Microsoft began testing earlier this year Support for Linux GUI applications In Windows 10. The company has implemented it through the Windows subsystem for the Linux GUI (WSLG) in Insider Build. In addition to these exciting developments, Microsoft has facilitated the installation of WSL for internals through a single install command. Install WSL on Windows 10, The Redmond Giant now brings WSL installation commands to older Windows 10 builds.
Install WSL in Windows 10 with a single command
You can Use the ‘wsl –install’ command To install the Windows Subsystem for Linux on your computer. So far only available in Insider builds, Microsoft has now ported the command to Windows 10 version 2004 and higher.
“The process will automatically enable the required WSL option features, install the Ubuntu distribution by default, and install the latest WSL Linux kernel version on your machine. Please, ” Said Craig Lowen, Program Manager, Windows Developer Platform.
You can also use Command ‘wsl –list –online’ See a list of available Linux distributions. Additionally, the ‘wsl –update’ command allows you to manually update your WSL Linux kernel. Other commands include ‘wsl -update rollback’ to revert to the previous WSL Linux kernel version and ‘wsl status to view details of your current WSL installation.
To start using the new WSL command, make sure you’ve updated to Windows 10 Check for Settings -> Updates & Security -> Updates. It is also available as an Alchemy update with version KB5004296.
Although it’s fairly easy to get started with commands, you can check out our guide Windows 10 is running a GUI-based Linux program To see the command in action. For WSLg, it’s already live on Windows 11. You can follow the same steps to run Linux GUI apps on Windows 11.
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
It is a compatibility level for running Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2019 in Linux Binary Executable (ELF format).
In May 2019, WSL 2 was announced, introducing important changes like a real Linux kernel with a subset of Hyper-V features. WSL 2 is available to Windows 10 customers through the Windows Insider program in 2019, including the home version. WSL is not in all Windows 10 users by default. It can be installed by joining the Windows Insider program or by installing the manual.