While they both provide smooth and continuous integration of Linux within Windows, WSL 2 is the latest and fastest version with supports full Linux kernel and system call compatibility. There are two different types of WSL versions: WSL 1 and WSL 2.

On the About page, under Windows specifications, you can see the ‘Version’ and ‘OS build’ of your Windows 10. Then, scroll down and select ‘About’ option at the bottom of the left pane to view About section. To check your Windows version and build, go to ‘Settings’ from Windows Start menu. WSL is only supported on both Windows 10 64-bit (from version 1607) and Windows Server 2019. First, Check your Windows Versionīut before we get into how to enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and install Linux, you need to check if you are running a compatible version of Windows 10.

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a feature that creates a GNU/Linux environment that allows you to run core Linux command-line tools and services directly on Windows, alongside your desktop and modern store apps.īy enabling Windows 10’s Linux subsystem, you can install and run various Linux distributions (distros) such as Ubuntu, OpenSuse, SUSE Linux, Fedora, etc. Then you can download and install your choice of Linux distribution. If you intend to run a Linux terminal on Windows 10, you must first turn on the ‘Windows Subsystem for Linux’ feature. Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Install Ubuntu in Windows 10 In this article, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to install and run the Linux terminal on Windows 10 OS. You can access various Linux commands and software from the Linux terminal in Windows 10. Yes, you can run Linux on top of Windows 10 without the need for a dual boot, or using VMWare/VirtualBox, or installing it as your main Operating System. This paved way for Linux users to use Linux on Windows. Microsoft has started a partnership with Canonical, creators of Ubuntu Linux. That’s is why a lot of software developers and professionals prefer Linux OS. You can now access most of the Linux command-line utilities and applications on top of Windows 10 OS using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).Īlthough Windows is the most widely used and most popular operating system for desktops and laptops, it is not as secure and open-sourced as Linux OS.

Wsl windows terminal