it’s easily fixed by enabling multi-arch support and installing the 32-bit components. Once you’ve followed these steps, Wine should work smoothly with both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows applications.
If you still face issues, double-check that all dependencies were installed correctly (“sudo apt --fix-broken install” can help) or consult Wine’s official documentation for troubleshooting. Otherwise, you’re now ready to run your favorite Windows software on Ubuntu without further interruptions.
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