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What Ubuntu on WSL 2 replaces—and what it does not
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets you install a Linux distribution and use Linux applications, utilities, and Bash command-line tools within Windows. Microsoft describes it as an alternative to a dual-boot setup. WSL 2 runs a real Linux kernel inside a managed virtual machine, with full Linux system-call compatibility, while Windows remains the host. Microsoft’s WSL overview and version comparison explain the model.
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That makes WSL 2 a strong fit when Linux is primarily a development environment or a place to run command-line tools, rather than a separate operating system you need to boot into. It avoids the restart between Windows and Linux and lets both environments run at the same time. It does not turn Windows into a native Linux installation: Linux-specific hardware access, networking behavior, desktop expectations, and file-location choices still matter.
Is WSL 2 a good match for your Linux workload?
Before removing a Linux partition, check the requirements that motivated it. The practical question is whether your essential tools and workflows work reliably inside WSL 2, not whether WSL can run Linux software in general.
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Development tools and Linux command-line work
WSL 2 is Microsoft’s recommended option for most users. Its Linux kernel and system-call compatibility support a broad range of Linux development workflows while keeping Windows available. For best results when using Linux tools heavily, keep project files in the Linux filesystem and work on them from Linux. Microsoft notes that cross-filesystem access can reduce performance; projects stored on Windows-mounted filesystems may behave differently from projects stored in Linux. Microsoft’s WSL 1 and WSL 2 comparison describes the tradeoffs.
Linux graphical applications
WSL can launch supported Linux GUI applications on the Windows desktop. Apps can appear in the Start menu, be pinned to the taskbar, and work with features such as Alt+Tab and clipboard integration. Microsoft is explicit that GUI app support “does not provide a full desktop experience,” and some desktop-focused apps may not be supported. If you need a complete Linux desktop session, WSL is not a like-for-like replacement. See Microsoft’s Linux GUI apps documentation.
Devices, memory, networking, and GPU work
Check hardware and system integration before switching. Microsoft identifies serial-port access, workflows with strict memory requirements, and some networking needs as cases where WSL 2 may not suit a user’s requirements. USB devices can be made available through a separate USB/IP setup, but that is an additional configuration rather than the same experience as booting Linux directly on the machine. Microsoft’s comparison outlines these limitations.
GPU support also depends on the workload and setup; do not assume it is interchangeable with native Linux for every application. Canonical’s CUDA instructions cover a specific setup: an NVIDIA GPU, Ubuntu 24.04 or later on WSL 2, and a Windows vGPU driver. They warn against installing a Linux display driver inside Ubuntu on WSL and note that generic CUDA packages from Ubuntu repositories may try to install an incorrect driver. If you rely on CUDA, follow the applicable instructions at Canonical’s Ubuntu on WSL CUDA guide.
Choose WSL or keep dual boot based on these tradeoffs
| Need or priority | WSL 2 | Native Linux dual boot |
|---|---|---|
| Use Linux tools while Windows remains available | Runs alongside Windows without restarting into another operating system. | Requires restarting to switch operating systems. |
| Linux development tools and system calls | Uses a real Linux kernel and provides full Linux system-call compatibility. | Runs Linux directly on the hardware. |
| Linux graphical environment | Supports individual Linux GUI apps integrated into the Windows desktop, not a full desktop experience. | Provides a native Linux desktop environment. |
| Serial devices and direct hardware access | Serial devices are unsupported in WSL 2 according to Microsoft’s version comparison; USB access has a separate USB/IP setup route. | May suit workflows that need direct access, depending on the hardware and configuration. |
| Files shared between Windows and Linux tools | Linux-heavy work is best kept in the Linux filesystem; cross-filesystem access can affect performance. WSL 1 may suit some Windows-file-heavy workflows better. | Linux tools work directly with Linux filesystems; accessing Windows files depends on the system setup. |
| Specific networking or memory behavior | Some networking requirements and strict memory needs may be reasons to compare alternatives. | Runs as a native operating system rather than inside WSL 2’s managed utility VM. |
The table describes documented differences, not a performance ranking for your individual PC. Your applications, filesystems, devices, and network requirements determine whether the convenience of WSL 2 outweighs the behavior of a native Linux installation.
Install Ubuntu on WSL 2 in Windows 11
On a supported Windows 11 system, Microsoft’s quick-start route installs WSL and, by default, Ubuntu for new installations. Use an administrator PowerShell or Command Prompt. For WSL 2, virtualization must be enabled. The official WSL installation guide also supports Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later, while Canonical recommends Windows 11 or Windows 10 21H2 or later on physical hardware. Check Microsoft’s installation instructions and Canonical’s Ubuntu WSL guide for current requirements.
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Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as an administrator.
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Run
wsl --install. Restart Windows if prompted. -
Launch Ubuntu after installation and create your Linux username and password when prompted.
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Check the installed distribution and its WSL version with
wsl --list --verbose. Confirm Ubuntu is using version 2 before relying on WSL 2 features.Rank #4
If WSL is already installed and you want to choose a distribution, list the available options with wsl --list --online, then install one with wsl --install -d <DistroName>. Use the distribution name shown in the online list.
Protect your WSL data before changing partitions
Installing Ubuntu on WSL does not itself remove an existing Linux partition. Treat partition changes as a separate operation: the safe approach depends on your PC’s actual disk and boot layout, which cannot be determined from a general WSL guide. First make sure the files and settings you want to keep are backed up and that your new WSL environment has the data and tools you need.
For a WSL distribution snapshot, Microsoft documents wsl --export <DistributionName> <FileName>. It also documents importing a distribution with wsl --import. Do not use wsl --unregister as a routine way to turn Linux off: Microsoft states that it permanently removes that distribution’s data, settings, and installed software. See Microsoft’s WSL basic commands for the export, import, and unregister syntax.
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When to keep the Linux partition
Keep dual boot, at least until you have verified your exact workflow in WSL, if you depend on a full Linux desktop, serial devices, particular networking behavior, strict memory behavior, or hardware access that WSL does not provide in the way you need. The same applies if your work depends on a GPU setup that you have not confirmed against the relevant WSL and driver documentation.
If your Linux use is centered on development, command-line tools, and supported GUI applications—and you have tested your essential tools, files, and integrations—WSL 2 can make a separate Linux boot unnecessary for that workflow. Make that decision based on what you actually use, rather than assuming that WSL and native Linux are identical.
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