Getting WSL up and running on Windows 11 is pretty much essential if you’re keen on Linux stuff but aren’t into dual-booting or bunging in a massive VM. It’s funny how straightforward it sounds — just flick it on, pick your distro, and away you go. But, of course, Windows likes to make things a bit trickier than they need to be, so you might hit a few snags. Maybe the WSL command doesn’t play ball, or your Windows version’s a bit behind. No worries — this guide should help you get that Linux environment humming on your Windows 11 machine. You’ll end up with a terminal to run Linux commands, scripts, or even graphical apps — pretty handy for devs, sysadmins, or just a curious tech head. Or maybe you just want to see what Linux’s all about without risking your main setup. Let’s get stuck into it.
How to Install WSL on Windows 11
Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator
First things first, you need to open PowerShell with admin rights. Hit Start Menu, type “PowerShell,” right-click on Windows PowerShell, then choose Run as Administrator. Crucial, because you’ll be making system-wide changes. If you don’t run it as admin, the commands might just throw errors or do nothing at all. Sometimes it looks like it’s working, but then the install stalls or fails without telling you. So, don’t skip this step — just do it. Once PowerShell’s open, you’re ready to type some commands.
Enable WSL
Type in wsl --install and hit Enter. It’s pretty wild that this one command sets everything up — turns on WSL, installs the needed components, and even grabs the default distro (usually Ubuntu). Saves you from clicking through a bunch of menus. This works best on Windows 11 versions 21H2 and newer, so make sure your system’s up to date. If you get errors like “command not found” or WSL doesn’t switch on, you might need to manually turn on Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform via the Windows Features menu, or update Windows first.
Restart Your Computer
Once the command’s done, restart your PC. Weird as it sounds, a quick reboot helps everything settle — Windows needs a fresh start to properly finish setting up WSL. It might seem like a pain, but it’s worth it. If you skip this, your Linux distro might not run smoothly, or at all, on first go.
Open the Microsoft Store
Next up, find the Microsoft Store. Search for “Microsoft Store” in the Start menu and open it. This part trips some people up — because WSL isn’t just about the command line; here you pick your Linux flavour. Sometimes, the store doesn’t show all options straight away, and you might have to restart the app or sign out and back in. Occasionally, the Store needs an update or a restart to show the distro list properly.
Install a Linux Distribution
In the Store, search for your preferred Linux distro: Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, etc. Click “Install” — it’ll download in the background. Once it’s installed, you can launch it directly from the Start menu. The first time you run it, a setup window will pop up asking you to create a username and password — this is your Linux login. Expect a minute or two for the initial setup, then you’re into the terminal, running commands as you please.
Pro tip: Some distros might get stuck at “installing” for a bit. If that happens, check for Windows updates, restart the Store, or run wsl --update --full in PowerShell. It’s a bit quirky, but Linux on WSL doesn’t always work perfectly out of the box.
Tips for Installing WSL on Windows 11
- Check Your Windows Version: Make sure you’re running at least version 21H2; if not, update Windows.
- Try Different Distros: Beyond Ubuntu! Debian, Kali, Fedora — see what suits your workflow best.
- Enable Virtual Machine Platform: If things stiffen up, go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features > More Windows Features, then tick Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Subsystem for Linux. Hit OK, then restart.
- Switch to WSL 2: For faster speeds and graphical apps, run
wsl --set-default-version 2in PowerShell. It sets WSL 2 as your default, making everything a lot snappier. - Make scripts for repeated commands: If you often run the same stuff, save a script file so you don’t have to remember all the commands each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay for WSL or Linux distros?
Not at all, mate. Everything’s free — WSL and all the distros in the Store won’t cost you a penny.
Can I run multiple Linux distros on one machine?
Too right. Just install a few from the Store, and switch between them using the Start menu or with wsl -d .
Is graphical app support actually a thing?
Yep. With WSL 2 and the new WSLg, you can run Linux GUI apps pretty smoothly. No need for third-party X servers anymore, which is pretty neat.
Good for devs?
Absolutely — perfect for web dev, scripting, running tools, or just having a go at Linux without leaving Windows. WSL 2’s performance makes it feel almost native.
How do I uninstall WSL if I change my mind?
Just turn off the features in Windows Features or run wsl --uninstall and remove the distros from the app list. Reboot, and it’s like it was never there.
Summary
- Open PowerShell as Admin
- Type
wsl --install - Restart your PC
- Open the Microsoft Store
- Pick and install your fave Linux distro
Wrap-up
Getting WSL on Windows 11 isn’t exactly rocket science, but it’s a few steps more than it should be sometimes. Once set up though, it opens up a whole world of Linux apps and tools right there on your desktop. It’s pretty handy not needing to reboot into a different OS or bung in a virtual machine — just a few tweaks, and you’re away. Yeah, sometimes it’s a bit finicky with updates or hardware, but overall, it’s a ripper setup that saves a fair bit of hassle. Hope this helps someone get their Linux sandbox up and running without the headaches.