How to Install Ubuntu on Windows 11: A Handy Step-by-Step Guide

Getting Ubuntu up and running on Windows 11 with WSL is one of those “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” moments. If you’ve ever tried installing Linux in a VM or dual-boot, you’ll know it can be a bit of a mission — messing with partitions, risking your system boot, and all that. But with WSL, it’s bloody easy — you run Linux alongside Windows, no dramas. And you don’t have to tinker too much with your existing setup. Still, sometimes things go a bit sideways: WSL might not install properly, or Ubuntu doesn’t want to launch. This guide covers the usual hiccups, especially when you’re thinking, “Why’s this not working?” By the end, you’ll have a legit Ubuntu environment inside Windows, ready for dev work, command-line fun, or just mucking around. Fixing WSL issues usually comes down to making sure the feature’s enabled, updating it, and tweaking some settings or commands. Let’s walk through the common problems — especially if Ubuntu’s not showing up or WSL’s acting up.

How to Fix Common WSL and Ubuntu Setup Headaches on Windows 11

Method 1: Make Sure WSL Is Fully Enabled and Up to Date

This might sound obvious, but plenty of grief comes from not turning on WSL properly or running an old version. If WSL isn’t enabled or you’re running an outdated version, Ubuntu might not run smoothly — or at all. Windows has a feature called “Windows Subsystem for Linux,” and it needs to be switched on properly.

Open PowerShell as admin. Do this by right-clicking the Start button, selecting Windows Terminal (Admin), or searching for PowerShell and choosing “Run as administrator”.
Type this command: wsl --install. This one’s pretty new — it sets up WSL 2 by default on Windows 11, sorts out everything, and installs the latest Linux kernel.
On some systems, you might need to run dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart and dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart first if the above doesn’t do the trick. Then restart your PC.
After reboot, check WSL default version with wsl --set-default-version 2. That way, all new distros will use WSL 2.

This step is key — it makes sure the core’s installed right. Sometimes Windows just needs a little nudge. If you don’t enable WSL properly, Ubuntu might not run or might be a pain to set up. WSL 2’s faster and plays nicer with everything, so it’s worth doing this first.

Method 2: Reinstall or Reset Ubuntu from Microsoft Store

If WSL’s enabled but Ubuntu’s not launching or not showing in the Start menu, give reinstalling or resetting a go. Sometimes, the install gets stuck or config files get dodgy.

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
Find “Ubuntu” (or whatever version you’re after), then click Uninstall. Alternatively, you can do this via PowerShell with: winget uninstall Ubuntu.
Head over to the Microsoft Store. Search for “Ubuntu,” pick the latest LTS (probably Ubuntu 22.04), and install it again.
Launch it from the Start menu. If it still doesn’t pop up, run wsl --list --verbose in PowerShell to check if it’s registered.

It’s a bit of a “shotgun” approach, but a fresh install often clears out weird bugs or missing entries. Just make sure WSL’s enabled first, otherwise Ubuntu won’t install properly anyway.

Method 3: Check and Fix Your WSL Config Files

Sometimes, messing around with .wslconfig or /.wslconfig files in your user folder causes issues. If Ubuntu won’t start or WSL throws errors, resetting these configs can help.

Head to %(Your user profile)\.wslconfig. If it’s there, open it up with Notepad or your fave text editor.
It should look a bit like this:

[wsl2]
memory=4GB
processors=2
localhostForwarding=true

If the file has odd entries or looks dodgy, try commenting out everything or deleting it, then restart WSL with wsl --shutdown.

Next, fire up WSL again and see if Ubuntu launches without any fuss.

Resetting configs helps heaps, especially when you’re seeing errors about “kernel not found” or WSL crashing unexpectedly. It’s a small fix that can solve some pretty stubborn startup dramas.

Method 4: Manually Update the Kernel or Fix WSL via Terminal

If WSL’s installed but flaky, updating the Linux kernel manually might do the trick. Sometimes Windows WSL needs a command-line kick to update or repair the kernel.

Open PowerShell as admin and run: wsl --update. This fetches and installs the latest kernel from Microsoft.
If that throws errors, grab the latest kernel manually from Microsoft’s WSL2 kernel update page, run the installer, then restart WSL.
Check status with wsl --status to see if all’s good now.

This can fix issues where Ubuntu installs but crashes on launch, or WSL reports missing kernel errors. Sometimes the kernel gets a bit out of sync, and a quick update sorts it out.

Other Tips: Keep Windows and WSL Up to Date

If none of the above work, double-check your Windows is up-to-date. Some fixes or features only roll out in the latest versions of Windows 11. Head to Settings → Windows Update and install any pending updates.

While you’re at it, keep an eye on the Microsoft Store for WSL updates — they often fix bugs or improve features. Basically, check your system version, update if needed, and revisit WSL setup.

If you’re still having grief, forums and the official GitHub issues like Winhance can be handy for advanced tips or scripts.

Getting WSL and Ubuntu sorted can be a bit of a pain, but most of the common problems can be sorted with a few straightforward steps. Sometimes it’s a bit of trial and error, but mostly it comes down to checking configs and updating. Hope this helps some Aussie get their Linux set-up humming smoothly.