---
-title: WSL
-homepage: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10
+title: WSL (Complete)
+homepage: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl2-index
tagline: |
- WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) is required for running Microsoft Linux.
+ WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) runs a true Linux kernel via Hyper-V virtualization.
---
+## Read Carefully!
+
+1. WSL is a **system** service which **requires Admin privileges** to install.
+2. A **System Reboot** is **required** before WSL can be used.
+3. Not all systems can use WSL 2, so **WSL 1** is the **default**.
+
## Cheat Sheet
-> WSL (v1) is not emulation, but rather a Linux syscall wrapper around the
-> Windows Kernel.
+> This is a complete WSL installer that includes **_WSL 1_**, **_WSL 2_**
+> (Hyper-V), and **_Ubuntu Linux_**.
+>
+> WSL 2 is not "version 2" of WSL, but more "layer 2" WSL 1 uses a Linux syscall
+> wrapper around the Windows Kernel WSL 2 uses `VirtualMachinePlatform` and
+> Hyper-V to run a full Linux kernel with 100% syscall compatibility.
After installing WSL and **Rebooting** you will be able to install Linux
variants from the Windows 10 Store:
- [Ubuntu Linux 20.04](https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9n6svws3rx71)
- [Alpine WSL](https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9p804crf0395)
-### Admin Privileges Required
+### How to Launch Linux
+
+To Launch the default Linux:
+
+```pwsh
+wsl.exe
+```
+
+To Launch a specific Linux:
+
+```pwsh
+wsl.exe --list
+wsl.exe -d Ubuntu-20.04
+```
+
+### How to Set or Reset Root Password
+
+```pwsh
+wsl -d Ubuntu-20.04 -u root passwd
+```
+
+### How to Run a Single Command
+
+Assuming you want to run `ls ~/` as the default user:
+
+```pwsh
+wsl -- ls ~/
+```
+
+Assuming your username is `app` and you wanted to run `ls`:
+
+```pwsh
+wsl -d Ubuntu-20.04 -u app -- ls ~/
+```
+
+### How to Switch Between WSL 1 and WSL 2
+
+Despite the name, WSL 2 is neither a "better" version of nor a replacement for
+WSL 1. Rather WSL 1 uses a syscall wrapper (much like WINE) whereas WSL 2 uses
+Hyper-V virtualization.
+
+You can start a Linux install in either mode and switch between the two as
+desired.
+
+Either by setting the per Linux install:
+
+```pwsh
+wsl --list --verbose
+```
+
+```pwsh
+wsl --set-version Ubuntu-20.04 1
+# or
+wsl --set-version Ubuntu-20.04 2
+```
+
+Or by setting the global default:
+
+```pwsh
+wsl --set-default-version 1
+# or
+wsl --set-default-version 2
+```
+
+Note that you _cannot_ set the mode before rebooting.
+
+See also <https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl2-index>.
+
+### How to Install Linux with PowerShell
+
+You can download Linux from the Windows Store, or with `curl.exe` on the Command
+Line:
+
+```pwsh
+curl.exe -L -o Ubuntu_2004_x64.appx https://aka.ms/wslubuntu2004
+powershell Add-AppxPackage Ubuntu_2004_x64.appx
+```
+
+See also <https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-manual>.
+
+### Raw PowerShell Install Commands
-It is not possible to install WSL without Admin privileges.
+This is already detailed at [webinstall.dev/wsl1](https://webinstall.dev/wsl1)
+and [webinstall.dev/wsl2](https://webinstall.dev/wsl2)
-You _will_ need to allow the installer to run as Admin when asked.
+See also <https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/5014>
-### Reboot Required
+### Errors: Feature Not Installed & Nested VMs
-You will not be able to use WSL without rebooting.
+These errors are detailed at <https://webinstall.dev/wsl2>.
-### Raw PowerShell Command
+Likely solution:
```pwsh
-powershell -Command "Start-Process cmd -Verb RunAs -ArgumentList '/c cd /d %CD% && dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart'"
+wsl --set-default-version 1
+wsl --set-version Ubuntu-20.04 1
```
## References
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10
+- https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/5014
+- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl2-index
+- https://aka.ms/wsl2kernel
+- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-manual
projects / webi-installers / .git / blobdiff