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.
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.
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: 5.10.102.14. 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 LTS5. 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...
Method 2: Enbale WSL using PowerShell
1. Right click on Windows start icon then open Windows PowerShell admin.
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 /norestart3. Update WSL1 to WSL2 using –update parameter.
wsl --update4. Install a Linux distro in WSL.
wsl --install -d ubuntu5. Get the list of installed distros.
PS C:\> wsl -l -v
NAME STATE VERSION
* Ubuntu Running 2
