Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in Windows 11

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a component of Windows that allows users to run the Linux operating system. You can install Ubuntu or any other Linux distro of your choice directly in Windows 11.

Windows Subsystem for Linux allows developers to run a GNU/Linux environment including most command-line tools, utilities and applications – directly and unmodified under Windows, without the aid of a traditional virtual machine of dualboot setup.

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

You can install WSL in two ways. Namely via a command prompt or via the Microsoft Store. The Microsoft Store is perhaps the most convenient way because updating WSL is also done via the Microsoft Store. If you install WSL via Command Prompt you will need to issue an update argument to check for updates.

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux via Command Prompt

Click the start button and search for “Command Prompt”. Right-click on the result and choose “Run as Administrator”.

In the command prompt type:

wsl --install

Windows subsystem for Linux is now being installed. Other prerequisites are also installed such as Virtual Machine Platform and the Linux distro Ubuntu.

When the installation of WSL is complete, you must restart the computer.

After the restart, you must complete the WSL configuration. During the restart, updates are performed in Windows 11, keep the computer turned on.

After the restart, Ubuntu Linux will be installed, this may take a while. You will then be asked to create a Linux user.

After creating the user in WSL – Ubuntu Linux, the installation is completed and Windows Subsystem for Linux is ready for use.

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux via Microsoft Store

You can also install WSL from the Microsoft Store. The advantage of installing from the Store is that you can regularly install updates for WSL via the Store.

Before installing Windows Subsystem for Linux app from Store. You must ensure that the Virtual Machine Platform is enabled in the Windows components.

Open it control panel and click on “Programs”. Then click on “Turn Windows features on or off”. Then click on “Virtual Machine Platform” and enable the component. Then click OK.

The installation of this part will start. Once done, restart your computer.

Then go to this page to download Windows Subsystem for Linux app. The Microsoft Store will open when you click the “Download” button.

Remove Windows Subsystem for Linux

To remove WSL, do the following.

Open it control panel and click on “Programs”. Then click on “Turn Windows features on or off”. Then click on “Windows Subsystem for Linux” and disable the item. Then click OK.

Windows Subsystem for Linux commands

To update WSL, open a Command Prompt and type:

wsl --update

You can also update through the Microsoft Store if you installed WSL through the Store.

If you want to install Windows Subsystem for Linux using another Linux distribution, you can try this command to get a list of other available distros:

In the command prompt, type the following command:

wsl --list --online

This will show a list of available Linux distros. To start the installation with the Linux distro of your choice, type this command:

wsl --install -d naam-van-distro

For example, if you want to install Debian, replace the name-of-distro with Debian in the command above.

To access more commands, simply type

wsl

I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!