How to Install Linux on Windows with WSL - Make Tech Easier

For a complete Linux experience, nothing beats a full installation. However, if you're a Windows user looking to experiment with Linux, the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) provides an excellent starting point. Setting up a Linux distribution on your Windows system is straightforward, whether you're new to Linux or aiming to use it for development purposes. It's definitely worth trying if you're curious about Linux. This guide will show you how to install Linux on Windows using WSL.

Table of Contents

• What is the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)?
• Linux Distributions Compatible with WSL
• Advantages of Using WSL: What You'll Gain
• Setting Up WSL on Windows 10
• Integrating WSL with Windows
• Running Linux GUI Applications on Windows 11
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)?

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a feature you can install on Windows that enables you to run a Linux distribution supported by the Microsoft Store on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine. Microsoft has collaborated with Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, to bring Ubuntu's Bash command line capabilities to Windows desktops, allowing for seamless integration of Linux and Windows workflows.

WSL supports Linux file systems through Bash commands but does not provide a full Linux desktop experience, which requires a virtual machine or dual-boot setup. Starting with Windows 11, WSL can run native Linux GUI applications like Gedit, GIMP, and Nautilus alongside Bash.

For Linux users accustomed to command line tools, WSL feels intuitive and familiar. It's also beneficial for Windows developers looking to deploy applications to Linux servers.

Linux Distributions Compatible with WSL

To use your preferred Linux distribution with WSL, ensure it's available for download from the Microsoft Store. Compatible distributions include:

• Ubuntu
• Debian
• Kali Linux
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
• Fedora Remix for WSL (Paid version)
• openSUSE Leap
• Alpine Linux

Advantages of Using WSL: What You'll Gain

Using WSL on your Windows device offers several key benefits:

• Running Linux on Windows: You can have a Linux virtual machine operating on your Windows system, allowing you to run your favorite Linux distribution simultaneously.
• Launch Linux Apps as Standalone Windows Applications: You can start Linux applications directly from the Windows Start menu or pin them to the taskbar, accessing them from your Windows desktop.
• Seamless Switching Between Windows and Linux: You can switch effortlessly between Linux and Windows, and importantly, access your Windows files and applications from within the Linux shell. WSL is unique in enabling cut and paste operations between Windows and Linux applications.
• Support for Cross-Platform Languages and Services: With WSL, you can run sophisticated programs across both operating systems, including vim, emacs, NodeJS, Python, Ruby, C/C , Rust, Go, MySQL, Apache, and MongoDB.
• Adapting Windows Applications to Linux User Habits: If you're a frequent Linux user, you can bring your favorite Linux commands to a Windows desktop without dealing with its interface. Whether editing a Word document or running Notepad , you can do so using Linux methods.

However, if you're a Windows user new to Linux, you'll need to learn some basic Linux commands to start. Don't worry; there aren't too many for a Windows user's needs.

Setting Up WSL on Windows 10

To set up WSL, you'll need a recent version of Windows 10 and basic knowledge of using Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

The following instructions will help you install the latest version of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2, Build 21354 as of September 2021).

1. On your Windows 10 device, search for the Control Panel feature named "turn Windows features on or off."

2. In the Windows Features menu, select the options for "Windows Subsystem for Linux" and "Windows PowerShell."

3. Launch PowerShell or Command Prompt as an administrator.
4. Enter the following command:

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

5. Restart your computer if prompted; otherwise, continue.
6. Open the Microsoft Store and search for "Linux" to view available distributions. For this example, we'll install Ubuntu.

7. Click the "Install" button within the Store app to download your chosen Linux distribution.

8. You'll receive a notification once the Linux distribution is installed on your Windows 10 desktop. You can open it directly from the Start Menu in the future.

9. When the Linux Bash window opens, choose a username. It doesn't need to match your Windows login.

10. Enter and confirm a password. Note that the password won't be visible, so store it securely. If you forget your password, you'll need to uninstall the Linux distribution, which will delete all your Linux files.

11. Update your installation by running:

<code>sudo apt update</code>

12. Wait for the updates to finish, then check for any upgradable versions in your Linux distribution with:

<code>apt list --upgradable</code>

13. Once you've identified available upgrades, apply them to your system using:

<code>sudo apt upgrade</code>

14. The update process involves extracting templates from Linux packages, followed by pre-configuration and applying settings. Be patient as this is automatic.

15. If you need to install specific Ubuntu packages like npm, groovy, impish, or hirsute, use:

<code>sudo apt install [package_name]</code>

16. Wait for the updates to complete, indicated by the green progress bar reaching 100 percent. If there are errors due to misconfiguration, the progress bar will turn red and suggest fixes.

Integrating WSL with Windows

You can use your Linux installation as a separate system on Windows, with its own files and programs. You might prefer storing some files on Linux for performance benefits, but one of WSL's significant advantages is the ability to interact with your Windows files and folders by mounting the drive in your Linux system. This setup allows you to use Linux alongside your Windows content, keeping everything in one place.

Now that you've learned how to install Linux using WSL on your Windows 10 device, it's time to get familiar with its basic commands.

Basic Linux Commands

If you're already comfortable with Linux command line navigation, you can skip ahead. Otherwise, here are some essential commands for navigating the Linux command line.

Using Linux commands in a Windows shell like PowerShell or Command Prompt is simple. Just use:

<code>wsl [the command you want to use]</code>

1. For example, to display the current directory path from the root, use:

<code>wsl pwd</code>

2. To list the contents of your current directory, enter:

<code>wsl ls</code>

This will execute the Linux command on Windows without opening the actual operating system.

3. To create directories in Linux, use:

<code>wsl mkdir "give a name to the directory"</code>

4. To change the default path to your newly created directory, use:

<code>cd "created directory name"</code>

See the screenshot below for these commands in action.

5. To start the entire Linux operating system from within PowerShell or Command Prompt, run:

<code>wsl.exe</code>

or

<code>bash.exe</code>

You might also want to know how to access Windows directories from within your Linux system. Windows is essentially mounted as an external drive to the Linux system, allowing Linux to use it for storage, similar to editing files on a flash drive.

6. Open your Linux terminal (Ubuntu, in this case) as a Windows administrator.

7. Access your Windows C: drive by entering:

<code>cd /mnt/c</code>

8. To see editing in action, create a folder using:

<code>mkdir [your_directory_name]</code>

9. Open File Explorer and check your C: drive to confirm that Ubuntu created a folder there.

10. Navigate to the directory path by typing:

<code>cd /mnt/c/[your_directory_name]</code>

11. Create a file using:

<code>touch [your_file_name]</code>

12. Verify that the new text file appears in the chosen directory.

13. To edit the file, use:

<code>nano [your_file_name]</code>

14. Add some dummy text to test the command screen. This will modify the file created by Bash.

Press Ctrl O to save, then Ctrl X to exit.

15. Check your Windows file system again to see the text file with your entered content.

You can navigate to any other folder or document on your Windows drive and edit it using Ubuntu.

16. To access your Linux files in Windows or view a GUI representation of your filesystem, navigate to the desired Linux directory and enter:

<code>explorer.exe .</code>

The period at the end represents the current directory, and including it will launch a Windows Explorer window displaying your Linux files.

17. You can also launch other Windows apps and run Windows commands from Linux. For example:

<code>Notepad.exe</code>

will start Notepad.

Running Linux GUI Applications on Windows 11

So far, we've focused on running Linux via the command line on Windows 10. With Windows 11, you can now experience a limited GUI with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

To enjoy GUI applications for Ubuntu or other supported distributions, you need at least Windows 11 build 22000 or higher.

1. Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 by following the steps outlined in this guide.
2. On your Windows 11 device, open PowerShell in Administrator mode. To install Ubuntu, enter:

<code>wsl --install -d Ubuntu</code>

3. You might also want to update WSL on your device with:

<code>wsl --update</code>

4. Wait for the distribution download to complete, then reboot your system to apply the changes.

5. After restarting, the feature updates will take effect, and the new distribution will be installed on your Windows 11 device. It will launch automatically.

6. Once the target distribution is running in the Windows 11 Bash window, you can install GUI applications like Gedit, a text editor, using:

<code>sudo apt install gedit -y</code>

7. After installing Gedit, launch it with:

<code>gedit ~/.bashrc</code>

We've demonstrated how to install and launch GUI applications in your Linux Bash terminal. If you're familiar with Linux commands, you can start experimenting with them on Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I uninstall WSL or Linux distributions from my Windows PC?

You can uninstall WSL and its distributions using PowerShell/Command Prompt or from "Add or remove programs" in Windows 10/"Apps and Features" in Windows 11.

To uninstall any configured Linux distribution using PowerShell in Admin mode, use:

<code>wslconfig /u "distro name"</code>

To confirm the distribution has been uninstalled, use:

<code>wsl -l</code>

To distinguish WSL from PowerShell, enter the following command, which will list installed applications. You can then use wsl --help for guidance on uninstallation.

<code>Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Select-Object -Property Name</code>

Alternatively, the easiest way to uninstall WSL is to find it in your list of apps and click the Uninstall button. The following screenshot is for Windows 11.

2. Where are my WSL files stored on a Windows device?

To access WSL files on a Windows 10/11 device for any installed distribution, search for the %LOCALAPPDATA% hidden folder on the C drive.

3. Is Windows Linux Subsystem safe to use?

Yes. The host Windows system maintains full control over the guest Linux subsystem. As long as you've enabled security features in Windows with Windows Defender and corrected any settings errors in Defender, your virtual Linux subsystem is safe to use.

What Else Can You Do?

Now that you understand how to install Linux on Windows 10 and 11 and how it integrates with Windows, you can explore numerous possibilities. You can run programming languages, operate local servers, use a Windows IDE within the Linux shell, run multiple Linux distributions simultaneously, or simply experiment with Linux to become more comfortable with the command line. The risk of making mistakes is low; resetting or reinstalling your Linux distribution is easy.

To work with Bash prompts, explore the best available options. While running a Linux subsystem on Windows, check out some of the best Linux games you can play on your Windows PC.

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