Table of Contents
Method 1: Enable WSL using Windows Features
There are also a couple of pre-requisites for using WSL2 on Windows 10. You need to be on the following versions:
- For x64 systems: Version 1903 or higher, with Build 18362 or higher.
- For ARM64 systems: Version 2004 or higher, with Build 19041 or higher.
1. Search then open Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10.
![Bg1768](https://bonguides-1e199.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bg1768.png)
2. Select the checkboxes to enable Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Subsystem for Linux. It could take a while, once done let’s restart your computer.
![Bg1769](https://bonguides-1e199.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bg1769.png)
3. Once the computer restarted, we need update WSL1 to WSL2 using the following command:
PS C:\> wsl --update
Checking for updates...
Downloading updates...
Installing updates...
This change will take effect on the next full restart of WSL. To force a restart, please run 'wsl --shutdown'.
Kernel version: 5.10.102.1
4. Get the list of valid distributions that can be installed.
PS C:\> wsl -l -o
The following is a list of valid distributions that can be installed.
Install using 'wsl --install -d <Distro>'.
NAME FRIENDLY NAME
Ubuntu Ubuntu
Debian Debian GNU/Linux
kali-linux Kali Linux Rolling
openSUSE-42 openSUSE Leap 42
SLES-12 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v12
Ubuntu-16.04 Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
Ubuntu-18.04 Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
Ubuntu-20.04 Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
5. Install a Linux distro in WSL. In the first run, you need configure the username and password.
PS C:\> wsl --install -d ubuntu
Downloading: Ubuntu
Installing: Ubuntu
Ubuntu has been installed.
Launching Ubuntu...
![Bg1770](https://bonguides-1e199.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bg1770.png)
Method 2: Enbale WSL using PowerShell
1. Right click on Windows start icon then open Windows PowerShell admin.
![Pw1](https://bonguides-1e199.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/pw1.png)
2. Run the following commands to enable Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform then restart your computer.
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
3. Update WSL1 to WSL2 using –update parameter.
wsl --update
4. Install a Linux distro in WSL.
wsl --install -d ubuntu
5. Get the list of installed distros.
PS C:\> wsl -l -v
NAME STATE VERSION
* Ubuntu Running 2