How to Install WSL 2 on Windows 11 and Above: A Beginner's Guide

If you're a Windows user, you might have heard about Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2. It's a feature that allows you to run Linux applications natively on Windows 11 and above. With WSL 2, you can use your favorite Linux command-line tools and utilities right from your Windows desktop. In this article, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of installing WSL 2 on Windows 11 and above, even if you're a beginner.

Step 1: Enable WSL and Virtual Machine Platform Features

Before we can install WSL 2, we need to enable the necessary Windows features. To do this, right-click on the Start menu and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)".

In the PowerShell window, type in the following command and hit Enter:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

Next, we need to enable the Virtual Machine Platform feature. To do this, type the following command in the same PowerShell window and hit Enter:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Step 2: Install WSL 2 Linux kernel

Once the features are enabled, we need to download and install the WSL 2 Linux kernel. Open Microsoft Store and search for "WSL 2 Linux kernel". Click on the "Get" button and wait for the installation to complete.

Step 3: Set WSL 2 as the default version

Open PowerShell again and type in the following command to set WSL 2 as the default version:

wsl --set-default-version 2

Step 4: Install a Linux distribution

Now that WSL 2 is set as the default version, we can install a Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store. There are several options available, such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Kali Linux.

Select the distribution you want to install and click on the "Get" button. Wait for the installation to complete.

Step 5: Launch and set up your Linux distribution

Once the installation is complete, launch the Linux distribution from the Start menu. The first time you launch it, you'll need to set up a username and password.

Congratulations, you've successfully installed WSL 2 on Windows 11 and above! You can now use your favorite Linux applications and tools right from your Windows desktop.

In conclusion, WSL 2 is a powerful tool that can make your workflow more efficient and productive. With the step-by-step guide provided in this article, even beginners can easily install WSL 2 on their Windows 11 and above machines.