How to Enable WSL2 on Windows (Beginner’s Guide)

What is WSL2?

WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) lets you run Linux programs directly on Windows without needing a separate computer or complicated setup.

Before You Start

• You need Windows 10 (Version 2004 or newer) or Windows 11
• Your computer should have at least 4GB of RAM
• You’ll need administrator access (your main computer account usually has this)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard
2. Type “PowerShell”
3. Right-click on “Windows PowerShell” and select “Run as administrator”
4. Click “Yes” if asked for permission

Step 2: Install WSL

In the PowerShell window that opened, type this command exactly as shown:

wsl --install

Press Enter to run the command.

Step 3: Set WSL2 as Default

Next, type this command and press Enter:

wsl --set-default-version 2

Step 4: Restart Your Computer

You can type this command to restart:

Restart-Computer

Or restart using the Start menu like you normally would.

Step 5: Install a Linux Distribution

1. After restarting, open the Microsoft Store from your Start menu
2. Search for “Ubuntu”
3. Click “Install” (it’s free)
4. Once installed, click “Launch”
5. Wait for setup to complete (this may take a few minutes)
6. When prompted, create a username and password for your Linux system

How to Check if It Worked

1. Open PowerShell again (you don’t need administrator this time)
2. Type this command and press Enter:

wsl --list --verbose

You should see something like:

  NAME      STATE           VERSION
* Ubuntu    Running         2

The important part is seeing “2” under VERSION.

Common Issues and Fixes

If you get a “Virtualization not enabled” error:

1. Restart your computer
2. As it starts up, press F2, F10, or DEL (the exact key depends on your computer)
3. Look for settings called:
   • Intel VT-x (Intel processors) or
   • AMD-V (AMD processors)
4. Enable these settings
5. Save changes and exit (usually F10)

If you see “WSL 2 requires an update”:

1. Download the update from: https://aka.ms/wsl2kernel
2. Run the downloaded file
3. Restart your computer

What You Can Do Now

• Run Linux commands in Windows
• Use development tools that normally only work on Linux
• Access Windows files from Linux and vice versa

Have any tips or tricks then leave your comments in the comment field below. Thanks for stopping by!

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