Windows WSL Install Linux

WSL（Windows Subsystem for Linux）It is a subsystem provided by Microsoft for Windows users, which allows you to run Linux natively on Windows (not a virtual machine, not a dual system), directly using Linux tools such as Bash, apt, gcc, Python, Node.js, etc.

WSL Version Differences

Feature	WSL1	WSL2
Kernel Architecture	Translates system calls (compatibility layer)	Real Linux kernel (lightweight virtual machine)
Performance (File Access)	Faster Windows ↔ Linux access	Faster Linux ↔ Linux internal access
Startup Speed	Faster	Slightly slower
Docker Support	Not supported	✅ Fully supported
System Resource Usage	Less	Slightly higher

Recommended to useWSL2, with stronger compatibility and more complete features.

Installation Steps (Using WSL2 as an Example)

Prerequisites

Windows 10 2004 (or higher) / Windows 11
Enable virtualization (VT-x or AMD-V enabled in BIOS)

Method 1: One-click Installation (Recommended)

wsl --install

This command will automatically:

Enable WSL feature
Install WSL2 kernel
Install the default Ubuntu
Set to WSL2

After installation, restart the system once.

Method 2: Manual Installation (Suitable for Custom Needs)

1. Enable WSL feature and Virtual Machine Platform

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

2. Download and install the Linux kernel update package

👉 Download address:https://aka.ms/wsl2kernel

3. Set the default WSL version to WSL2

wsl --set-default-version 2

4. Install a Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu) from the Microsoft Store

You can also install via command line:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

Common Commands Quick Reference

Command	Description
`wsl`	Start the default Linux
`wsl --list --verbose`	View installed distributions and versions
`wsl --set-version Ubuntu 2`	Set Ubuntu to use WSL2
`wsl --install -d Debian`	Install a specified distribution
`wsl --shutdown`	Shut down all WSL instances
`wsl -e bash`	Start Linux Shell with Bash

Daily Usage Guide

How to access Windows files?

In WSL, Windows files are mounted in directories such as /mnt/c, /mnt/d:

cd /mnt/c/Users/你的用户名/Desktop

How to access WSL files?

Access in Windows:

\\wsl$\Ubuntu\home\your_username

Or enter in the Explorer address bar:\\wsl$

Recommended Companion Tools

Tool	Description
Windows Terminal	Multi-tab terminal, supports colors and custom configuration
VS Code + Remote WSL	Edit Linux files directly in VS Code
oh-my-zsh / fish	Beautify the terminal, improve the operating experience
tmux / screen	Multi-terminal management tool

How to Uninstall or Reset?

# 卸载某个 Linux 发行版
wsl --unregister Ubuntu

# 重置 WSL 所有数据（危险操作）
wsl --unregister <发行版名>

Other Extensions

ShellTutorial

LinuxReference Manual