How do I use WSL 2?

Author

Charlotte Adams

Published Mar 16, 2026

How do I use WSL 2?

Setting up WSL2

Open a PowerShell window as an admin, then run.
Reboot when prompted.
After the reboot, set WSL to default to WSL2.
Now, you can install your Linux distro of choice by searching the Windows Store.
Start up your distro with the shortcut added to the start menu.

People also ask, do I have WSL 2?

WSL2 will be generally available in Windows 10, version 2004. WSL2 will soon be officially available as part of Windows 10, version 2004! As we get ready for general availability, we want to share one additional change: updating how the Linux kernel inside of WSL2 is installed and serviced on your machine.

Subsequently, question is, does WSL 2 require Hyper V? The newest version of WSL uses Hyper-V architecture to enable its virtualization. This architecture will be available in the 'Virtual Machine Platform' optional component. This optional component will be available on all SKUs.

Accordingly, what is the point of WSL?

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new Windows 10 feature that enables you to run native Linux command-line tools directly on Windows, alongside your traditional Windows desktop and modern store apps.

How do I enable WSL?

To enable WSL in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, do the following.

Open the Settings app.
Go to Apps -> Apps & Features.
Scroll down to the Programs and Features link:
Click the link.
On the left, click the link Turn Windows features on or off.
The dialog Windows Features will appear on the screen.

Does WSL need Hyper V?

The newest version of WSL uses Hyper-V architecture to enable its virtualization. This architecture will be available in the 'Virtual Machine Platform' optional component. You can expect to see more details about this experience soon as we get closer to the WSL 2 release.

How do I know if WSL is installed?

After restarting Windows, you can check that you have WSL enabled by opening a Command Prompt and typing 'wsl'. WSL is enabled but you haven't installed a Linux distribution yet. Next, you will install Linux from the Microsoft Store.

How do I enable WSL on Windows?

To enable WSL in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, do the following.

Open the Settings app.
Go to Apps -> Apps & Features.
Scroll down to the Programs and Features link:
Click the link.
On the left, click the link Turn Windows features on or off.
The dialog Windows Features will appear on the screen.

How do I upgrade to WSL 2?

To install WSL 2, you sign-up to the Microsoft Insider Program, so you can get access to their Insider Preview builds. Once you have upgraded your current MS build to the Insider Preview build, you can start upgrading your WSL distributions to version 2.

Where is WSL installed?

In WSL, all the linux filesystem is located under a Windows folder. The location of the folder depends on the version of Windows and of the WSL distribution you are using. Linux distributions installed using other tools, such as lxRunOffline or WSL-DistroLauncher may store the linux filesystem into any location.

Does Windows 10 have a Linux kernel?

Microsoft is removing its Linux kernel from the Windows OS image with Windows 10 20H1/2004 and instead will deliver it via Windows Update.

How do I enable WSL in Windows 10?

To enable WSL in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, do the following.

Open the Settings app.
Go to Apps -> Apps & Features.
Scroll down to the Programs and Features link:
Click the link.
On the left, click the link Turn Windows features on or off.
The dialog Windows Features will appear on the screen.

What is new in wsl2?

There's a big change at the heart of WSL 2. Instead of using a translation layer to convert Linux kernel calls into Windows calls, WSL 2 now offers its own isolated Linux kernel running on a thin version of the Hyper-V hypervisor. Make sure you have one that can work with Hyper-V before you switch to WSL 2.

How do I find my WSL version?

Run wsl -l to display the available distros. To verify the versions of each distro, run wsl --list --verbose or wsl -l -v. Run the command wsl --set-version <Distro> 2 to set a distro. Replace <Distro> with the name of the distro revealed by the command under 6).

Can WSL use GPU?

It is a Linux kernel compatibility layer for Windows. WSL allowed Windows users to install a full Linux distro like Ubuntu, openSUSE, Kali or Debian albeit with limitations… notably, there is no GPU support, so it can't do GUI's (e.g. Gnome, KDE, etc.)

Is WSL open source?

