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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The simplest way to use Linux commands on Windows is Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). WSL installs a Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu, alongside Windows so you can run Bash, GNU/Linux utilities, package managers and scripts without dual-booting or managing a traditional virtual machine. For a full session, open your installed distribution. For a single command, prefix it with wsl in PowerShell or Command Prompt.
This guide covers installation, command locations, Windows/Linux interoperability, WSL 1 versus WSL 2, filesystem choices, troubleshooting and an API alternative for developers who actually need website screenshots rather than a local Linux shell.
Check whether your PC can run WSL
Microsoft’s streamlined installer supports Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later, and Windows 11. Press Win+R, enter winver, and check the version and build number. If your system is older or the one-command installer fails, use Microsoft’s manual installation guidance instead of assuming the current path applies.
- Administrator access is normally required for installation.
- A Linux distribution must be installed and registered before distribution-specific commands or Linux filesystem paths will work.
- Linux GUI applications require WSL 2 and Windows 10 build 19044 or later, or Windows 11; WSL GUI support is not a complete Linux desktop.
Install WSL and a Linux distribution
- Open PowerShell as administrator. Search for PowerShell, right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
- Run:
wsl --install - Restart Windows if prompted.
- Open Ubuntu from the Start menu. On its first launch, wait while the distribution finishes setup, then create a Linux username and password.
The command enables required Windows components, installs the current Linux kernel, sets WSL 2 as the default and installs Ubuntu by default. Microsoft documents this flow in Install WSL.
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Install a different distribution
If WSL is already present and wsl --install only displays help, list available distributions:
wsl --list --onlineInstall one using its exact listed name:
wsl --install -d <DistroName>To see distributions already installed and their state, run:
wsl --list --verboseRun Linux commands in an interactive shell
Launch Ubuntu (or your chosen distribution) from Start. You will see a Bash prompt. Commands such as these run inside Linux:
pwd
ls -la
cd /tmp
mkdir project
cp file.txt backup.txt
mv backup.txt archive.txt
rm archive.txt
cat /etc/os-release
uname -aUse the distribution’s package manager to install tools. For Ubuntu, update package metadata and install a package with:
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sudo apt install git curlYour Linux home directory is represented by ~. Windows drives are mounted below /mnt; for example, C:UsersYourNameDocuments is commonly available as /mnt/c/Users/YourName/Documents.
Run one command from PowerShell or Command Prompt
You do not need to open a separate terminal for occasional commands. Prefix the Linux command with wsl:
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wsl ls -la
wsl pwd
wsl cat /etc/os-releaseChoose a particular installed distribution with -d:
wsl -d Ubuntu-22.04 -- cat /etc/os-releaseThe distribution name must exactly match the name shown by wsl --list --verbose. The -- separates WSL options from the command you want Linux to execute.
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Quote paths and arguments carefully
PowerShell, Command Prompt and Bash have different quoting and variable-expansion rules. If a path contains spaces, quote it for the shell that is parsing it. Test a simple command first, then add pipes, redirects or variables one stage at a time.
Mix Windows and Linux commands
Call Windows programs from Linux
WSL can launch Windows executables by adding .exe to the program name:
notepad.exe .bashrc
explorer.exe .explorer.exe . opens the current Linux directory in File Explorer. Windows executables receive arguments through WSL’s interoperability layer, so paths and quoting still matter.
Use pipelines across environments
You can pipe Windows output into a Linux command, or filter Linux output with a Windows utility, but each shell’s syntax applies where that part of the pipeline runs. Start with explicit, small commands rather than assuming Bash syntax will behave identically in PowerShell.
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From Linux, explorer.exe . is the supported convenient route. Avoid editing Linux distribution files through arbitrary Windows paths or tools; use the Linux shell for Linux-owned files and the mounted /mnt/c tree for files that primarily belong to Windows.
WSL 1 or WSL 2?
WSL 2 uses an actual Linux kernel. Microsoft describes it as providing full system-call compatibility and improved filesystem performance relative to WSL 1, while WSL 1 uses a different architecture. The standard wsl --install path selects WSL 2.
That does not make one version universally faster. Your workload, especially where its files live, determines the result. Keep Linux-heavy projects in the distribution’s Linux filesystem and Windows-heavy projects in mounted Windows storage, then consult Microsoft’s current comparison guidance when a compatibility or performance requirement is decisive.
Inspect the version for each distribution:
wsl --list --verboseMicrosoft’s overview explains the architecture at What is Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Useful administration commands
wsl --status
wsl --version
wsl --list --online
wsl --list --verbose
wsl --shutdown
wsl --terminate <DistroName>
wsl --set-default <DistroName>
wsl --set-version <DistroName> 2wsl --shutdown stops all running distributions and the WSL virtual machine. It is useful after configuration changes or when a process is stuck, but it also ends active Linux sessions.
Linux GUI applications on Windows
On supported installations, WSL 2 can run Linux GUI applications. Microsoft specifies Windows 10 build 19044 or later or Windows 11 for this capability. Install and launch the individual Linux application from your distribution; WSL provides the integration, not a full traditional Linux desktop environment. See Microsoft’s Linux GUI apps tutorial for the supported setup.
Troubleshooting common failures
“wsl” is not recognized
WSL is not installed, Windows is too old for the current path, or the shell has not refreshed after installation. Check winver, restart Windows, and follow the manual instructions at Microsoft’s installation page.
wsl --install shows help instead of installing
Use wsl --list --online, then install a named distribution with wsl --install -d <DistroName>. If the command still cannot install, use the manual path for your Windows build.
No distribution is installed
Run wsl --list --online and install Ubuntu or another listed distribution. A bare WSL feature without a registered distribution cannot provide a normal Linux prompt.
The selected distribution name fails
Names are exact. Copy the value shown by wsl --list --verbose and pass it to wsl -d; do not substitute a guessed version label.
Files are unexpectedly slow
Move Linux-intensive source trees and build outputs into the distribution’s Linux filesystem rather than repeatedly crossing between Linux and /mnt/c. For Windows-intensive tools, keeping files on the Windows filesystem may be more appropriate. There is no workload-independent winner.
A GUI app will not start
Confirm WSL 2 is in use, Windows meets the stated build requirement, and the application is installed inside the distribution. GUI support does not mean every desktop component or application is supported.
Interop commands fail
Verify that the target Windows executable exists and include .exe, for example notepad.exe. If WSL itself or its paths are unavailable, confirm that WSL and a distribution are installed first. Microsoft’s interop details are at WSL interoperability.
Performance, reliability and safety practices
- Keep distributions and packages updated through their normal Linux package manager.
- Use
wsl --shutdownwhen a clean restart is needed instead of repeatedly killing individual processes. - Back up important Linux files; WSL is convenient but does not replace a backup strategy.
- Be cautious with recursive commands such as
rm -rf, especially when operating under/mnt/c. - Use the distribution terminal for sustained Bash scripts and
wsl commandfor short Windows-side automation.
Microsoft’s command reference is maintained at Basic commands for WSL, and its environment guidance covers development workflows at Set up a WSL development environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Bash without replacing Windows?
Yes. WSL runs a Linux environment alongside Windows without dual booting; open the installed distribution for a Bash session or use wsl command for one-off commands.
Does WSL install a full Linux desktop?
No. WSL provides Linux command-line environments, and supported WSL 2 setups can run individual Linux GUI apps, but it is not a complete Linux desktop installation.
Which distribution should beginners choose?
Ubuntu is the default installed by wsl --install and is a practical starting point. Other distributions can be installed by their exact names from wsl --list --online.
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