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Use WSL 2 by default. It runs a real Linux kernel in a Microsoft-managed lightweight virtual machine, gives much broader system-call compatibility, supports Linux GUI applications, and is the better fit for Linux-first development. Choose WSL 1 when your project must stay on the Windows file system, Windows and Linux tools constantly edit the same files, serial-port access is essential, strict memory behavior rules out WSL 2, or WSL 2’s NAT networking conflicts with your workflow. The deciding factor is not the label alone: it is where your files live and which operating-system features your tools require.
WSL 1 and WSL 2 use fundamentally different architectures
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets you run Linux distributions and command-line tools inside Windows without managing a traditional dual-boot installation. The two versions achieve that in different ways, so compatibility and performance depend on the workload.
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WSL 1 translates Linux system calls
WSL 1 provides a compatibility layer that translates Linux system calls into operations Windows can perform. There is no Linux kernel running underneath the distribution. That design keeps the environment close to Windows and can make access to files on Windows storage efficient, but software that expects specific Linux-kernel behavior may not work.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWSL 2 runs an actual Linux kernel
WSL 2 places a genuine Linux kernel inside a Microsoft-managed lightweight virtual machine. You do not administer a conventional virtual machine, install a guest operating system manually, or manage a separate hypervisor interface. Windows starts and stops the WSL environment as needed while exposing the Linux distribution through the normal WSL commands.
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The kernel-based design gives WSL 2 much broader system-call compatibility. Microsoft’s documentation describes this as “100% system call compatibility” and recommends WSL 2 for faster performance and that compatibility. In practical terms, software that needs kernel features—Docker is a common example—has a much better chance of working in WSL 2 than in WSL 1.
WSL 1 vs. WSL 2 at a glance
| Decision axis | WSL 1 | WSL 2 | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Linux system-call translation layer | Linux kernel in a managed lightweight VM | Choose WSL 2 when software needs Linux-kernel behavior or broad compatibility. |
| Linux tools working on Linux files | Cross-OS operations are generally slower than native-side access | Improved file I/O; best results when projects are in the Linux file system | Linux-first development normally favors WSL 2 with files under your Linux home directory. |
| Windows and Linux sharing the same files | Often faster for projects kept on Windows storage | Cross-file-system operations can be slower | Consider WSL 1 when the project must remain on a Windows drive and both systems perform frequent file operations. |
| Linux GUI applications | Not supported | Supported on a qualifying current Windows/WSL setup | A GUI requirement points to WSL 2, but the result is integrated apps, not a complete Linux desktop. |
| Linux-kernel-dependent software | No actual Linux kernel | Actual Linux kernel and broader system-call compatibility | WSL 2 supports a wider range of Linux software. |
| Serial and USB devices | Serial-port access is one of WSL 1’s exceptions to the normal recommendation | Serial ports are unsupported; USB devices can be attached through USBIPD-WIN | Verify the exact hardware workflow before choosing. USB on WSL 2 requires additional setup. |
| Memory behavior | Avoids WSL 2’s virtual-machine cache behavior | Memory expands with use; cached pages may remain allocated until the WSL instance shuts down | Users with strict memory limits should plan for long sessions and large file workloads. |
| Networking | Uses the bridged arrangement described in Microsoft’s comparison | Uses NAT | Check service discovery, inbound connections, and host-address requirements before committing to WSL 2. |
Is WSL 2 faster than WSL 1?
There is no universal winner because file location and access direction matter. Microsoft reports that initial WSL 2 versions unpacked a zipped tarball up to 20 times faster than WSL 1. Microsoft also reported roughly two- to five-times faster git clone, npm install, and cmake operations on various projects. Those are Microsoft-published figures for named workloads and early WSL 2 versions; they are not a current independent benchmark or a promise that your project will see the same multiplier.
The consistent pattern is more useful than the headline numbers:
- Linux tools operating on files inside the WSL 2 Linux file system generally get the best results.
