Installing WSL - Setting up Linux Environment on Windows 10/11

☰ In this chapter, you will learn

  1. What is WSL and how is it used to set up Linux environments on Windows 10/11?
  2. How to Install WSL on Windows 10/11?
  3. How to Install Linux Distros on WSL?
  4. Launching Linux Distros for executing commands.
  5. How to remove WSL and Linux Distros from Windows 10/11?
  6. Basic WSL commands for configuration.

In Windows 10/11, there are several ways to execute Linux commands without installing Linux parallel with dual boots. In this section, we will teach you how can you use your existing Windows OS for executing Linux commands for educational purposes.

Understanding WSL

WSL stands for Windows Subsystem for Linux. This tool provides Linux kernel on the top of Windows kernel and allows you to run Linux Environment directly on a Windows system. You don't need to install bulky virtual machines and not need to setup dual-boot.

This tool is especially beneficial for developers working in a mixed environment, utilizing both Windows and Linux tools. It provides the flexibility to use a Linux terminal and execute Linux commands and applications seamlessly alongside their Windows counterparts.

How to Download, Install, and Setup WSL on Windows 10/11

Installing WSL on Windows 10/11 is as easy as navigating to the "Turn Windows features on or off" menu, checking the box for "Windows Subsystem for Linux," and then following the prompts to download and install the desired Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store.

Installing WSL

There are several ways to installing WSL on your Windows 10/11.

  1. Using the Command prompt or Powershell
  2. Using the Windows Features.
  3. Using the Microsoft Store.

Method 1: Installing WSL Using the Command prompt.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt or Powershell as Administrator.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Step 2: Type the following command. This command will install WSL with Ubuntu (default) operating system. If you don't want to install Ubuntu by default you can change Linux distros also using the provided command.


Option 1: Install WSL with Ubuntu.
>C:\Windows\System32> wsl -install
Installing: Ubuntu
[                           30.23%                           ]
Option 2: Install WSL with another Distros.

  1. Type following command for seeing the available Linux Distros. It will list all the available Linux Distros that can be used with WSL.

    >C:\Windows\System32> wsl --list --online
    
The following is a list of valid distributions that can be installed.
Install using 'wsl.exe --install '.

NAME                                   FRIENDLY NAME
Ubuntu                                 Ubuntu
Debian                                 Debian GNU/Linux
kali-linux                             Kali Linux Rolling
Ubuntu-18.04                           Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
Ubuntu-20.04                           Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
Ubuntu-22.04                           Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
OracleLinux_7_9                        Oracle Linux 7.9
OracleLinux_8_7                        Oracle Linux 8.7
OracleLinux_9_1                        Oracle Linux 9.1
openSUSE-Leap-15.5                     openSUSE Leap 15.5
SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-Server-15-SP4    SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4
SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-15-SP5           SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP5
openSUSE-Tumbleweed                    openSUSE Tumbleweed

  2. To install your desired distros, type the following command.

    >C:\Windows\System32> wsl --install -d Debian
    
Debian GNU/Linux is already installed.
Launching Debian GNU/Linux...
Installing, this may take a few minutes...

Step 3: Wait for the process to finish and then reboot your computer.

Step 4: If you wan to add more Linux distros, Open Microsoft Store, find Linux distros and Install them.

Download Linux Distros from Microsoft Store

Step 5: To start writing command on Linux terminal, Open Elevated Command prompt or Powershell with administrator and type the distros name.

For example, if you want to open Ubuntu terminal in the command prompt, just type Ubuntu and press Enter. 

>C:\Windows\System32> Ubuntu
Welcome to Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS (GNU/Linux 5.15.133.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2 x86_64)

* Documentation:  https://help.ubuntu.com
* Management:     https://landscape.canonical.com
* Support:        https://ubuntu.com/pro

prashant@easycodelab:~$

Method 2: Using the Windows Features

You can also install WSL using the Windows Features. Just follow the instructions and install WSL on your Windows 10/11 machine.

Step 1: Go to Start menu and Search for 'Windows features' and open 'Turn Windows features on or off'.

Open Windows Features

Step 2: Scroll down and locate 'Windows Sybsystem for Linux' and enable it by ticking the check box. Click 'Ok' to save settings.

Turn on WSL on Windows Features

Step 3: After the operation is complete, please restart your computer.

Step 4: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following command to verify the WSL installation.

Check WSL version: 
>C:\Windows\System32> wsl -v
WSL version: 2.0.9.0
Kernel version: 5.15.133.1-1
WSLg version: 1.0.59
MSRDC version: 1.2.4677
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22631.2861
Check installed Linux Distros: 
>C:\Windows\System32> wsl -l -v
  NAME            STATE           VERSION
* Ubuntu          Stopped         2
  Ubuntu-20.04    Stopped         2
  kali-linux      Stopped         2
  CentOS8         Stopped         2
Step 5: To install your desired Linux distros, Open Microsoft Store and search for your distros and Install it.
Download Linux Distros from Microsoft Store

Method 3: Using the Microsoft Store

You can also install WSL through the Microsoft Store, just like you would install any other Windows apps.

Step 1: Open Microsoft Store and Search for 'WSL'.

Download WSL from Microsoft Store

Step 2: Click on the 'Get' button to Install it.

Opening Linux Terminal

After installing WSL and your desired Distros, Launch terminal as follows:

Option 1: Click on the Start menu and search for distros and open it.

Launch Ubuntu from Start menu

Option 2: Open Command Prompt as an administrator, type the name of the Linux distribution, and press Enter.

C:\Windows\System32> Ubuntu
prashant@easycodelab:~$

Option 3: Using Powershell

Step 1: Open Powershell as Administrator.

Open Powershell as administrator

Step 2: Click on the Down arrow and select your distros.

Open Ubuntu on Powershell

How to Uninstall WSL and Linux Distros

If you wish to remove the entire WSL or specific Linux distributions, you can accomplish this by following these steps:

Option 1: Open 'Turn Windows features on or off,' then uncheck the 'Windows Subsystem for Linux' option. This action will remove WSL from your Windows machine.
Option 2: Click on the Start menu and search for 'WSL'. Right-click on 'WSL' and select 'Uninstall'.
Uninstall WSL from Start Menu
Remove Distros
Option 1: Open the Start menu, locate your distribution, right-click on it, and select 'Uninstall.'
Uninstall Ubuntu from Start Menu
Option 2: Open Command Prompt as an Administrator and execute the following command to remove distros.
To see the Distros list: 
C:\Windows\System32> wsl -l
Windows Subsystem for Linux Distributions:
	Ubuntu (Default)
	Ubuntu-20.04
	kali-linux
	CentOS8
To remove the Distros: 
>C:\Windows\System32> wsl --unregister <DistroName>

Some basic WSL Commands

# Description Command
1 Installing WSL wsl -install
2 Available Linux Distros online wsl --list –online
3 Install Linux Distros wsl --install -d <Distros name>
4 Update WSL wsl --update
5 Check WSL status wsl --status
6 Check WSL version wsl --version
7 Shutdown wsl wsl –shutdown
8 Check install distribution wsl -l -v
9 Uninstall Distros wsl --unregister <DistributionName>

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned how to configure your Windows 10/11 to install a Linux system. WSL enables you to run Linux distributions seamlessly alongside your Windows system, offering a convenient option for practicing Linux commands within your Windows environment.





Print