Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Introduction
This KB will explain the basics of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on a Windows machine.
Applicability
This article applies to anyone installing or supporting WSL on a Windows device. This is meant to be an introductory guide on some of the basics surrounding WSL.
Details
Table of Contents
About WSL
Installing WSL
Uninstalling a WSL instance
Launching WSL
Using WSL Command Line
Using Linux Apps
Setting up a Desktop Environment (GUI)
About WSL
What is Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)?
WSL is essentially a virtualization layer in Windows that allows you to run a variety of different Linux Distributions in a window. This virtualization layer makes it easy to seamlessly run Linux alongside Windows, without the need for messy solutions like dual booting or creating a dedicated VM. WSL comes in two versions.
What are the differences between WSL1 and WSL2?
Version 1 which was the first iteration of WSL, and version 2 which is generally the most common version available as of 2025. Generally version 2 has better compatibility with local resources, and is faster than version 1. However, should your workload require features only found in version 1, that is out of scope for this KB, and the focus will be on WSL version 2. Please see this link from Microsoft describing the differences. It should be possible to convert a WSL instance from one version to another should there be a requirement to do so.
What are the system requirements for WSL v2?
- Windows 11
- Windows 10 at least version version 1903
- Virtualization Support enabled in the system BIOS/UEFI
- Administrative privileges on the system
- Administrative privileges aren't necessary for ALL functions of WSL, however some features/functions will require elevated permissions such as:
- Running an OpenSSH server
- modifying system settings
- installing updates
- For IST managed devices, EPM should be leveraged with the "High Flex" profile applied.
What Distributions are available?
As of May 2025, the following are available through Microsoft:
- AlmaLinux-8
- AlmaLinux-9
- AlmaLinus-Kitten-10
- Debian
- FedoraLinux-42
- SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-15-SP5
- SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-15-SP6
- Ubuntu
- Ubuntu-24.04
- archlinux
- kali-linux
- openSUSE-Tumbleweed
- openSUSE-Leap-15.6
- Ubuntu-18.04
- Ubuntu-20.04
- Ubuntu-22.04
- OracleLinux_7_9
- OracleLinux_8_7
- OracleLinux_9_1
**It is possible to provide your own distribution to WSL, but that is out of scope for this KB.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of WSL?
Advantages:
- Simplified installation
- Shares system resources with Windows, no need to carve out dedicated resources as you would with a VM.
- Seamless integration with Windows, allowing to access files between Windows and Linux.
- Can out perform a VM in a lot of cases.
- Great for machine learning
Disadvantages:
- Windows still at the core if you need/want a full Linux environment
- Not quite as fast as Linux on bare metal.
- While a Desktop Environment (GUI) is technically available on WSL, it isn't accessed natively, but rather through an RDP session to the WSL instance. Reliability has been inconsistent.
What are some nuances to Linux compared to Windows?
- Linux commands & Files/Folders are case sensitive
- Pretty much all settings in Linux are stored in text files
- Instead of C: for the OS, the root of Linux is /
- Best practice is any user generated files be stored under the home folder (Example: /home/JohnDoe/YourFilesGoHere)
Installing WSL
To install WSL, open up Terminal in Windows 11, or Powershell in Windows 10, the following commands will be run within Terminal.
To view available distributions available:
To install WSL with the default Ubuntu distro:
wsl --install
To install WSL with a specified distribution:
wsl --install --distribution <nameofdistro>
Example:
wsl --install --distribution archlinux
Upon installing, you'll see something like the screen below where it should ask for a user account and password.
Alternatively, you can also install it from the Microsoft Store, as shown below.
Uninstalling a WSL instance
To list the installed WSL instances
To remove, run wsl with the unregister parameter
wsl --unregister <DistroName>
Example:
wsl --unregister Ubuntu
Alternatively, you can also remove it from the Add/Remove programs list in Windows
Launching WSL
There are a couple ways to launch WSL
1. From the Start menu:
2. From within Terminal:
Note: If you don't see it in the Terminal menu, close Terminal, then re-launch Terminal, and it should now show up.
Using WSL Command Line
This is not a comprehensive list, but maybe a couple things to help get started. Please note some of these commands will be specific to Debian based distributions such as Ubuntu
Elevate permissions using the sudo command (similar to Run As Administrator in Windows). Stands for "Super User Do".
sudo <command>
To change directory
cd <folder you want to change to>
Examples:
cd / (changes to the root>
cd /mnt (changes to the /mnt directory)
cd Desktop (assuming your in the /home/JohnDoe folder already, this moves you into the Desktop subfolder)
Search the package manager for installable apps
apt search <appname>
Example:
apt search neofetch
Install app from package manager
sudo apt install <appname>
Example:
sudo apt install neofetch
Browse the C: of your Windows OS within WSL (change C to your desired Windows drive letter)
cd /mnt/c
ls or dir (to list directory contents)
You can also view the WSL filesystem from within Windows File Explorer
To list running processes
top
To get a nicer looking version of top
sudo apt install htop
then run:
htop
To make a directory/folder
mkdir <folderName>
Example:
mkdir MyNewFolder
To copy a file
cp <filename> <destinationpath>
Example:
cp myfile /home/JohnDoe
To move a file
mv <filename> <destination>
Example:
mv MyFile /home/JohnDoe
To remove a file
rm <filename>
Example:
rm MyFile
To create a blank file
touch <filename>
Example:
touch mynewfile
To display contents of file without opening it
cat <filename>
Example:
cat FileToShow
To open a file within a text editor
nano <filename>
Example:
nano MyFile
Using Linux Apps
As long as you have the appropriate video drivers for Windows installed onto your system, and are using a version 2 distro (most should be by default as of May 2025), you should be able to open most Linux apps that have a graphical user interface.
**Note, depending on the app, there may be some performance limitations, and some apps make take a little bit to open.
In the example shown below, after installing Audacity, typing in Audacity will launch the program, which can then be moved around like any other Windows app.
Alternatively, you can also choose to launch the app from the Windows Start menu. In this case, a search of the Start menu brings it up.
Setting up a Desktop Environment (GUI)
***Your mileage may vary with setting up a Desktop Environment, as it requires using Remote Desktop to connect into the GUI, which does not offer a native GUI experience.***
It is recommended to use a VM or install directly on your computer if a GUI is required, as this option has shown to not be reliable.
Start by checking for new updates for installed packages for the WSL instance
sudo apt update
Then install the updates
Then install a tool called TaskSel
sudo apt install tasksel -y
Run TaskSel
sudo tasksel
Select the Desktop Environment you want to install (KDE Plasma, and Cinnamon tend to have a Windows like feel, where as Gnome will have more of a Mac feel to it)
It all comes down to personal preference. Use the arrow keys move the cursor, and space bar to select/unselect the Desktop Environment (DE) you want to use. **While you can install multiple DEs, it is recommended to only use one.**
Next install XRDP package
sudo apt install xrdp -y
Now you'll need to find the IP address of your WSL instance
ip a
Most of the time you'll be looking for the eth0 interface, and then the IP address (which is probably going to be a private IP)
From Windows, open Remote Desktop, and enter the IP address
Enter your WSL username and password,