- Repeatedly crossing between the Linux and Windows file systems can erase the advantage and may make WSL 1 preferable for that specific workflow.
- Build systems, package managers, and source-control commands that touch thousands of files are especially sensitive to where the files are stored.
- Application behavior, Windows and WSL versions, antivirus scanning, disk speed, and the toolchain all affect the result.
Therefore, do not choose solely because a benchmark says “20×.” Choose the architecture that keeps the most file operations on the same side as the tools doing them.
Where should you store project files?
File placement is the most important practical choice after architecture. Microsoft’s file-system guidance advises avoiding unnecessary movement between operating systems because crossing the boundary can reduce performance.
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For Linux-first development, use the WSL file system
With WSL 2, place a Linux project below your distribution’s home directory, for example:
/home/<user>/ProjectRun the compiler, package manager, test runner, and version-control commands inside WSL against that path. A Windows editor can still work with those files through its WSL integration, so you do not have to copy the project to C: merely to edit it.
For Windows-first tools, use Windows storage
If the primary tools are Windows programs and they need ordinary Windows paths, keep the project on a Windows drive. WSL can access that storage through paths such as /mnt/c/, but Linux-heavy workloads that repeatedly read and write those files may be slower in WSL 2.
When shared access makes WSL 1 attractive
WSL 1 can be a sensible exception when a project must remain on C: or another Windows volume and both Windows and Linux tools constantly access the same tree. Its architecture can make that cross-operating-system access faster for some workloads. Before settling on WSL 1, test whether moving the source into the Linux file system and using WSL-aware editor integration removes the requirement for shared Windows storage.
Choose by development workflow
Linux-first web or application development: WSL 2
Start with WSL 2 for a normal Linux command-line stack: a shell, compiler, interpreter, package manager, database, web server, and test suite running inside Linux. Keep the repository in your Linux home directory and use Linux-native versions of the tools. This arrangement aligns the kernel, tools, and files on one side of the boundary.
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Docker and other kernel-dependent tools: WSL 2
Prefer WSL 2 when a tool expects Linux kernel facilities. WSL 1 has no Linux kernel to provide those facilities, while WSL 2 is designed to run Linux workloads that need them. Confirm the current requirements of the particular tool, but the architecture alone makes WSL 2 the appropriate starting point.
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Linux GUI support is available in WSL 2 on a qualifying, up-to-date Windows and WSL setup with the required graphics-driver support. It allows Linux applications to appear alongside Windows applications and use the Windows desktop integration supplied by WSL.
This feature is not a full Linux desktop session. It does not turn WSL into a general-purpose desktop distribution with a complete login manager, desktop shell, and traditional display-server administration. If your development tool is a Linux GUI application, WSL 2 satisfies that narrower requirement; if you need an entire Linux desktop environment, evaluate a conventional virtual machine or separate Linux installation instead.
Projects that must stay on Windows storage: test WSL 1 first
Use WSL 1 as a candidate when company policy, Windows-only tooling, or a shared folder requirement keeps source files on a Windows volume. Measure the commands that matter—builds, dependency installation, tests, and file watchers—rather than assuming one version is faster for every operation.
Serial hardware: WSL 1 may be the better fit
Microsoft’s comparison lists serial-port access as an exception where WSL 1 can be useful. WSL 2 does not support serial ports. If your development loop flashes firmware, reads a serial console, or depends on a COM-port workflow, verify that the required device can be reached from your chosen version before migrating.
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USB hardware: WSL 2 with an extra attachment step
USB device support is possible with WSL 2 through USBIPD-WIN, but it is not automatic. The device must be attached to the WSL environment using that USB-over-IP workflow, and compatibility remains device-specific. If the hardware process is central to your work, document and test the attach, detach, and reconnect steps before making WSL 2 your only environment.