Open source champion Microsoft announces Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2) at Build 2019. Believe it or not, WSL 2 will ship with an actual Linux kernel, meaning full system call compatibility! This will also allow Microsoft to issue kernel improvements by only updating the kernel — no need to update the entire WSL

What is 20h1?

Microsoft's Windows Insider Program allows IT pros, system admins and enthusiasts to test pre-release versions of the next major feature update for Windows 10. The first feature update expected in the first half of 2020 will be developed under the code name 20H1.

How do I know my Windows build?

Check Windows 10 Build Version

Win + R. Open up the run command with the Win + R key combo.
Launch winver. Simply type in winver into the run command text box and hit OK. That is it. You should now see a dialog screen revealing the OS build and registration information.

Is WSL a VM?

WSL is not a hypervisor (virtual machine) and it does not run a Linux kernel natively on Windows. This means no kernel level support for Linux containers.

Is Windows Subsystem for Linux good?

WSL is great tool, but if you need all the power and features of a Linux system, it would be better to run your Linux instance on a VM instead. Many companies offer free versions of type 2 hypervisors that run great on Windows systems.

Where does Windows Subsystem for Linux store files?

Interoperability with Windows

Your Windows file system is located at /mnt/c in the Bash shell environment. Where {user} is your Windows Username and {username} is your UNIX Username set during install. Note that the root directory may not be visible in Windows Explorer from the %localappdata% directory.

What is WSL in Windows 10?

WSL, the Windows Subsystem for Linux, is a free, optional feature of Windows 10 that allows Linux programs to run on Windows. It provides you with a Windows version of the bash shell and a compatibility layer that permits many Linux programs to run natively on your Windows machine.

How do I run bash on Windows?

How to Enable the Linux Bash Shell in Windows 10

Navigate to Settings.
Click Update & security.
Select For Developers in the left column.
Select Developer Mode under "Use developer features" if it's not already enabled.
Navigate to the Control Panel (the old Windows control panel).
Select Programs and Features.
Click "Turn Windows features on or off."

What is git bash?

Git Bash is an application for Microsoft Windows environments which provides an emulation layer for a Git command line experience. Bash is an acronym for Bourne Again Shell. A shell is a terminal application used to interface with an operating system through written commands.

How does Windows Subsystem for Linux work?

How Does the Windows 10 Subsystem for Linux Work and What Is It For? WSL provides a layer for mapping Windows kernel system calls to Linux kernel system calls. This allows Linux binaries to run in Windows unmodified. WSL also maps Windows services, like the filesystem and networking, as devices that Linux can access.

How use Linux on Windows?

First, choose your Linux distribution. Download it and create USB installation media or burn it to a DVD. Boot it on a PC already running Windows—you may need to mess with Secure Boot settings on a Windows 8 or Windows 10 computer. Launch the installer, and follow the instructions.

Where does Ubuntu on Windows store files?

Note: In older versions of Windows 10, these files were stored under C:UsersNameAppDataLocallxss. This changed starting with the Fall Creators Update. To view the files stored in your home folder, double-click the “home” folder, and then double-click your UNIX username.

Is WSL any good?

Running a virtual machine (VM) can be more efficient.

WSL is great tool, but if you need all the power and features of a Linux system, it would be better to run your Linux instance on a VM instead. Many companies offer free versions of type 2 hypervisors that run great on Windows systems.

Can WSL replace Cygwin?

WSL would be closer to coLinux than Cygwin. Keep in mind that Unix, POSIX and Linux are different things. Cygwin is a POSIX compatibility layer that runs on top of the Win32 subsystem. It promises similar Windows integration as WSL 1 but with a real Linux kernel (so kernel modules, filesystems, etc., should work).

Will Windows use Linux kernel?

To be clear, Microsoft isn't replacing the Windows kernel. The Linux kernel will run as what's called a "virtual machine," a common way of running operating systems within an operating system. You'll have to make a point of installing WSL if you want to use the Linux kernel.

Is Windows Subsystem for Linux a virtual machine?

WSL is not a hypervisor (virtual machine) and it does not run a Linux kernel natively on Windows. This means no kernel level support for Linux containers.

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