Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a feature of Windows that allows you to run a Linux environment on your Windows machine, without the need for a separate virtual machine or dual booting.

Device requirements

  • Windows 10 version 2004 and higher (Build 19041 and higher) or
  • Windows 11

Install WSL

  • Open Start and Search for Terminal & Run as administrator
  • type the following command
wsl --install

If you don’t need to install a distribution: Use --no-distribution flag

  • Restart your computer to use it
  • Now verify our installation and version
wsl --status

Update WSL

wsl --update

Install Linux distro

You can install Ubuntu, Ubuntu LTS, Debian, Kali Linux, openSUSE, OracleLinux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

  • Open the Terminal & Type the following command
wsl --list --online
  • Now you can see a list of availabe distros and Install anyone from the list.
wsl --install -d <DistroName>
  • To see list installed Linux distributions
wsl --list --verbose

Uninstall Linux distro

To Unregister or uninstall a Linux distribution

wsl --unregister <DistributionName>

References