To install WSL 2 on Windows 10 (OS Build 1909 or 1903) you need to follow 4 steps: If you use an older version of Windows 10 you can still install WSL 2 ( Microsoft backported WSL 2 to older versions of Windows 10 in Windows Update KB4566116) but the process isn’t as simple as in the 2004 update. Once done you can you can launch the ‘Ubuntu’ app from the Start Menu to get started, or install the Microsoft Terminal app to start exploring your newly-installed Ubuntu install - don’t forget to run an apt update & apt upgrade though - this is a REAL Ubuntu system, after all! Install WSL 2 (Old Method) This time you’ll be walked through setting up Ubuntu with a username and password (these don’t need to be the same as your Windows username and password). Log in to Windows 10 and the command prompt will open again. The crazy shows no sign of abating either as Microsoft plans to let users run desktop Linux apps on Windows 10 and leverage GPU-intensive tasks.Īnd the best news is that it is much easier to install WSL on Windows 10, as this updated guide shows. “ new architecture presents a better platform for the WSL team to deliver features that make WSL an amazing way to run a Linux environment in Windows,” say Microsoft of the tech.

put a real Linux kernel right at the heart of things. And it figured the best way to do that was to add full system call compatibility, i.e. Improved performance was Microsoft’s motivation for created the souped-up WSL2. Plus, new Linux kernel updates will be released as Windows 10 software updates - which is kinda crazy when you think about it! More than a simple version bump, WSL 2 is faster, more versatile, and uses a real Linux kernel for the first time. WSL 2 is a big upgrade to the original WSL Microsoft introduced in 2017.

If you want to try out the improved Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (aka WSL 2) in the latest Windows versions here’s how - I cover everything you need to do to install it, in this post.

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