Running Linux on Windows 11 might seem a bit weird at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty straightforward. Thanks to Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you can skip the hassle of virtual machines and partitions — Linux runs pretty much natively inside Windows now. First off, you need to turn on WSL in Windows Features. Easy enough, but if you’re not used to the menus, it might take a sec to find.
To do that, search for Turn Windows features on or off. Usually, you’ll find it under Settings > Apps > Optional Features, or just type it straight into the start menu search. Find Windows Subsystem for Linux and check the box. Just a heads up though: sometimes, clicking “OK” doesn’t do much until you restart. So, give the ol’ reboot a nudge — don’t skip that step, or it won’t kick in properly.
Once WSL is enabled, the next move is installing a Linux distro. Head over to the Microsoft Store — your go-to for Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, and the like. Hit “Get” or “Install,” and you’re good to go. Most distros are pretty straightforward from here, but fair dinkum, sometimes the download or install can hang or throw a wobbly. Just be patient or reboot if nothing happens after a bit. After it’s installed, open the distro from the start menu, and it’ll ask you to set up a username and password. Remember, this is your Linux login, so don’t make it “password123” unless you want a security headache.
Why bother updating? Well, running sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade in the terminal fetches the latest patches and security fixes. Sometimes folks forget, but trust me, it saves a fair bit of grief later on. Expect some initial slowdowns if your internet’s playing up, but once it’s done, it’s smooth sailing. If the update command doesn’t run, try sudo apt update --fix-missing. On one machine, I needed a quick reboot afterward, on another, it just kept chugging happily.
Once you’ve got your Linux environment sorted, start playing around with commands. You can access your Windows files under /mnt/c/. Editing files is a breeze; just jump into that directory in your terminal or use any Linux editor you like. If you want to see your Windows desktop icons, don’t forget WSLg on Windows 11 can run graphical apps, which is pretty wild — just make sure your Windows is fully updated.
Pro tip: Use Windows Terminal. It’s a game changer because you can run Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL shells all in one window, with tabs. Switching between Windows and Linux commands feels much more natural once you get the hang of it. Sometimes, after a Windows update, WSL needs a quick reboot or reset, but that’s just Windows doing its thing.
If things aren’t working as they should, here’s another tip: check if you’re running WSL 2. It’s heaps faster and supports a full Linux kernel. Open PowerShell as an admin and run wsl --set-default-version 2. Then, verify which version your distro’s using with wsl -l -v. If it’s still on WSL 1, upgrade it with wsl --set-version . WSL 2 handles Docker and other heavy workloads way better.
Another thing — if things feel sluggish, make sure virtualization is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI. Sometimes, it’s turned off by default, and that hampers WSL 2’s performance. Boot into your BIOS, find the Virtualization setting, and turn it on. It’s a bit of a pain sometimes because Windows makes this a sneaky little setup, but it’s worth it.
If you want to remove a distro, just do it through the Microsoft Store like any app, or open PowerShell and run wsl --unregister . Easy as. Just a heads up — no backups, no mercy — it’ll wipe everything related to that distro.
Summary
- Enable WSL via Windows Features
- Install your preferred Linux distro from the Microsoft Store
- Update Linux with
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade - Set up your Linux user and get comfortable with the commands
- Start playing around with Linux commands and files
Hopefully, this saves you a bunch of hassle. Yeah, Windows can be a bit complicated about it all, but once you get the basics sorted, it’s all smooth sailing. Just remember to keep everything updated, and maybe throw in some handy plugins or extensions down the track. Good luck tinkering with Linux on Windows 11!