Windows Subsystem for Linux lets you run a real Linux environment inside Windows without dual-booting or managing a separate virtual machine app.
This applies to Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11 using WSL 2.
Does This Affect You?
WSL is useful for developers, command-line tools, scripting, Linux package managers, and learning Linux while staying inside Windows.
Install WSL with One Command
- Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal as administrator.
- Run
wsl --install. - Wait while Windows enables required components and downloads Ubuntu by default.
- Restart if prompted.
- Open Ubuntu from Start and create a Linux username and password. This is separate from your Windows login.
Install a Specific Distribution
- Open PowerShell as administrator.
- Run
wsl --list --onlineto see available distributions. - Run
wsl --install -d Debian, replacing Debian with the distribution name you want. - Install more distributions later with the same command and a different name.
- Run
wsl --list --verboseto see installed distributions and WSL versions.
Using WSL After Install
Access Files Both Ways
Windows drives appear inside Linux under /mnt/c/, /mnt/d/, and so on. From Windows File Explorer, enter wsl$ to browse Linux files.
Use VS Code with WSL
Visual Studio Code’s WSL extension lets you open folders inside Linux and use a Linux terminal directly from the editor.
If Install Fails
Check that virtualization is enabled in BIOS/UEFI and that Windows 10 is version 2004 or later. Look for Intel VT-x, AMD-V, or SVM Mode settings.
Remove WSL Later
Run wsl --unregister <name> to delete a distribution and its Linux files. Turn off WSL and Virtual Machine Platform in Windows Features to remove the platform.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Install WSL
- Microsoft Learn: WSL basic commands
- Microsoft Learn: Comparing WSL 1 and WSL 2