How to Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux

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Key Takeaways

You must enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) before you can install a Linux distribution on a Windows PC.
Not all Windows 10 versions are compatible with WSL, but all Windows 11 versions are.
The updated WSL2 is more convenient and gives better performance, but you can switch to WSL1 to suit specific needs.

If you want to run a Linux terminal on Windows, your best bet would be to enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), a gateway opener that allows you to install a Linux bash shell on a Windows OS. Once you’ve enabled WSL, you can install a Linux distro.

Requirements for Running WSL on Windows 10

Before you enable Windows Subsystem for Linux, you should know of the minimum requirements needed to run WSL.

According to Microsoft , you should be running Windows 10 (64-bit) version 2004 or higher with Build 19041 or higher.

All Windows 11 versions can run WSL.

If you’re not sure of your Windows 10 flavor, it’s easy to check which version of Windows 10 you have installed .

Some older versions of Windows 10 can also work, but you’ll have to manually install WSL.

Win11 Tips

How to Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux