Complete Guide to Setting Up WSL 2 on Windows 11

Setting Up WSL 2 on Windows 11​

• Prerequisites**
• OS Requirement: Windows 10 version 1903+ (Build 18362+) or Windows 11
• Virtualization: Must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI
• Permissions: Administrator access is required

1. Enable WSL and Virtual Machine Platform

Run these in elevated PowerShell:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Restart your computer after enabling these features.

2. Download and Install the Latest WSL 2 Kernel Package

• Visit Manual installation steps for older versions of WSL
• Run the installer and follow the prompts

3. Set WSL 2 as the Default Version

In an elevated PowerShell session, execute:

wsl --set-default-version 2

This ensures all new distributions use WSL 2’s lightweight VM backend.

4. Install a Linux Distribution

• Open Microsoft Store
• Search for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.
• Click Get and then Install
• Launch the distro from the Start menu, and create a UNIX user account

5. Checking and Managing Installed Distros

View installed distros and their WSL version:

wsl --list --verbose

Convert a specific distro to WSL 2:

wsl --set-version <DistroName> 2

6. Running Linux GUI Apps

WSL 2 on Windows 11 supports GUI applications out of the box:

# Inside your distro’s shell
sudo apt update && sudo apt install gedit
gedit

Linux windows appear seamlessly alongside Windows apps, with audio and hardware acceleration.

7. Integrating Visual Studio Code

• Install VS Code on Windows
• In VS Code Marketplace, install the “Remote – WSL” extension
• Open your project folder inside WSL with Remote‑WSL: New Window
• Edit files, launch terminals, and debug inside the Linux environment

8. Optional: WSL Configuration Tweaks

Create a [.wslconfig] file in [%USERPROFILE%] to customize system resources:

[wsl2]
memory=4GB
processors=2

This controls how much memory and how many CPU cores WSL 2 can use.

9. Advanced Tips

• GPU Compute: Enable CUDA by installing NVIDIA drivers for WSL
• Docker Desktop: Use Docker’s WSL 2 backend for native container workflows
• File Performance: Store code in the Linux filesystem (/home) rather than under /mnt/c for faster I/O

10. Troubleshooting

• If wsl --status shows mismatched versions, run:
  
  Code:

  wsl --update

• For network issues, reset:
  
  Code:

  netsh winsock reset

• If GUI apps fail to launch, ensure the Windows Feature “Graphics Tools” is enabled

WSL 2 on Windows 11 bridges Windows and Linux in a single workflow. Whether you’re compiling code, running web servers, or experimenting with AI frameworks, this powerful subsystem makes Windows 11 a true all‑in‑one developer platform.