How to Install and Set Up WSL 2 on Windows 10 and 11

The supported way to install Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2) is to open an administrator PowerShell or Command Prompt, run wsl --install, restart Windows, and launch the installed Linux distribution. On the current one-command path, Windows installs the required WSL and Virtual Machine Platform features, the WSL 2 kernel, Ubuntu, and WSL 2 as the default for new distributions.

This guide explains eligibility, installation, distribution selection, first-run account setup, verification, older-build procedures, and fixes for the most common installation failures.

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What WSL 2 installs

WSL is a Windows feature that lets you run a Linux distribution on Windows. WSL itself is not a complete Linux environment until you install a distribution such as Ubuntu or Debian.

WSL 2 is the version requested in this guide. The current wsl --install flow enables the Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform features, installs the WSL 2 kernel, sets WSL 2 as the default version for new distributions, and installs Ubuntu unless you select another distribution. Windows must restart before the installation is complete.

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WSL 2 is supported on Windows 10 Home and Windows 11 Home as well as the corresponding higher editions. Home edition does not require a separate virtualization product. The required Windows features are installed as part of the supported setup process.

Check whether your Windows installation is eligible

Minimum for the one-command installer

Microsoft documents the current wsl --install path for:

• Windows 10 version 2004, build 19041, or later
• Any supported Windows 11 release

To check your version and build, press Windows key + R, enter winver, and select OK. You can also search the Start menu for “winver.” Record both the Windows version and the OS build; “Windows 10” alone is not enough to establish eligibility.

If your build is older

Older Windows 10 systems may still be able to run WSL 2, but they use Microsoft’s manual installation route. That route has separate Windows version, build, and processor-architecture requirements for x64 and ARM64 systems. Do not apply the x64 minimum to an ARM64 computer, or assume that every older Windows 10 build supports the same commands. Check the current Microsoft manual-installation instructions for the exact requirement that matches your architecture.

Other prerequisites

• You need administrator rights to enable Windows components and run the command-line installation.
• A restart is required after the Windows features and kernel components are installed.
• You need enough storage for the Linux distribution files and the software you later install inside Linux.

The installation instructions do not require a particular physical computer purchase, accessory, external drive, or paid utility.

One-command installation on supported Windows versions

Use this route when winver shows Windows 10 version 2004/build 19041 or newer, or Windows 11.

1. Open the Start menu, search for PowerShell or Command Prompt, right-click the result, and choose Run as administrator. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
2. Enter wsl --install and press Enter.
3. Allow Windows to enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform features, install the WSL 2 kernel, and download Ubuntu.
4. Restart Windows when the command requests it. The restart is part of the installation, not an optional cleanup step.
5. After signing in again, launch Ubuntu from the Start menu. The first launch decompresses the distribution files and initializes the Linux environment.
6. When Ubuntu prompts for a new UNIX username and password, create the account you will use inside Linux. This account is separate from your Windows sign-in.

When setup finishes, the distribution opens at a Linux shell prompt. The password is not displayed as you type it, which is normal for Linux terminals.

Install a distribution other than Ubuntu

See the live list of available distributions

Distribution names and availability can change, so query Windows instead of relying on a permanent list. In an administrator PowerShell or Command Prompt, run:

wsl --list --online

The abbreviated form is:

wsl -l -o

The output shows the names that the current WSL installation can install. Use the name exactly as displayed.

Install a selected distribution

For example, to install Debian, run:

wsl --install -d Debian

Replace Debian with a distribution name from your own online list. Windows installs the selected distribution and uses WSL 2 when the default WSL version is 2. After any requested restart, launch the distribution from the Start menu or from the command line.

Install without changing your default distribution

If Ubuntu is already installed and you add another distribution, Windows can have several distributions at once. You can choose which one opens when you run wsl without a distribution name by setting a default:

wsl --set-default <Distribution Name>

For example:

wsl --set-default Debian

Use the exact registered name shown by wsl --list --verbose.

Finish first-run Linux setup

Create the Linux user

The first launch of each newly installed distribution asks you to create a Linux username and password. This is the account used for ordinary commands inside that distribution. It is not automatically the same as your Windows account name or password.

Choose a username that follows the distribution’s normal Linux naming rules. Store the password securely; administrative commands inside Linux may request it later.

Understand the first shell prompt

After account creation, the distribution opens at a shell prompt. Commands typed there run in Linux. Commands typed in PowerShell or Command Prompt run in Windows unless you explicitly invoke WSL. Keeping those two environments distinct prevents mistakes when following setup instructions.

Optional developer components

Microsoft’s developer setup guidance covers optional additions such as Git, code editors, databases, and GPU workloads. Install only the components required by your project. WSL 2 itself is usable without installing every tool in that guidance.

Verify that WSL 2 is working

Check overall WSL status

In PowerShell or Command Prompt, run:

wsl --status

This displays general WSL information, including the default settings and kernel status available on your installation.

