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To completely uninstall Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 11, first back up anything important, unregister every installed Linux distribution, remove the related apps, uninstall the WSL package if it appears, disable the WSL Windows feature, and restart your PC. Disabling Virtual Machine Platform is optional because Docker Desktop, Windows Sandbox, Android emulators, and other virtualization tools may depend on it.
Important: wsl --unregister permanently deletes the selected distribution’s Linux filesystem, installed packages, settings, and user files. Export the distribution first if you may need anything later.
Choose what you want to remove
“Uninstalling WSL” can mean three different things:
- Remove one distribution: Delete Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, or another distro while keeping WSL installed.
- Remove WSL but keep virtualization support: Delete the distributions and WSL components while leaving Virtual Machine Platform enabled for other software.
- Remove WSL completely: Delete all distributions, remove WSL apps and features, and optionally disable Virtual Machine Platform.
The complete-removal procedure below applies to the third option.
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Before uninstalling WSL
Check whether you use Docker Desktop, Windows Sandbox, an Android emulator, Hyper-V-related workflows, or another application that relies on virtualization. You can remove WSL without disabling Virtual Machine Platform if those programs still need it.
Also check for files stored inside your Linux distributions. If you need them, export each distribution before deleting it. An export is useful for recovery, but copy especially important files to a separate backup location as well.
Check installed WSL distributions
Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell and run:
wsl --list --verboseYou can also use the shorter form:
wsl -l -vThe command lists registered distributions and shows whether each uses WSL 1 or WSL 2. Names may include version suffixes or custom names, such as Ubuntu, Ubuntu-22.04, Debian, kali-linux, or an imported distribution. Use the exact name displayed by the command.
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See Microsoft’s WSL command reference for the current command syntax.
Back up a distribution before deleting it
Export a distribution to a TAR archive:
wsl --export <DistroName> C:Pathbackup.tarFor example:
wsl --export Ubuntu C:UsersPublicubuntu-backup.tarLater, you can restore the archive with:
wsl --import Ubuntu-Restored C:WSLUbuntu-Restored C:UsersPublicubuntu-backup.tarThe export can include the distribution’s Linux filesystem, installed packages, and user files. It is not a substitute for a separate backup of critical documents.
Remove only one Linux distribution
If you want to remove Ubuntu or another distro while keeping WSL, stop running instances and unregister only that distribution:
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wsl --shutdown
wsl --unregister UbuntuReplace Ubuntu with the exact name shown by wsl --list --verbose. For multiple distributions, unregister each one separately:
wsl --unregister Ubuntu
wsl --unregister Debian
wsl --unregister kali-linuxThis deletes the selected distribution and its data. It does not necessarily uninstall the WSL platform or the distribution’s Windows app package.
Verify the result with:
wsl --listCompletely uninstall WSL from Windows 11
1. Stop WSL
Run:
wsl --shutdownThis stops running WSL virtual machines before you remove their distributions and supporting components.
2. Unregister every distribution
List the distributions again, then unregister each one:
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wsl --list --verbose
wsl --unregister <DistroName>Do not run the unregister command unless you are certain the distribution and its files can be deleted.
3. Uninstall Linux distribution apps
Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Search for installed distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, Kali Linux, openSUSE, or Fedora Remix. Select the three-dot menu beside each relevant app and choose Uninstall.
Unregistering deletes the registered Linux filesystem; uninstalling the app removes the Windows application package. Depending on how the distribution was installed, you may need to perform both actions.
4. Uninstall the WSL application, if present
In Settings → Apps → Installed apps, search for:
- Windows Subsystem for Linux
- Windows Subsystem for Linux Preview
- Other WSL entries installed on your system
Choose Uninstall where Windows provides that option. The exact package name varies by Windows 11 build and whether WSL came from the Microsoft Store, an updated package, or the older in-box Windows component model.
As an advanced fallback, you can use PowerShell:
Get-AppxPackage *WindowsSubsystemForLinux* | Remove-AppxPackageUse Settings first. Package names and installation models can change, and the PowerShell command may not remove every Windows feature associated with WSL.
5. Disable the WSL Windows feature
Press Windows key + R, enter optionalfeatures, and press Enter. In the Windows Features dialog, clear:
- Windows Subsystem for Linux
- Virtual Machine Platform, only if no other software needs it
Select OK and restart when prompted.
Disabling Virtual Machine Platform can affect Docker Desktop, Windows Sandbox, Android emulators, and other virtualization software. Leave it enabled if another application depends on it.
6. Disable the features with DISM instead
Administrators can use an elevated PowerShell or Windows Terminal window:
dism.exe /online /disable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /norestart
dism.exe /online /disable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /norestartThe second command is optional. DISM changes require administrator privileges.
7. Restart Windows
If Windows does not restart automatically, run:
shutdown /r /t 0Verify that WSL has been removed
After Windows restarts, open PowerShell and run:
wsl --status
wsl --list --verboseDepending on your Windows 11 build and installation method, WSL may report that it is not installed, that required components are missing, or that no distributions are installed. The exact message is not identical on every system.
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If distributions still appear, they remain registered. Run wsl --shutdown, unregister them by their exact names, and restart again.
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Removing WSL does not guarantee that every manually created file disappears. Check for files you recognize, including:
- Exported
.tarbackups - Manually imported distribution folders
- Custom VHDX files
- Project files stored under your Windows profile
- Docker-related data
- Old kernel installers
- Windows Terminal profiles
- VS Code WSL extensions and settings
Delete only folders you can identify. Do not blindly remove every folder containing “WSL” from AppData, Program Files, or the Windows directory.
Troubleshooting
The distribution still appears after uninstalling its app
Removing the Windows app does not always remove a registered distribution. Restart Windows, open PowerShell, and run:
wsl --list --verbose
wsl --unregister <DistroName>wsl --unregister fails
First stop WSL with wsl --shutdown and retry. Close terminals, editors, file browsers, Docker, and other programs that may be accessing the distribution. If the command reports that WSL is unavailable, remove the distro app through Settings → Apps → Installed apps, then disable the WSL feature through Windows Features or DISM.
WSL is not listed in Installed apps
This can occur with older in-box installations. Use optionalfeatures to clear Windows Subsystem for Linux, then restart. Do not assume that the absence of an Installed apps entry means all WSL components have been removed.
Virtual Machine Platform is needed by another program
Leave Virtual Machine Platform enabled and disable only the WSL feature. This removes WSL while preserving the virtualization component used by compatible applications.
A stale WSL shortcut remains in Start
A Start menu entry can be a leftover shortcut or app registration rather than an active WSL installation. Restart Windows, check Installed apps, and verify with wsl --status and wsl --list --verbose. Avoid deleting unrelated system folders to remove a shortcut.
A distribution was deleted accidentally
An unregistered distribution can generally be recovered only from an export archive or another backup. Without one, wsl --unregister is not a reversible operation.
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Reinstall WSL later
On supported Windows installations, you can reinstall WSL from an elevated PowerShell or Windows Terminal window with:
wsl --installMicrosoft’s WSL installation documentation describes the current installation requirements and behavior.
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Useful Microsoft documentation
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