Long-running services, memory limits, or network integration: inspect the exceptions
WSL 2’s managed VM changes two operational details that can matter in development environments:
- Memory cache: WSL 2 adjusts memory use as workloads grow, but cached pages can remain allocated until the WSL instance shuts down. A long-lived session that performs large builds or file scans may therefore continue to appear memory-heavy after the immediate operation ends.
- NAT networking: WSL 2 uses network address translation. A service inside WSL may have an address that differs from the Windows host, and inbound access or host-address discovery may require a workaround. Confirm how your service is reached from Windows, another machine, containers, or a test device.
These are not automatic reasons to reject WSL 2. They are reasons to test the exact long-running service, memory ceiling, or network topology you intend to use. Shutting down WSL when appropriate releases the instance and its retained cache.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Install WSL 2 on a supported Windows system
Microsoft’s current development-environment guide says the one-command installation enables the WSL and Virtual Machine Platform components, installs the latest Linux kernel, sets WSL 2 as the default, and installs Ubuntu. A restart may be required.
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- Open an elevated Windows Terminal or PowerShell window.
- Run
wsl --install. - Restart Windows if the installer requests it.
- Launch the installed Linux distribution and create its Linux username and password.
- Confirm the distribution’s version with
wsl --list --verbose. - Put Linux-side projects below
/home/<user>before installing dependencies and running builds.
Features and requirements can change with Windows and WSL updates. If installation fails, first verify the Windows build, virtualization-related prerequisites requested by the current Microsoft instructions, and whether a restart is pending.
Check which WSL version a distribution uses
WSL versions are assigned per distribution, not only globally. A computer can run one distribution under WSL 1 and another under WSL 2, allowing a controlled comparison or a hardware-specific split.
- Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal.
- Run
wsl --list --verbose. - Read the VERSION column for each installed distribution.
The output also shows which distribution is running and which one is the default. Use the distribution name exactly as displayed when converting it.
Convert a distribution from WSL 1 to WSL 2 (or back)
The documented conversion form is:
wsl --set-version <distribution name> <versionNumber>For example, replace the placeholders with the displayed distribution name and 2 to convert to WSL 2, or 1 to convert back. The conversion changes the distribution’s architecture; it does not merely flip a preference.
- Back up important files first, especially large projects. Microsoft warns that conversion can take time or fail because the architectures differ.
- Close Linux processes and editors that are using the distribution before starting.
- Allow the operation to finish; interrupting it can leave you with an incomplete migration.
- Run
wsl --list --verboseafterward and test the actual build, package, device, and network workflow.
If the conversion is too risky for a production-sized distribution, install a second distribution and reproduce the project there. Side-by-side distributions let you test WSL 2 without immediately changing the environment that currently works.
A practical decision checklist
- Choose WSL 2 if Linux tools and files can live together in the WSL file system.
- Choose WSL 2 if you need a real Linux kernel, broad system-call compatibility, Docker, or Linux GUI applications.
- Choose WSL 1 if files must remain on Windows storage and are heavily shared with Windows tools.
- Choose WSL 1 if serial-port access is a non-negotiable requirement.
- Investigate WSL 2’s USBIPD-WIN path when USB hardware is required; do not assume ordinary USB access will work automatically.
- Test WSL 2’s NAT networking when services need inbound connections, stable host addressing, or access from another machine.
- Account for WSL 2 memory caching when your machine has a strict RAM limit or sessions stay open for days.
- Measure the commands that dominate your day instead of relying on a generic benchmark.
Bottom line
For most developers, install WSL 2 and keep Linux projects inside the WSL file system. Its real Linux kernel, broader compatibility, GUI-app support, and stronger Linux-side file performance make it the general-purpose choice. WSL 1 remains useful rather than obsolete when Windows storage sharing, serial hardware, memory behavior, or networking makes WSL 2’s managed-VM design a concrete obstacle. If you are unsure, create a second distribution, run your real project workflow, and decide from the measured file location and device requirements—not from the version number alone.
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