Check each distribution and its WSL version

Run:

wsl --list --verbose

Each installed distribution appears with its state and a version number. The version column should show 2 for a WSL 2 installation.

Inspect locally supported commands

WSL command behavior can differ by Windows build and package version. Run:

wsl --help

Use the locally displayed syntax when a command in an older article does not work on your computer.

Set WSL 2 as the default for future distributions

The supported one-command flow sets WSL 2 as the default for new distributions. You can set it explicitly at any time:

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wsl --set-default-version 2

This setting affects distributions installed in the future. It does not necessarily convert an existing distribution. Use wsl --list --verbose to inspect the version assigned to each distribution before changing anything.

To choose which already installed distribution responds to the plain wsl command, use:

wsl --set-default <Distribution Name>

Convert an existing distribution to WSL 2

If a distribution is already installed as WSL 1, first identify its registered name and current version:

wsl --list --verbose

Microsoft’s WSL command reference includes version-conversion commands for installed distributions. Follow the syntax displayed by wsl --help on your build and confirm the distribution name exactly before making a change. A conversion can take time, particularly for a distribution containing substantial files, so do not close the terminal or shut down Windows while it is running.

WSL 1 remains relevant only when a specific compatibility constraint requires it. For a new installation where WSL 2 is supported, set WSL 2 as the default and verify the result rather than assuming the version from the distribution’s name.

Manual installation for older Windows builds

If wsl --install is unavailable or your Windows build predates the one-command requirement, use Microsoft’s manual installation sequence. The exact eligibility depends on whether Windows is x64 or ARM64, so check the architecture-specific table in the current manual guide before changing system features.

Manual sequence

1. Confirm the Windows version, build, and processor architecture.
2. Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux optional feature.
3. Enable the Virtual Machine Platform optional feature.
4. Restart Windows when prompted.
5. Install the WSL 2 kernel update package if the manual guide for your build requires it.
6. Run wsl --set-default-version 2.
7. Install a Linux distribution from the supported source and launch it.
8. Create the Linux username and password during the distribution’s first launch.
9. Run wsl --list --verbose to confirm that the distribution reports version 2.

Do not skip the architecture and build checks. A sequence that works on a current x64 Windows 10 installation may fail on an older ARM64 installation because the supported minimums and available packages differ.

Troubleshoot common installation problems

wsl --install displays help instead of installing

Microsoft documents this behavior for systems where the one-command install path is not being invoked as expected. First list distributions:

wsl --list --online

Then install one explicitly:

wsl --install -d <DistroName>

Replace <DistroName> with a name from the list, such as Debian. If the list command itself is unavailable, return to the manual-installation route and check the Windows build and architecture.

Installation remains at 0.0%

If the installation hangs at 0.0%, try Microsoft’s documented web-download option with a named distribution:

wsl --install --web-download -d <DistroName>

This is a remedy for the documented 0.0% installation scenario; it is not a general fix for every WSL error. Use a distribution name returned by wsl --list --online.

The distribution is installed but reports version 1

Run:

wsl --list --verbose

If the distribution shows version 1, set the default for future installs:

wsl --set-default-version 2

Then use the WSL command reference for the conversion syntax supported by your build, and verify the result again. Changing the default does not by itself prove that an existing distribution has changed.

The command is not recognized

Check the result of winver. If the Windows version is below the documented one-command minimum, follow the manual sequence. If the system is eligible but the command is still unavailable, install current Windows updates allowed by your organization and consult the manual guide rather than repeatedly running the same command.

Virtual Machine Platform cannot be enabled

WSL 2 requires both Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform. Confirm that both features are enabled and restart Windows after changing them. If the feature cannot be enabled, verify that the Windows edition, build, architecture, and device configuration meet Microsoft’s WSL 2 requirements before troubleshooting the distribution itself.

You cannot find the installed distribution

List registered distributions from PowerShell or Command Prompt:

wsl --list

For the version and running state, use:

wsl --list --verbose

Launch a particular distribution by its registered name. The first launch may take time while files decompress, so wait for initialization to finish before assuming the installation failed.

Useful command reference

The command reference also documents options such as --location and --web-download. Availability can depend on the Windows and WSL versions installed on the computer.

Choosing between the one-command and manual routes

The manual route is not a different edition of WSL 2. It is the longer setup path used when the current installer cannot perform all steps automatically.

After installation: a practical verification checklist

• Windows eligibility: winver confirms the version and build, or you have checked the architecture-specific manual requirements.
• Required features: Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform are enabled.
• Restart: Windows has been restarted after feature and kernel installation.
• Distribution: Ubuntu or your selected distribution appears in wsl --list.
• Version: wsl --list --verbose reports version 2 for the distribution you intend to use.
• Linux account: First launch completed and created a Linux username and password.
• Default behavior: wsl --status and wsl --set-default reflect the environment you want.

Once these checks pass, WSL 2 is installed and the Linux distribution is ready for the optional development tools appropriate to your workload.

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