How to Install Linux on Windows with WSL

Many users can benefit from the ability to run both Windows and Linux simultaneously on a Windows machine. The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows you to install a Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, Kali, Debian, Arch Linux, etc) and use Linux applications, utilities, and Bash command-line tools directly on Windows, unmodified, without the overhead of a traditional virtual machine or dual-boot setup.

Prerequisites:

Before you begin, it's essential to ensure you're running the right version of Windows:

Check Windows Version:

To determine your Windows version, follow these steps:

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
Type winver and press Enter.
A window will pop up displaying your Windows version and build number. Make sure you are running Windows 10 version 2004 and higher (Build 19041 and higher) or Windows 11 to use the commands below.

Install WSL

You can now install everything you need to run WSL with a single command. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Open a Command Prompt in Administrator Mode

Right-click on the Windows Start button.
Select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). This is essential as administrative privileges are required for installation.

Step 2: Enter the Installation Command

In the Command Prompt or Windows Terminal with admin privileges, enter the following command:


wsl --install --web-download

Change the Default Linux Distribution

By default, the installed Linux distribution will be Ubuntu. However, you can change this default distribution using the -d flag.

To change the distribution installed, follow these steps:

Open a Command Prompt or Windows Terminal.
Enter wsl --list --online to see a list of available Linux distributions for download through the online store.

Replace Distribution Name with the name of the distribution you would like and run:


wsl --install -d <Distribution Name>

How to Run a Linux Distribution with WSL

Once you've installed a Linux distribution using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you can easily launch it and start working. Here's how to run your Linux distribution:

In the Windows Start search bar, type the name of your installed Linux distribution. For example, if you have Ubuntu installed, simply type Ubuntu.
Windows will display your Linux distribution in the search results. Click on it to launch your distribution.

Option 2: Command Line

You can also run your Linux distribution from the command line in Windows. Here's how:

Open a Command Prompt or Windows Terminal.
Type the name of your installed distribution. For example, if you have Ubuntu, type ubuntu and press Enter.

Basic Commands for WSL

Now that you have WSL installed and have set up your Linux distributions, it's important to familiarize yourself with some basic commands to work effectively within the Linux environment. Below are some key commands you can use within WSL.

List Installed Linux Distributions:

To view a list of the Linux distributions installed on your Windows machine, including their state and WSL version, use:

Set WSL Version:

To set the version of WSL (1 or 2) for a specific Linux distribution, use:


wsl --set-version <distribution name> <versionNumber>

Set Default WSL Version:

To set a default version of WSL (1 or 2) for new Linux distribution installations, use:


wsl --set-default-version <Version>

Set Default Linux Distribution:

To set the default Linux distribution used with the wsl command, use:


wsl --set-default <Distribution Name>

Run a Specific Linux Distribution:

To run a specific Linux distribution with a specific user, use:


wsl --distribution <Distribution Name> --user <User Name>

Removing a Specific Linux Distribution

If you want to remove a specific Linux distribution from your WSL setup, follow these steps:

Open a Command Prompt or Windows Terminal.
Run the following command and replace distro name with the name of the distribution you want to remove:


wsl --unregister <distro name>

This command will unregister the specified distribution from WSL, removing it from your system. Please note that all data, settings, and software associated with that distribution will be permanently lost.

Uninstall WSL from Your Computer

If you want to completely uninstall WSL from your computer, follow these steps:

Open a Command Prompt or Windows Terminal.
Below command will disable the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature on your system. Once disabled, WSL will be removed from your computer.


Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

With WSL, the integration of Windows and Linux becomes seamless. From ensuring you have the right Windows version to executing commands for installation and running Linux distributions, the process is straightforward. Additionally, you can manage your Linux distributions efficiently with basic WSL commands. If you need any more information or further assistance, feel free to contact our support team by submitting a ticket.