Installing Ubuntu on Windows 11 is a pretty solid way to get your toes into Linux without ripping apart your existing setup. Thanks to Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you can run Ubuntu alongside Windows apps, kinda like having the best of both worlds. If you’ve tried it before, you probably noticed it’s straightforward but sometimes tricky, especially when WSL doesn’t want to enable or Ubuntu doesn’t pop up after install. That’s where this guide comes in—aimed at fixing typical hiccups and smoothing out the process so you actually get a working Ubuntu terminal on your Windows box.
How to Install Ubuntu on Windows 11
Jumping into Ubuntu on Windows sounds great, but the setup can be finicky. The key is making sure WSL is properly enabled and working, then installing Ubuntu smoothly via the Microsoft Store, and finally making sure everything’s updated. These steps aren’t foolproof—Windows has a way of messing with permissions or not turning on features properly—but here’s what’s generally needed.
Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform
This is where things often go sideways. On Windows 11, you need to turn on “Windows Subsystem for Linux” and “Virtual Machine Platform” features, which could be disabled by default.Open the Start menu, search for “Turn Windows features on or off”, then check both boxes:
- Windows Subsystem for Linux
- Virtual Machine Platform
Click OK, then restart. If WSL still refuses to work, sometimes running the commands directly in PowerShell as administrator helps. Open Windows PowerShell as admin and run:
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart Then restart your PC. Weirdly, on some setups, doing it manually like this makes sure the features are truly enabled and ready to go.
Install WSL 2 as your default
This step is crucial. WSL 2 has a full Linux kernel — better compatibility, performance, all that jazz. After reboot, open PowerShell as admin again and run:
wsl --set-default-version 2 Sometimes, Windows might still default to WSL 1, which can cause issues with Ubuntu not starting properly or missing features. Setting it explicitly to version 2 usually fixes that. If you see an error saying WSL 2 isn’t installed, go grab the latest updates through Windows Update, or install the Linux Kernel update package from Microsoft’s WSL2 Kernel update.
Download Ubuntu from Microsoft Store
This part seems simple—just head to the Microsoft Store, search for Ubuntu, and pick your preferred version (like 20.04 LTS or 22.04 LTS).Sometimes, the stock store app acts up or doesn’t load the first time. If that happens, clear the cache of the Microsoft Store or try opening it from Menu > Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and repair/reset the Store. After installing, just launch Ubuntu from the Start menu.
First launch and initial setup
When you open Ubuntu the first time, it’ll take a few seconds to set up. You’ll be prompted to create a username and password. Believe it or not, this matters — it’s how you’ll authenticate later on, even if it feels weird to type your admin password in Linux on Windows. On some setups, the terminal might hang or throw weird errors here; in that case, reboot, or run wsl --shutdown in PowerShell, then try launching again.
Update and verify your Ubuntu system
This step is often overlooked but super important. Keep your Ubuntu environment tidy and secure by updating packages. Open the Ubuntu terminal and run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y It refreshes the package list and upgrades installed tools. Sometimes, if this fails, it’s because your network settings are blocking some repositories, or there’s a corrupt cache. Rebooting or manually resetting WSL can help. To do that, run wsl --shutdown from PowerShell, then reopen Ubuntu.
Final checks & troubleshooting
If Ubuntu won’t start or WSL seems broken, try disabling and re-enabling features, or outright resetting WSL with wsl --unregister and reinstalling. Also, check for Windows updates. Sometimes, Windows just needs its patches, or your BIOS might be blocking virtualization features. Enable hardware virtualization in BIOS Settings — yes, that’s often hidden or turned off by default.
One thing that tends to help: right-click the Start button > Device Manager > System Devices > look for “Microsoft Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter” and make sure virtualization is enabled in BIOS. Also, in Windows Settings, check if virtualization is turned on in Settings > Privacy & Security > Security > Memory integrity. Some hardware setups cause all these steps to be more complicated than they should, but persistence helps.
Tips for Useful WSL Linux Setup
- Backup your WSL distros: Just in case you want to revert or move them, export with wsl –export.
- Use WSL2 for real Linux performance: Most Linux commands, Docker, etc., run better with WSL2 — don’t skip that if possible.
- Customize your Ubuntu environment: Install preferred tools like Winhance or tweak configs in ~/.bashrc.
- Join online communities: Reddit’s r/bashonubuntuonwindows or r/linux4noobs are surprisingly, useful.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- WSL won’t start: Check that virtualization is enabled in BIOS, then run
wsl --set-default-version 2. Also, trywsl --shutdownand restart your PC. - Ubuntu crashes after install: Reinstall via Microsoft Store, and make sure your Windows 11 is fully updated. If it still happens, check for conflicting software like Hyper-V or VPNs blocking network access.
- Commands not working or missing: Update system packages with
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yand reboot.
Because, of course, Windows has to keep things complicated sometimes.
Summary
- Turn on WSL and Virtual Machine Platform via Windows Features or PowerShell.
- Set WSL to version 2 with
wsl --set-default-version 2. - Download and install Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store.
- Launch Ubuntu, create your user, then update packages.
- Fix issues by restarting WSL, checking BIOS settings, or updating Windows.
Wrap-up
Getting Ubuntu up and running on Windows 11 can be a little bumpy, especially if Windows isn’t playing nice right away. But once everything’s working, it’s a game changer — really, having Linux and Windows side-by-side opens up a lot of possibilities. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of fiddling with features or rebooting, but the payoff is worth it. Fingers crossed this helps someone avoid those endless hours of frustration. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone.